Lemur. . . Did you noted that I am using 32-bit Vista Home Premium SP1? When I try to follow step 2 of your directions I get the response "ERROR: The system cannot find the file specified."
This mean only you don't have pending.xml file in WinSxS and and problem is in another things.Pending.xml file may exist both in x32 and x64 systems.Did you check data and time in system and run sfc /command as MS say in link which gave you?Have you tried instal SP2 from Microsoft Download Center (not from Windows Update!) in safe mode too?If nothing help find
CBS.log file in
C:\Windows\Logs\CBS pack it and attache to post -if it will be too big to attache upload it on
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I think is worth also run Readiness Tool
Description of the System Update Readiness Tool for Windows Vista, for Windows Server 2008, and for Windows 7
Even this tool don't help you it create
CheckSur.log file in
C:\Windows\Logs\CBS
->attache this file to post also
BTW
@lemur
Even if anybody have pending.xml file:
before this command
cacls C:\Windows\winsxs\pending.xml /G <EnterUsernameHere>:F
you have to takeownership of file -this means you have to use
takeown /f C:\Windows\winsxs\pending.xml
command,because the owner all objects in WinSxS is TrustedInstaller not Administrators group.