Installation impossible of the SP1 update for Vista on my IBM LENOVO ThinkPad X61s.

Always the same error code: 0x800F0826 

The installation failed AFTER the restart and the "100% installed"...

The "Microsoft" non-solutions are here:

http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;947366&x=13&y=3

Memory check tools: OK

Antivirus (by the 2 engines of GData 2008 and 2009): OK

SFC: Windows OK

Disk: OK

All lenovo drivers updates: OK

Chechsur... it wants to install SP1... of course

Uninstall Firewall and antivirus: OK, same problem 0x800F0826 

Registry cleaner: OK

No software incompatible with Vista SP1: OK

Windows OneCare cleaner: OK

All other patch or update are installed: OK

PC Doctor: OK 

Download by Windows Update or by package download: same problem 0x800F0826 

Conclusion of the Microsoft support: Your Windows is OEM, so ask Lenovo!

So... I contacted the IBM/Lenovo support and this is the classical answer:

Backup everything,
Format your disk,
loose everything,
re-instal Windows Vista,
install SP1
and re-install all loosen software,
and re-install your data,
and loose 2 weeks of works...

Please please... Somebody has another solution? 

Please!!!!!!

Many thanks for your help.

Regards

M 

x61s x61s x61s x61s  

Bienvenue shadoko!

That sounds frustrating. I haven't experienced it myself, but there's stuff all over the Internet about this error.

The most frequently mentioned solution is "change the following two services to "Automatic Startup" in the Windows Services area. You can get there by going to Start --> Control Panel --> Administrative Tools --> Services. Then find the two services "Windows Event Collector" and "Windows Module Installer" and change their startup type from Manual to Automatic."

Microsoft also have a help page for this error, which seems to indicate it is caused by a previously failed update, i.e. not by the SP1 update.

Tell us if this helps!

Dear Bananaman

Many thanks for your answer...

I will try your solution with

I'll tell you the result!

About the Microsoft Help page...

"If you could not find an update for Windows that failed because of an error other than 800f0826, or if the problem persists after you have followed the steps above, an error in another area of the operating system might be preventing you from installing updates. To request support by e‑mail, go to the Windows Update Support Center website."

I forgot to mention these checks:

No Failed update on Windows update: OK

Contact MS Support Center: OK no solution

Thanks again.

More info later! 

Where did you download service pack 1 installer? Stand-alone installer or anything?

If you already tried 'stand-alone installer' again and again, I would recommend you to use 'Windows Update' as an only tool. It might sound stupid, but sometimes it solves this kind of problem quite well.

If you didn't use standalone installer, then download this if you use 32-bit one or this for 64-bit.

Note: I recommend to install all drivers first, then update sp1.

Hi,

Thank you for the solution with the service starting option.

I can't find "Windows Module Installer"  ("Installateur de Modules Windows" in my French system) in the list.

Strange..

Note: I launch the "services" application with all administrator right.

Oh, that's interesting. My Windows Module Installer says:

"Enables installation, modification, and removal of Windows updates and optional components. If this service is disabled, install or uninstall of Windows updates might fail for this computer."

At this stage I want to suggest running a repair on your Vista installation to fix this, then SP1 might install... but I've never seen this before.

Before getting too experimental, please make a backup of your important files!

Yes it's a good track!

I have to check how find this service.

N.B.: But... Except for SP1, WindowsUpdate didn't have any problem....  I know, you write "might"!

Thanks again 

Hi All,

After to test your last solutions/ideas... so... I'm sorry (for me)... Impossible to upgrade my Vista. Same error code. Same problem.

If you have another idea... please please please please ...

Regards

M