Error 80073712 with Windows Updates in Windows Vista

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When you try to download and install updates available for your Windows Vista, it may fail with error code 80073712. It could show progress as “Downloading updates” but stays at 0% and finally fails with error 80073712.

This could happen if at sometime you stopped Windows Updates half way or your PC was shutdown or restarted either due to an error or by mistake. This corrupts the Windows Updates Agent.

To resolve the problem, try deleting the c:\windows\winsxs\pending.xml file as following and then download and install the Windows Update Agent from Microsoft.

1. Click Start - All programs - Accessories, right-click “command prompt” and select “Run as Administrator”.

2. Run the following commands to take ownership:

C:\>takeown /f C:\Windows\winsxs\pending.xml

C:\>cacls C:\Windows\winsxs\pending.xml /G <Username>:F

For example,

C:\>cacls C:\Windows\winsxs\pending.xml /G ANNAI\SAI:F

3. Delete pending.xml as follows:

C:\>del C:\windows\winsxs\pending.xml

4. Download and install Windows Updates Agent from one of the following:

Windows Vista x86

Windows Vista x64

5. Reboot the computer when prompted. Once restarted, run Windows Update again and that should run smoothly.