windowsupdate failed after repair install of XP SP2

I felt my 2y old install of XP needed a fresh start so I did an in place
reinstallation from the XP CD. I chose the upgrade install in order to avoid
installing and configuring all the programs. I hope I don't have to resort to
reformatting the C: drive...

The first time I started the upgrade install from normal windows with
Kaspersky intenet security disabled. After the installation was complete,
windows update found 79 updates, but all the updates failed with error code
0x80070002. I followed the KB article about this code, renamed
SoftwareDistributions directory under windows after stopping update service.
I also renamed Catroot2 directory under system32 as suggested by some earlier
threads. But the fixes didn't work. I suspected Kaspersky AV was
interfering with some of the reinstallation so I removed it and started the
XP upgrade intall from safemode again.

The second install was completed OK. I needed to reinstall the ATI drivers
as before. I did the WGA validation because I got some prompts about WGA in
the first round of reinstallation. Windows update first installed windows
installer, then downloaded 79 updates but all of the updates failed with the
following error code (0x80004002) at the end of the log file (on the WU
website the failed updates are not showing with red X in update history):

2007-08-19 22:27:59:843 2988 c7c Misc = Process:
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
2007-08-19 22:27:59:843 2988 c7c AUClnt FATAL: Error: 0x80004002. wuauclt
handler: failed to spawn COM server
2007-08-19 22:27:59:843 1196 b18 Handler FATAL: 0x80004002: ERROR: Remote
update handler container process created (PID: 2988), but exited before
signaling event
2007-08-19 22:27:59:843 1196 b18 Agent * WARNING: Exit code = 0x80004002

I have finally found the solution to my (OUR) problem!

I changed;
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Win dowsFirewall\StandardProfile
"EnableFirewall" changed value to 0 instead of 1 and my updates installed
with out any issues.


"Li_ny" wrote:

> I felt my 2y old install of XP needed a fresh start so I did an in place
> reinstallation from the XP CD. I chose the upgrade install in order to avoid
> installing and configuring all the programs. I hope I don't have to resort to
> reformatting the C: drive...
>
> The first time I started the upgrade install from normal windows with
> Kaspersky intenet security disabled. After the installation was complete,
> windows update found 79 updates, but all the updates failed with error code
> 0x80070002. I followed the KB article about this code, renamed
> SoftwareDistributions directory under windows after stopping update service.
> I also renamed Catroot2 directory under system32 as suggested by some earlier
> threads. But the fixes didn't work. I suspected Kaspersky AV was
> interfering with some of the reinstallation so I removed it and started the
> XP upgrade intall from safemode again.
>
> The second install was completed OK. I needed to reinstall the ATI drivers
> as before. I did the WGA validation because I got some prompts about WGA in
> the first round of reinstallation. Windows update first installed windows
> installer, then downloaded 79 updates but all of the updates failed with the
> following error code (0x80004002) at the end of the log file (on the WU
> website the failed updates are not showing with red X in update history):
>
> 2007-08-19 22:27:59:843 2988 c7c Misc = Process:
> C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
> 2007-08-19 22:27:59:843 2988 c7c AUClnt FATAL: Error: 0x80004002. wuauclt
> handler: failed to spawn COM server
> 2007-08-19 22:27:59:843 1196 b18 Handler FATAL: 0x80004002: ERROR: Remote
> update handler container process created (PID: 2988), but exited before
> signaling event
> 2007-08-19 22:27:59:843 1196 b18 Agent * WARNING: Exit code = 0x80004002
>

1. First install the newly released 'standalone' version of Windows Update
Agent 3.0, v7.0.6000.374
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932494

2. Now (re)install this (updated) fix:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927891

NB: Windows Update/Automatic Updates started offering 927891 on 22 May-07.
If "Update for [Windows XP] (KB927891)" is listed in Add/Remove Programs
(make sure Show Updates box is checked), it's already installed. cf.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sec...ry/927891.mspx

