A couple of weeks ago I started to notice that I got an error "Windows can not install updates" and trying to install updates would give me error code 80070424. After excessive googling and regsvr32 wusomething.dll'ing, nothing seemed to work for me.

Long story short, I've realized that the reason my updates aren't working is because the service "Windows Modules Installer" is not started, and in fact is not stopped either, but is not listed in services.msc. I realized that TrustedInstaller.exe no longer exists in C:\windows\servicing and I managed to recover it from an old system restore point. ( I would just leave the system from that state and call it a day, but that doesn't seem to work either =/ ).

So now what I need to figure out is whether there is a way to re-register Windows Modules Installer as a service or if I need to reinstall my OS.

Any help would be greatly appreciated and any if you need additional information just let me know. Please help, this has been driving me nuts for a week now. Thanks in advance, -Nick.

Originally Posted by Flavius

I attache below fix for TrustedInstaller but will be small problem to import this fix to registry due to permissions - only SYSTEM account have full access to those keys.To do that without changing permissions the better way will be run regedit from a SYSTEM account.Download PsTools and unpack psexec.exe file and place it in C:\Windows\System32

Next run cmd.exe with administrative previlliges (right click on this file as administrator) and type

psexec -s -i -d regedit.exe

Next File>>import :choose below attached *.reg file + restart

If no help for you only leave repair install without loosing programs and data
Repair Install For Vista

Thanks, I tried what you suggested, got TrustedInstaller added to the list of services, however it was unable to start. Error message read that it was a corrupt image file or something along those lines, so I ran the vista repair from the disc, now it works just fine. Thank you for your help!