Why is Windows Update trying to install an update I don't need?

Posted by Oliver Salzburg on Super User See other posts from Super User or by Oliver Salzburg
Published on 2012-04-10T20:24:52Z Indexed on 2012/04/10 23:32 UTC
Read the original article Hit count: 429

I have a Windows 7 system that currently has a single update pending:

Windows Internet Explorer 9 for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems

If I try to install the update, Windows Update will:

  1. Create a restore point
  2. Fail with the error: Code 9C48 Windows Update encountered an error.

The event log for the event reads:

Installation Failure: Windows failed to install the following update with error 0x80070643: Windows Internet Explorer 9 for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems.

enter image description here

If you search the web for that error, there are many other people with the exact same issue.
Sadly, I am unable to apply the proposed solutions to my case, because I just installed this system.

There is nothing on it, except Windows 7. I installed the system and ran through the updates.
I also did the exact same process with this machine several times over the past few days due to a long-term test we just started.

I didn't have any problems with any Windows Update on the previous installation runs and I know I didn't do anything different this time because I followed the installation procedures instructions which are to be used during the test.

How did this happen and how do I solve it?

Further Investigation

So, as I always like to do, I ran the update again while running Process Monitor and dug up further details.

WindowsUpdate.log

First of all, there is a Windows Update log file located at C:\Windows\WindowsUpdate.log which I didn't know about. But I fail to see any significant entry in it, maybe you're more lucky:

