Fix for Vista SP1 install error 80073712 through windows update

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When you try to install Vista SP1 from windows update you may receive the error code 80073712.This is the most common problem for many users.I hope this solution will work for you.

Solution

The issue is that the WUA 3.0 (7.0.6000.374) upgrade is corrupted,essentially the system reports the WUA to be 7.0.6000.374 but the files on the disk are still from the old version (you can check some of the DLLs like wups.dll, wuaueng.dll etc… in the windows\system32) … and you cannot install the WUA 3.0 even manually.

delete the following file

C:\windows\winsxs\pending.xml

Since Windows security will not allow you to do this, here under the procedure to take ownership of the file

run a command prompt with “Run as Administrator”.

Type in the following commands

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

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

then delete the file and Reboot the machine

Reinstall the Windows Update Agent

Windows, x86-based systems download from here

Windows, x64-based systems download from here

save to the desktop, and run from an elevated command prompt, adding /wuforce to the end of the command

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Comments

THANK YOU SO MUCH

THIS WORKS

i don’t have the pending.xml file
only pending.GRL
i have vista 64 ultimate

No pending.xml file.
I’ve decided to share the pain. Microsoft has free support for SP1 installations, so I’ve spent the last 5 hours with them, trying to install SP1. Many reboots, black screens and different methods…
So far, not installed.

What’s the point trying to debug Microsoft’s problems? They have staff, let them do it.

I have Vista SP1 Ultimate and this error exists still in trying to download anything. I also can’t install Windows Live Messenger.

I have two separate MS support calls that have been working for over a week and no solution.

Like others, I have no pending.xml file, and the KB947821 does not apply to SP1.

even after deleting the pending.xml still getting the same error 80073712 during SP1 instyallation.

No pending.xml, what is the next step from here now?

This worked great for me. I also combined it with the following from another windows help log:

Click the Start button . In the Search box, type Command Prompt, and then, in the list of results, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as Administrator.

I ended up have to do an in place upgrade using a Windows disc that MS sent me with SP1 already installed. It worked – thank goodness but I tried everything else and this was the only thing that worked. At least I didn’t have to do a clean install and lose everything already on the machine. Worked quickly and well.

This fix worked for me:

Throw your Vista PeeCee in the trash.

Go to the Apple Store and get a Mac.

Problem solved.

I have windows system 32. The commands given above are obsolete for this. Please suggest appropriate directions. While updating I het error 80073712.

I’d been getting this coded error ever since I upgraded from XP to Vista. The following link and download make this error go away. Finally! Microsoft has software to analyze and then fix (hopefully) these type of installing update issues. It’s called, System Update Readiness Tool for Windows Vista and for Windows Server 2008 at this site:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947821

Good luck.

Bonjour
Je n’arrive pas à configurer la mise à jour KB961260 pour IE 7 pour VISTA
code errer 800719E4
voila merci pour votre aide
a bientot la solution

Uninstall google desktop. there is a conflict with vista and google desktop. I have had this problem several times and this has always fixed the issue.

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