--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.org

Li_ny wrote:
> I felt my 2y old install of XP needed a fresh start so I did an in place
> reinstallation from the XP CD. I chose the upgrade install in order to
> avoid
> installing and configuring all the programs. I hope I don't have to resort
> to reformatting the C: drive...
>
> The first time I started the upgrade install from normal windows with
> Kaspersky intenet security disabled. After the installation was complete,
> windows update found 79 updates, but all the updates failed with error
> code
> 0x80070002. I followed the KB article about this code, renamed
> SoftwareDistributions directory under windows after stopping update
> service.
> I also renamed Catroot2 directory under system32 as suggested by some
> earlier threads. But the fixes didn't work. I suspected Kaspersky AV
> was
> interfering with some of the reinstallation so I removed it and started
> the
> XP upgrade intall from safemode again.
>
> The second install was completed OK. I needed to reinstall the ATI drivers
> as before. I did the WGA validation because I got some prompts about WGA
> in
> the first round of reinstallation. Windows update first installed windows
> installer, then downloaded 79 updates but all of the updates failed with
> the
> following error code (0x80004002) at the end of the log file (on the WU
> website the failed updates are not showing with red X in update history):
>
> 2007-08-19 22:27:59:843 2988 c7c Misc = Process:
> C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
> 2007-08-19 22:27:59:843 2988 c7c AUClnt FATAL: Error: 0x80004002. wuauclt
> handler: failed to spawn COM server
> 2007-08-19 22:27:59:843 1196 b18 Handler FATAL: 0x80004002: ERROR: Remote
> update handler container process created (PID: 2988), but exited before
> signaling event
> 2007-08-19 22:27:59:843 1196 b18 Agent * WARNING: Exit code = 0x80004002

"Power Point" wrote:

> I have finally found the solution to my (OUR) problem!
>
> I changed;
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Win dowsFirewall\StandardProfile
> "EnableFirewall" changed value to 0 instead of 1 and my updates installed
> with out any issues.
>
>
Hi, I looked but in my registry I did not even have that entry. Of course I
can make an entry for it and set it to zero, but I think I have the firwall
off alreay in the security center. Do you have the same error code 0x80004002?

Thanks for the guide. The first update, 932494, was able to download, but the
Windows Update Agent was already installed in my system.

And I did not have the second one already installed, so I installed it,
rebooted, tried the following for the remaining updates: AU turn on ->after
download shutdown windows, none of the updates was installed. Also tried
stop au service, remove softwareDistribution dir, restart service, and
manually click express install on WU page, same thing.

At the end of KB#####.log generalted by the shutdown update, I have
"0.703: KB938127 installation did not complete.
0.703: Update.exe extended error code = 0xf201 "

At the end of windowsupdates.log, I have similar errors as yetersday:
"2007-08-20 21:27:50:968 1100 1b8 Misc =========== Logging initialized
(build: 7.0.6000.374, tz: -0400) ===========
2007-08-20 21:27:50:968 1100 1b8 Misc = Process:
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
2007-08-20 21:27:50:968 1100 1b8 AUClnt FATAL: Error: 0x80004002. wuauclt
handler: failed to spawn COM server
2007-08-20 21:27:50:984 1624 3e8 Handler FATAL: 0x80004002: ERROR: Remote
update handler container process created (PID: 1100), but exited before
signaling event
2007-08-20 21:27:51:078 1624 3e8 Agent * WARNING: Exit code = 0x80004002
2007-08-20 21:27:51:078 1624 3e8 Agent *********
2007-08-20 21:27:51:078 1624 3e8 Agent ** END ** Agent: Installing
updates [CallerId = WindowsUpdate]
2007-08-20 21:27:51:078 1624 3e8 Agent *************
2007-08-20 21:27:51:078 1624 3e8 Agent WARNING: WU client failed installing
updates with error 0x80004002
2007-08-20 21:27:51:187 1740 10c COMAPI >>-- RESUMED -- COMAPI: Install
[ClientId = WindowsUpdate]
2007-08-20 21:27:51:187 1740 10c COMAPI - Install call failed
2007-08-20 21:27:51:187 1740 10c COMAPI - Reboot required = No
2007-08-20 21:27:51:187 1740 10c COMAPI - WARNING: Exit code = 0x80240FFF;
Call error code = 0x80004002
2007-08-20 21:27:51:187 1740 10c COMAPI ---------
2007-08-20 21:27:51:187 1740 10c COMAPI -- END -- COMAPI: Install
[ClientId = WindowsUpdate]
2007-08-20 21:27:51:187 1740 10c COMAPI -------------
2007-08-20 21:27:51:968 1740 67c COMAPI WARNING: Operation failed due to
earlier error, hr=80004002"


"PA Bear" wrote:

> 1. First install the newly released 'standalone' version of Windows Update
> Agent 3.0, v7.0.6000.374
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932494
>
> 2. Now (re)install this (updated) fix:
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927891
>
> NB: Windows Update/Automatic Updates started offering 927891 on 22 May-07.
> If "Update for [Windows XP] (KB927891)" is listed in Add/Remove Programs
> (make sure Show Updates box is checked), it's already installed. cf.
> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sec...ry/927891.mspx
>
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
> AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.org
>
> Li_ny wrote:
> > I felt my 2y old install of XP needed a fresh start so I did an in place
> > reinstallation from the XP CD. I chose the upgrade install in order to
> > avoid
> > installing and configuring all the programs. I hope I don't have to resort
> > to reformatting the C: drive...
> >
> > The first time I started the upgrade install from normal windows with
> > Kaspersky intenet security disabled. After the installation was complete,
> > windows update found 79 updates, but all the updates failed with error
> > code
> > 0x80070002. I followed the KB article about this code, renamed
> > SoftwareDistributions directory under windows after stopping update
> > service.
> > I also renamed Catroot2 directory under system32 as suggested by some
> > earlier threads. But the fixes didn't work. I suspected Kaspersky AV
> > was
> > interfering with some of the reinstallation so I removed it and started
> > the
> > XP upgrade intall from safemode again.
> >
> > The second install was completed OK. I needed to reinstall the ATI drivers
> > as before. I did the WGA validation because I got some prompts about WGA
> > in
> > the first round of reinstallation. Windows update first installed windows
> > installer, then downloaded 79 updates but all of the updates failed with
> > the
> > following error code (0x80004002) at the end of the log file (on the WU
> > website the failed updates are not showing with red X in update history):
> >
> > 2007-08-19 22:27:59:843 2988 c7c Misc = Process:
> > C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
> > 2007-08-19 22:27:59:843 2988 c7c AUClnt FATAL: Error: 0x80004002. wuauclt
> > handler: failed to spawn COM server
> > 2007-08-19 22:27:59:843 1196 b18 Handler FATAL: 0x80004002: ERROR: Remote
> > update handler container process created (PID: 2988), but exited before
> > signaling event
> > 2007-08-19 22:27:59:843 1196 b18 Agent * WARNING: Exit code = 0x80004002
>
>

Here is what I did

1. first installed KB927891, as suggested by PA Bear, reboot, but it did not
totally fixed the problem but in windowsupdates.log one error about msi.dll
was gone.

2. did the registry modification---I did not even have the firewall key but
I created it and set it to zero.

3. I also stopped wu service and registered the DLLs, and then rebooted.
(This fix was suggested by someone else on this forum. I found it by
searching my error code. But I did it yesterday it did solve the problem on
its own.)

viola, windowsupdate website prompted me to install some "windows component
publishing" update first, after that all of the 78 updates started to
install. Only 2 failed and after reboot a couple of times my windows is up to
date!!! The above 3 things were all I did today to fix the problem, I am not
sure which ones were the key but I think somehow the firewall settings
probably made a different. Thanks very much!

Li
New York

"Power Point" wrote:

> I have finally found the solution to my (OUR) problem!
>
> I changed;
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Win dowsFirewall\StandardProfile
> "EnableFirewall" changed value to 0 instead of 1 and my updates installed
> with out any issues.
>
>
> "Li_ny" wrote:
>
> > I felt my 2y old install of XP needed a fresh start so I did an in place
> > reinstallation from the XP CD. I chose the upgrade install in order to avoid
> > installing and configuring all the programs. I hope I don't have to resort to
> > reformatting the C: drive...
> >
> > The first time I started the upgrade install from normal windows with
> > Kaspersky intenet security disabled. After the installation was complete,
> > windows update found 79 updates, but all the updates failed with error code
> > 0x80070002. I followed the KB article about this code, renamed
> > SoftwareDistributions directory under windows after stopping update service.
> > I also renamed Catroot2 directory under system32 as suggested by some earlier
> > threads. But the fixes didn't work. I suspected Kaspersky AV was
> > interfering with some of the reinstallation so I removed it and started the
> > XP upgrade intall from safemode again.
> >
> > The second install was completed OK. I needed to reinstall the ATI drivers
> > as before. I did the WGA validation because I got some prompts about WGA in
> > the first round of reinstallation. Windows update first installed windows
> > installer, then downloaded 79 updates but all of the updates failed with the
> > following error code (0x80004002) at the end of the log file (on the WU
> > website the failed updates are not showing with red X in update history):
> >
> > 2007-08-19 22:27:59:843 2988 c7c Misc = Process:
> > C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
> > 2007-08-19 22:27:59:843 2988 c7c AUClnt FATAL: Error: 0x80004002. wuauclt
> > handler: failed to spawn COM server
> > 2007-08-19 22:27:59:843 1196 b18 Handler FATAL: 0x80004002: ERROR: Remote
> > update handler container process created (PID: 2988), but exited before
> > signaling event
> > 2007-08-19 22:27:59:843 1196 b18 Agent * WARNING: Exit code = 0x80004002
> >

I've found this solution useful for a similar situation but with errors code
0x80240022 and 0x80240022.