2012-04-10  22:46:58:017     956    728 AU  AU received approval from Ux for 1 updates
2012-04-10  22:46:58:017     956    728 AU  AU setting pending client directive to 'Progress Ux'
2012-04-10  22:46:58:095     956    728 AU  BeginInteractiveInstall invoked for Download
2012-04-10  22:46:58:095     956    728 AU  Auto-approving update for download, updateId = {B33ACEC1-3265-4D01-9C37-AC0892E95ED9}.100, ForUx=1, IsOwnerUx=1, HasDeadline=0, IsMinor=0
2012-04-10  22:46:58:095     956    728 AU  Auto-approved 1 update(s) for download (for Ux)
2012-04-10  22:46:58:110     956    728 AU  UpdateDownloadProperties: 0 download(s) are still in progress.
2012-04-10  22:46:58:110     956    728 AU  #############
2012-04-10  22:46:58:110     956    728 AU  ## START ##  AU: Download updates
2012-04-10  22:46:58:110     956    728 AU  #########
2012-04-10  22:46:58:110     956    728 AU    # Approved updates = 1
2012-04-10  22:46:58:110     956    728 AU  AU initiated download, updateId = {B33ACEC1-3265-4D01-9C37-AC0892E95ED9}.100, callId = {35DF928B-B428-4BAC-8C63-55295967EFBB}
2012-04-10  22:46:58:110     956    728 AU  Setting AU scheduled install time to 2012-04-11 01:00:00
2012-04-10  22:46:58:110     956    728 AU  Successfully wrote event for AU health state:0
2012-04-10  22:46:58:110     956    728 AU  Currently showing Progress UX client - so not launching any other client
2012-04-10  22:46:58:110     956    bb8 DnldMgr *************
2012-04-10  22:46:58:110     956    bb8 DnldMgr ** START **  DnldMgr: Downloading updates [CallerId = AutomaticUpdatesWuApp]
2012-04-10  22:46:58:110     956    bb8 DnldMgr *********
2012-04-10  22:46:58:110     956    bb8 DnldMgr   * Call ID = {35DF928B-B428-4BAC-8C63-55295967EFBB}
2012-04-10  22:46:58:110     956    bb8 DnldMgr   * Priority = 3, Interactive = 1, Owner is system = 0, Explicit proxy = 0, Proxy session id = 1, ServiceId = {9482F4B4-E343-43B6-B170-9A65BC822C77}
2012-04-10  22:46:58:110     956    bb8 DnldMgr   * Updates to download = 1
2012-04-10  22:46:58:110     956    bb8 Agent     *   Title = Windows Internet Explorer 9 for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems
2012-04-10  22:46:58:110     956    bb8 Agent     *   UpdateId = {B33ACEC1-3265-4D01-9C37-AC0892E95ED9}.100
2012-04-10  22:46:58:110     956    bb8 Agent     *     Bundles 1 updates:
2012-04-10  22:46:58:110     956    bb8 Agent     *       {6D9A90B7-FAF9-4A47-9EFE-A506264873B3}.100
2012-04-10  22:46:58:110     956    bb8 DnldMgr ***********  DnldMgr: New download job [UpdateId = {6D9A90B7-FAF9-4A47-9EFE-A506264873B3}.100]  ***********
2012-04-10  22:46:58:110     956    728 AU  Successfully wrote event for AU health state:0
2012-04-10  22:46:58:110     956    728 AU    # Pending download calls = 1
2012-04-10  22:46:58:110     956    728 AU  >##  RESUMED  ## AU: Download update [UpdateId = {B33ACEC1-3265-4D01-9C37-AC0892E95ED9}, succeeded]
2012-04-10  22:46:58:313     956    bb8 Agent   **  END  **  Agent: Downloading updates [CallerId = AutomaticUpdatesWuApp]
2012-04-10  22:46:58:313     956    bb8 Agent   *************
2012-04-10  22:46:58:313     956    718 AU  #########
2012-04-10  22:46:58:313     956    718 AU  ##  END  ##  AU: Download updates
2012-04-10  22:46:58:313     956    718 AU  #############
2012-04-10  22:46:58:313     956    718 AU  Setting AU scheduled install time to 2012-04-11 01:00:00
2012-04-10  22:46:58:313     956    718 AU  Successfully wrote event for AU health state:0
2012-04-10  22:46:58:313     956    718 AU  Currently showing Progress UX client - so not launching any other client
2012-04-10  22:46:58:313     956    718 AU  Successfully wrote event for AU health state:0
2012-04-10  22:46:58:313     956    aac AU  Getting featured update notifications.  fIncludeDismissed = true
2012-04-10  22:46:58:313     956    aac AU  No featured updates available.
2012-04-10  22:47:00:107     956    aac AU  BeginInteractiveInstall invoked for Install
2012-04-10  22:47:00:107     956    aac AU  Auto-approving update for install, updateId = {B33ACEC1-3265-4D01-9C37-AC0892E95ED9}.100, ForUx=1, IsOwnerUx=1, HasDeadline=0, IsMinor=0
2012-04-10  22:47:00:107     956    aac AU  Auto-approved 1 update(s) for install (for Ux), installType=1
2012-04-10  22:47:00:107     956    aac AU  #############
2012-04-10  22:47:00:107     956    aac AU  ## START ##  AU: Install updates
2012-04-10  22:47:00:107     956    aac AU  #########
2012-04-10  22:47:00:107     956    aac AU    # Initiating manual install
2012-04-10  22:47:00:107     956    aac AU    # Approved updates = 1
2012-04-10  22:47:00:107     956    aac AU  >##  RESUMED  ## AU: Installing update [UpdateId = {B33ACEC1-3265-4D01-9C37-AC0892E95ED9}]
2012-04-10  22:47:13:773    2232    9fc Handler   : WARNING: Exit code = 0x8024200B
2012-04-10  22:47:13:773     956    718 AU    # WARNING: Install failed, error = 0x80070643 / 0x00009C48
2012-04-10  22:47:13:773    2232    9fc Handler :::::::::
2012-04-10  22:47:13:773    2232    9fc Handler ::  END  ::  Handler: Command Line Install
2012-04-10  22:47:13:773    2232    9fc Handler :::::::::::::
2012-04-10  22:47:13:851     956    a7c Agent   *********
2012-04-10  22:47:13:851     956    a7c Agent   **  END  **  Agent: Installing updates [CallerId = AutomaticUpdates]
2012-04-10  22:47:13:851     956    718 AU  Install call completed.
2012-04-10  22:47:13:851     956    a7c Agent   *************
2012-04-10  22:47:13:851     956    718 AU    # WARNING: Install call completed, reboot required = No, error = 0x00000000
2012-04-10  22:47:13:851     956    718 AU  #########
2012-04-10  22:47:13:851     956    718 AU  ##  END  ##  AU: Installing updates [CallId = {FCFF2A5C-25AB-4FB9-AB2B-35C65CCA6A9F}]
2012-04-10  22:47:13:851     956    718 AU  #############
2012-04-10  22:47:13:851     956    718 AU  Install complete for all calls, reboot NOT needed
2012-04-10  22:47:13:851     956    718 AU  Setting AU scheduled install time to 2012-04-11 01:00:00
2012-04-10  22:47:13:851     956    718 AU  Successfully wrote event for AU health state:0
2012-04-10  22:47:13:851     956    498 AU  Getting featured update notifications.  fIncludeDismissed = true
2012-04-10  22:47:13:851     956    498 AU  No featured updates available.
2012-04-10  22:47:14:366     956    168 AU  No featured updates notifications to show
2012-04-10  22:47:14:366     956    168 AU  UpdateDownloadProperties: 0 download(s) are still in progress.
2012-04-10  22:47:14:366     956    168 AU  Triggering Offline detection (non-interactive)
2012-04-10  22:47:14:366     956    168 AU  AU setting pending client directive to 'Install Complete Ux'
2012-04-10  22:47:14:366     956    168 AU  Changing existing AU client directive from 'Progress Ux' to 'Install Complete Ux', session id = 0x1
2012-04-10  22:47:14:366     956    168 AU  Successfully wrote event for AU health state:0
2012-04-10  22:47:14:366     956    b78 AU  #############
2012-04-10  22:47:14:366     956    b78 AU  ## START ##  AU: Search for updates
2012-04-10  22:47:14:366     956    b78 AU  #########
2012-04-10  22:47:14:366     956    b78 AU  >##  RESUMED  ## AU: Search for updates [CallId = {0198DD3A-D7B0-48F5-A77D-795F8A1BDCE8}]
2012-04-10  22:47:16:097     956    718 AU    # 1 updates detected
2012-04-10  22:47:16:097     956    718 AU  #########
2012-04-10  22:47:16:097     956    718 AU  ##  END  ##  AU: Search for updates [CallId = {0198DD3A-D7B0-48F5-A77D-795F8A1BDCE8}]
2012-04-10  22:47:16:097     956    718 AU  #############
2012-04-10  22:47:16:097     956    718 AU  No featured updates notifications to show
2012-04-10  22:47:16:097     956    718 AU  Setting AU scheduled install time to 2012-04-11 01:00:00
2012-04-10  22:47:16:097     956    718 AU  Successfully wrote event for AU health state:0
2012-04-10  22:47:16:097     956    718 AU  Successfully wrote event for AU health state:0
2012-04-10  22:47:16:113     956    55c AU  Getting featured update notifications.  fIncludeDismissed = true
2012-04-10  22:47:16:113     956    55c AU  No featured updates available.
2012-04-10  22:47:18:780     956    bb8 Report  REPORT EVENT: {27479C66-E930-4F9C-AFF2-27EDD76DED8F}    2012-04-10 22:47:13:773+0200    1   182 101 {B33ACEC1-3265-4D01-9C37-AC0892E95ED9}  100 80070643    AutomaticUpdates    Failure Content Install Installation Failure: Windows failed to install the following update with error 0x80070643: Windows Internet Explorer 9 for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems.
2012-04-10  22:47:18:780     956    bb8 Report  CWERReporter::HandleEvents - WER report upload completed with status 0x8
2012-04-10  22:47:18:780     956    bb8 Report  WER Report sent: 7.5.7601.17514 0x80070643 B33ACEC1-3265-4D01-9C37-AC0892E95ED9 Install 101 Unmanaged
2012-04-10  22:47:18:780     956    bb8 Report  CWERReporter finishing event handling. (00000000)

