Vista - Kb955430

well, keep posting if you still want to troubleshoot it, and FYI, if you order windows 7 now, its 50% off. i ordered my copy from amazon.

Yes, I would like to sort it. BTW, I just tried again to download the standalone SP1 thinking it might over-ride any corrupt version I have installed. It downloaded ok (took approx. 15 mins) then a message came up saying it was already installed. Ideally I would like to find the one thats supposed to be installed and uninstall it then maybe the updates will install ok in order and sort the problem.
It is soooo frustrating!

How to uninstall Windows Vista service packs as a troubleshooting step

here is another shot in the dark. i have a couple more ideas if you are interested, let me know.

The link you sent me on how to uninstall vista service packs, I have looked at but for some reason my system restore only goes back to 20 June this year. (I ticked the box 'older than 5 days').
I have the disk to do the system offline restore but I would still need to see the restore point:

1. Click to select the Restore Point that matches the installation date for the service pack. The Restore Point will be labeled either Install: Windows Update or Install: Windows Vista Service Pack <version>.

I can only see one 'windows update' on the 24 June but it doesn't say what update it is, and Im sure sp1 would have been put on before then.

I am interested if you have any other ideas!

i thought maybe the "command line" part of the solution might work. you might also try this:

1. Stop the Automatic Updates service. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. Click Start, click Run, type services.msc, and then click OK.
   2. Right-click the Automatic Updates service, and then click Stop.
   3. Minimize the Services snap-in.
2. Rename the SoftwareDistribution directory. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
   2. Type cd %windir%, and then press ENTER.
   3. Type ren SoftwareDistribution SDTemp, and then press ENTER
   4. Type exit, and then press ENTER .
   
   Note When you remove the %windir%\softwaredistribution folder, the history list is erased from the "Review your Updates" section of the Windows Update Web site. This action will not affect the currently installed updates on your computer. Subsequent updates will appear in the history list.
3. Start the Automatic Updates service. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. Maximize the Services snap-in.
   2. Right-click the Automatic Updates service, and then click Start.
   3. Close the Services snap-in window.
4. Visit the Windows Update Web site, the Microsoft Update Web site, or the WSUS server again, and then download an update.
5. If you still receive the same errors, verify that you have correctly performed steps 1 through 3.
6. If you still cannot install the update, see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article: 906602 (How to troubleshoot common Windows Update, Microsoft Update, and Windows Server Update Services installation issues ) How to troubleshoot Windows Update, Microsoft Update, and Windows Server Update Services installation issues

let me know what happens.

i did a little more digging. try to install these updates in this order:

Description of a prerequisite software update for Windows Vista update 937287: April 8, 2008

then this one:

A software update is available for the Windows Vista installation software feature

THEN try sp1 again.

Just followed your instructions re: services and cmd. No luck Im afraid. Ive just been looking on the link you sent (Knowledge Base article). This section:

1. <LI type=a>Click Start, click All Programs, and then click Windows Update or Microsoft Update. <LI type=a>On the Windows Update Web site or on the Microsoft Update Web site, click Review your update history. A window opens that shows all the updates that have been installed or that have failed to install on the computer. <LI type=a>In the Status column of this window, locate the update that failed to install, and then click the red X.
   A new window opens that displays the installation error code.
2. Note the error number. You will have to type or paste the error number in a search box in the next step.

......there is no red X. It just says 'failed', but on the update window where I have the option to install, when it says it has failed (within seconds as usual) thats where it says 'code 8007000D windows update encountered an unknown error'. This probably why (unknown) that I cannot find any such error code in the Microsoft update troubleshooting pages?

You must be getting sick of me by now!! Just tried the '937287' after it downloaded it said 'update does not apply to this system'. I tried the 64 bit version first and just to be sure...tried the x86 version too, both said the same!

I don't know if this is odd or not but in control panel, programs and features-installed updates, theres nothing in there (which I previously discovered) but if I click on 'Turn windows features on or off'....theres nothing in there either???

I forgot to mention too, the KB949939 said 'does not apply to this system' too!