Complex (maybe) vista issue

[Gulkeeva]

Ok, I've been working on this guys PC for awhile and, it just seems really fucked up to where I'm suggesting sjut getting rid of it and putting windows 7 but...! They don't want to do that.

Anyway the problem is... I can't get vista SP 2 installed.

Now Windows update service cannot run
Error 0x80070424
Specified service not installed.

check system services, theirs no BITS (background intelligant transfer service) or Windows update, or automatic update anywhere.

admin mode cmd
%systemroot%\system32\regsvr32.exe %systemroot%\WUAUENG.dll
Failed load dllregister error 0x8007005
net stop wuauserv
error 1060 specified device does not exist

The vista on the PC is verified genuine
downloaded the BITS fix for vista
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en...s.aspx?id=4395
The installer says "not necesary" or something like that and closes out.
admin mode cmd
net stop bits
error 1060 the specified device does not exist. wut?


Ok so then I downlaoded Windows agent (which supposidly forces windows update)
started admin mode cmd prompt
net stop cryptsvc (stopped successfully)
net stop bits (error 1060)
net stop wuauserv (error 1060)
windowsagentthing /force
Error 0x800703e3 Operation aborted

So... through all that mess, anyone know how to fix it "without" reinstalling vista, or upgrading the OS, or using a repair CD

(and randomly my spellcheck isn't working in firefox even though its enabled)

[Sonomaa]

it sounds trashed at a deeper level, probably a virus that mucked it up so it wont accept the updates. Ive seen similar things happen in XP back in the day but yeah, I agree completely, nuke that bitch and put 7 on it, youll be doing them a favor

[Gulkeeva]

haha, yeah I just unfucked it from a virus to where it actually runs decently, was hoping its recoverable in some way as it has alot old software not compatible with windows 7 (they don't want to pay the $800ish to upgrade it) so... was hoping someone maybe knew a way to fix the clusterfuck

[SephYuyX]

Silly question, but have you tried to install the redist versions yet, instead of using update services?
32 http://www.microsoft.com/download/en...ng=en&id=16468
64 http://www.microsoft.com/download/en...ng=en&id=17669

If installing it via "click the exe and let it do its thing" errors out, you can extract the .exe and do it manually.
That takes a lot of work and interpretation though, and theres a bit of risk involved.

[Gulkeeva]

Yeah that will give the error "Specified service does not exist" like 90% through the update process and roll back. Its why I started trying to figure what I can possibly do to get a windows update system service back on the PC and to figure what the hell is going on with BITS since its not on system services but windows vista "BITS FIX" from windows site says its running and not needed to be fixed.

[Kerberoz]

I'd just backup and stealth-format to pirated 7, then put all their files back and make the UI settings as close as possible to Vista and hope they don't notice.

[orinthia]

You could try to get/make a vista oem disc with sp2+updates integrated and either attempt a "repair install" or install over the old one. I used to do this with xp for folks who "didn't want to lose everything" even though I could get everything they once had back in place... Might be an option for vista but it's been a while since I've messed with it. My single vista install has been running perfectly for a few years now (was from before win7 came out). I still carry a vista oem disc just in case.

(By "oem disc" I mean one that will auto-activate on install based SLIC 2.0/2.1 presence in the mobo bios of a branded machine, like dell, hp, etc, without using any loaders. Good to have/make such discs for things like this since it's a permanent activation method. Works nicely with a modded bios as well for activation.)