Vista - Error "Code 80073712"

I have a Dell Inspiron 1525 laptop currently running on 32-bit Vista Home Premium SP1, but have been unable on numerous tries to download and install SP2. Each time I try, it fails to complete the process and gives me an error "Code 80073712" whatever that means. Can someone out there tell me what this means, and how I can once and for all upgrade to SP2 after 6 OR 8 tries, please? I've never had any difficulty upgrading anything before, including other Microsoft upgrades, but this has turned into a great frustration.

1) Open CMD prompt as Administrator
2) Enter the following: takeown /f C:\Windows\winsxs\pending.xml
3) Enter the following, and type in your username in the designated
place: cacls C:\Windows\winsxs\pending.xml /G <EnterUsernameHere>:F
4) Go to C:\Windows\winsxs\ and rename the pending.xml file to
pending.bak
5) Run Windows Update again, and you should be all set!

The "Windows Features" dialog box is empty in Windows 7 or Windows Vista, or you receive an error message that includes the following code when you try to use Windows Update: "0x80073712"

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." I am the primary user for this laptop WITH ADMINISTRATOR RIGHTS, but am I supposed to "open the CMD prompt as Administrator" using something other than the "CMD" command? I assume not, since you did not mention it.

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 RapidShare: 1-CLICK Web hosting - Easy Filehosting

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
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.

Lemur, I'm about to PROVE that I am far from expert at this, but your explanation above still does not tell me how to follow your steps and resolve this problem using VISTA HOME PREMIUM (SP1) so I can successfully download and install SP2. :-(

Flavius, please forgive me, but this "average PC user" cannot understand what you are suggesting, so cannot follow your directions.

One more try. . . . . Can Flavius, Lemur, or anyone else out there PLEASE give me directions IN SIMPLE STEP BY STEP LAYMAN TERMINOLOGY for following the directions above, or otherwise helping me resolve the issue that somehow prevents me from downloading Vista SP2, please? You also mentioned as an alternative downloading (or purchasing on CD??) a stand-alone copy of SP2 but I've been all over Google and the MS Webpage, but cannot finding on either one that helps. Is there anyone out there who can tell me in understandable terms how to do this, or else another online source for doing it? Each time I try it again, the download gets to 12% and then stops, giving me a "Code 80073712, Windows Update encountered an unknown error," which to me is as "clear as mud."

decann:

Not to discourage you ... but I believe that I had nearly the same problem a month ago. SP2 was offered but every attempt to download stopped part way through with that same error message.

I contacted MS through their support desk, and spent HOURS online trying to fix this -- even to the point of granting them remote access. And even THEN, MS was unable to fix it.

I should mention that during the online sessions with MS, they did all the things mentioned earlier in this post as well as resetting the Windows Update database -- and even then, it was not fixed.

What eventually DID fix it was the following:
1) Ordering a replacement Vista DVD (with SP1) from MS (had to BUY it!). MS allowed me to do this because the purchase was in support of the original trouble ticket the opened for my SP2-won't-install problem.
2) Doing a nondestructive Vista reinstall using the SP1 DVD
3) Booting to the Vista SP1 DVD and running sfc /scannow from a command prompt. Running it inside Vista from an elevated command prompt failed repeatedly.

Only after ALL of that was I able to then load SP2.

So, I wish you good luck -- you may need it.

Mark - I understand the fact you said, "MS allowed me to do this because the purchase was in support of the original trouble ticket the opened for my SP2-won't install problem" but can you tell me if such a CD is available to me and how/where I can purchase one? Even though I don't think I should HAVE TO, I will pay any reasonable cost if it resolves the problem. Before you, folks on this list could only seem to tell me to do things I had already said had not worked, but this sounds like it just might work and is at least something I've not already tried. If you will, please let me know where you got the CD so I can order one.

Installing a service pack is SUPPOSED to be a routine process, that is why I've stayed with trying to resolve this myself, but this has been ANYTHING BUT routine. I may await your response now, but the Dell Inspiron 1525 laptop is still under warranty so barring something to convince me otherwise I'll likely see what (if anything) they can do. After an unrelated unpleasant transaction with them in the past though, I am reluctant to go back to them again, but at this point my options are very limited. I am just an "intermediate" computer user, not in any way a techie or computer technician, so understanding all of this at my age (67) is not easy for me.

Will be hoping to hear from you again soon.