Anyway, the solution fail the first time. I've stopped the antovirus (panda
Software9 install only one update and after reboot all worked fine.

"PA Bear" wrote:

> 1. First install the newly released 'standalone' version of Windows Update
> Agent 3.0, v7.0.6000.374
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932494
>
> 2. Now (re)install this (updated) fix:
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927891
>
> NB: Windows Update/Automatic Updates started offering 927891 on 22 May-07.
> If "Update for [Windows XP] (KB927891)" is listed in Add/Remove Programs
> (make sure Show Updates box is checked), it's already installed. cf.
> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sec...ry/927891.mspx
>
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
> AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.org
>
> Li_ny wrote:
> > I felt my 2y old install of XP needed a fresh start so I did an in place
> > reinstallation from the XP CD. I chose the upgrade install in order to
> > avoid
> > installing and configuring all the programs. I hope I don't have to resort
> > to reformatting the C: drive...
> >
> > The first time I started the upgrade install from normal windows with
> > Kaspersky intenet security disabled. After the installation was complete,
> > windows update found 79 updates, but all the updates failed with error
> > code
> > 0x80070002. I followed the KB article about this code, renamed
> > SoftwareDistributions directory under windows after stopping update
> > service.
> > I also renamed Catroot2 directory under system32 as suggested by some
> > earlier threads. But the fixes didn't work. I suspected Kaspersky AV
> > was
> > interfering with some of the reinstallation so I removed it and started
> > the
> > XP upgrade intall from safemode again.
> >
> > The second install was completed OK. I needed to reinstall the ATI drivers
> > as before. I did the WGA validation because I got some prompts about WGA
> > in
> > the first round of reinstallation. Windows update first installed windows
> > installer, then downloaded 79 updates but all of the updates failed with
> > the
> > following error code (0x80004002) at the end of the log file (on the WU
> > website the failed updates are not showing with red X in update history):
> >
> > 2007-08-19 22:27:59:843 2988 c7c Misc = Process:
> > C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
> > 2007-08-19 22:27:59:843 2988 c7c AUClnt FATAL: Error: 0x80004002. wuauclt
> > handler: failed to spawn COM server
> > 2007-08-19 22:27:59:843 1196 b18 Handler FATAL: 0x80004002: ERROR: Remote
> > update handler container process created (PID: 2988), but exited before
> > signaling event
> > 2007-08-19 22:27:59:843 1196 b18 Agent * WARNING: Exit code = 0x80004002
>
>

I solved my problem last night but thanks for the info. I have Kaspersky in
my case. When I had the problems, I always shut it down; but after the
problem was solved AUs have no problem to run. The details of what I did are
in my 2nd post in reply to "power point". Good luck everyone.

"MAL" wrote:

> I've found this solution useful for a similar situation but with errors code
> 0x80240022 and 0x80240022.
>
> Anyway, the solution fail the first time. I've stopped the antovirus (panda
> Software9 install only one update and after reboot all worked fine.
>
> "PA Bear" wrote:
>
> > 1. First install the newly released 'standalone' version of Windows Update
> > Agent 3.0, v7.0.6000.374
> > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932494
> >
> > 2. Now (re)install this (updated) fix:
> > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927891
> >
> > NB: Windows Update/Automatic Updates started offering 927891 on 22 May-07.
> > If "Update for [Windows XP] (KB927891)" is listed in Add/Remove Programs
> > (make sure Show Updates box is checked), it's already installed. cf.
> > http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sec...ry/927891.mspx
> >
> > --
> > ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> > MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
> > AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.org
> >
> > Li_ny wrote:
> > > I felt my 2y old install of XP needed a fresh start so I did an in place
> > > reinstallation from the XP CD. I chose the upgrade install in order to
> > > avoid
> > > installing and configuring all the programs. I hope I don't have to resort
> > > to reformatting the C: drive...
> > >
> > > The first time I started the upgrade install from normal windows with
> > > Kaspersky intenet security disabled. After the installation was complete,
> > > windows update found 79 updates, but all the updates failed with error
> > > code
> > > 0x80070002. I followed the KB article about this code, renamed
> > > SoftwareDistributions directory under windows after stopping update
> > > service.
> > > I also renamed Catroot2 directory under system32 as suggested by some
> > > earlier threads. But the fixes didn't work. I suspected Kaspersky AV
> > > was
> > > interfering with some of the reinstallation so I removed it and started
> > > the
> > > XP upgrade intall from safemode again.
> > >
> > > The second install was completed OK. I needed to reinstall the ATI drivers
> > > as before. I did the WGA validation because I got some prompts about WGA
> > > in
> > > the first round of reinstallation. Windows update first installed windows
> > > installer, then downloaded 79 updates but all of the updates failed with
> > > the
> > > following error code (0x80004002) at the end of the log file (on the WU
> > > website the failed updates are not showing with red X in update history):
> > >
> > > 2007-08-19 22:27:59:843 2988 c7c Misc = Process:
> > > C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
> > > 2007-08-19 22:27:59:843 2988 c7c AUClnt FATAL: Error: 0x80004002. wuauclt
> > > handler: failed to spawn COM server
> > > 2007-08-19 22:27:59:843 1196 b18 Handler FATAL: 0x80004002: ERROR: Remote
> > > update handler container process created (PID: 2988), but exited before
> > > signaling event
> > > 2007-08-19 22:27:59:843 1196 b18 Agent * WARNING: Exit code = 0x80004002
> >
> >