WU-IE9-Windows7-x64.exe

The actual update that is executed is downloaded and stored at the following location:

C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download\Install\WU-IE9-Windows7-x64.exe

Executing that file manually, results in the following error message: enter image description here

IE9_main.log

The IE9 installer/updater also creates an own log file located at

C:\Windows\IE9_main.log

For the update session in question, the installer logged:

00:00.000: ====================================================================
00:00.016: Started: 2012/04/10 (Y/M/D) 23:10:53.897 (local)
00:00.032: Time Format in this log: MM:ss.mmm (minutes:seconds.milliseconds)
00:00.063: Command line: "C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download\Install\WU-IE9-Windows7-x64.exe" 
00:00.078: INFO:    Setup installer for Internet Explorer: 9.0.8112.16421
00:00.094: INFO:    Previous version of Internet Explorer: 9.0.8112.16443
00:00.110: INFO:    Checking if iexplore.exe's current version is between 9.0.6001.0...
00:00.125: INFO:    ...and 9.1.0.0...
00:00.141: INFO:    Maximum version on which to run IEAK branding is: 9.1.0.0...
00:00.156: ERROR:   A newer version of Internet Explorer is already installed on the system.
00:00.188: ERROR:   Internet Explorer version check failed.
01:03.789: INFO:    Setup exit code: 0x00009C48 (40008) - A more recent version of Internet Explorer is installed.
01:03.820: INFO:    Scheduling upload to IE SQM server: http://sqm.microsoft.com/sqm/ie/sqmserver.dll
01:03.852: INFO:    SQM Upload returned 403
01:03.867: INFO:    Cleaning up temporary files in: C:\Windows\TEMP\IE978E.tmp
01:03.883: INFO:    Unable to remove directory C:\Windows\TEMP\IE978E.tmp, marking for deletion on reboot.
01:03.898: INFO:    Released Internet Explorer Installer Mutex

Which pretty much confirms what the error message says when executing the update manually; it's simply already installed or even obsolete because a newer version is installed.

So, why does it try to keep installing the update?

Possible solutions?

enter image description here

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