Thanks for following up on this, Li.

Li_ny wrote:
> Here is what I did
>
> 1. first installed KB927891, as suggested by PA Bear, reboot, but it did
> not
> totally fixed the problem but in windowsupdates.log one error about
> msi.dll
> was gone.
>
> 2. did the registry modification---I did not even have the firewall key
> but
> I created it and set it to zero.
>
> 3. I also stopped wu service and registered the DLLs, and then rebooted.
> (This fix was suggested by someone else on this forum. I found it by
> searching my error code. But I did it yesterday it did solve the problem
> on
> its own.)
>
> viola, windowsupdate website prompted me to install some "windows
> component
> publishing" update first, after that all of the 78 updates started to
> install. Only 2 failed and after reboot a couple of times my windows is up
> to date!!! The above 3 things were all I did today to fix the problem, I
> am not sure which ones were the key but I think somehow the firewall
> settings probably made a different. Thanks very much!
>
> Li
> New York
>
> "Power Point" wrote:
>
>> I have finally found the solution to my (OUR) problem!
>>
>> I changed;
>> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Win dowsFirewall\StandardProfile
>> "EnableFirewall" changed value to 0 instead of 1 and my updates
>> installed
>> with out any issues.
>>
>>
>> "Li_ny" wrote:
>>
>>> I felt my 2y old install of XP needed a fresh start so I did an in place
>>> reinstallation from the XP CD. I chose the upgrade install in order to
>>> avoid installing and configuring all the programs. I hope I don't have
>>> to
>>> resort to reformatting the C: drive...
>>>
>>> The first time I started the upgrade install from normal windows with
>>> Kaspersky intenet security disabled. After the installation was
>>> complete,
>>> windows update found 79 updates, but all the updates failed with error
>>> code 0x80070002. I followed the KB article about this code, renamed
>>> SoftwareDistributions directory under windows after stopping update
>>> service. I also renamed Catroot2 directory under system32 as suggested
>>> by
>>> some earlier threads. But the fixes didn't work. I suspected
>>> Kaspersky
>>> AV was interfering with some of the reinstallation so I removed it and
>>> started the XP upgrade intall from safemode again.
>>>
>>> The second install was completed OK. I needed to reinstall the ATI
>>> drivers
>>> as before. I did the WGA validation because I got some prompts about WGA
>>> in the first round of reinstallation. Windows update first installed
>>> windows installer, then downloaded 79 updates but all of the updates
>>> failed with the following error code (0x80004002) at the end of the log
>>> file (on the WU website the failed updates are not showing with red X in
>>> update history):
>>>
>>> 2007-08-19 22:27:59:843 2988 c7c Misc = Process:
>>> C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
>>> 2007-08-19 22:27:59:843 2988 c7c AUClnt FATAL: Error: 0x80004002.
>>> wuauclt
>>> handler: failed to spawn COM server
>>> 2007-08-19 22:27:59:843 1196 b18 Handler FATAL: 0x80004002: ERROR:
>>> Remote
>>> update handler container process created (PID: 2988), but exited before
>>> signaling event
>>> 2007-08-19 22:27:59:843 1196 b18 Agent * WARNING: Exit code =
>>> 0x80004002

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144

worked perfectly for me.

i.e
Register wups2.dll and force windows update agent to install.

All my 80+ updates went on no trouble,