Vista - Code 8000FFFF Windows encountered an unknown error

As some of you may recall, I have two different strings in this forum on the subject of Vista SP2 refusing to install, and as of this moment I never did get it to install in my laptop running on 32-bit Vista Home Premium. Finally, after four days of phone calls with MS Tech Support, who I am convinced were only guessing, they finally cleaned off the entire hard drive, then did a "clean install" of Vista (with no service pack). Vista still didn't work right, and finally after calling the laptop manufacturer (Dell) they got it done to where at least it functioned properly.

Now then, the latest problem is that after Dell fixed Vista and I downloaded 98 updates and such to my new Vista installation, THE PROBLEMS CONTINUE. Only 97 of the 98 updates installed. The one that did not was "Update For Windows Vista (KB9299777), a "recommended" update dates way back in 1/29/2007, and for that I have repeatedly gotten a "Code 8000FFFF Windows encountered an unknown error."

What does this error mean, and is this update really necessary? After 2 or 3 tries it remains UNinstalled, but is there really any great need for it? If so, how do I install it. After all this ongoing trouble installing Vista SP2, I am now back to Vista with NO service packs and I am going to leave it that way, simply due to all of the trouble they have put me through. Please, someone please let me know what this Code 8000FFFF means, and if you can do so please tell me how to install the KB9299777 update this code is attached to.

This error hava maybe 100 meanings depends of context - for you it mean this:http://www.vistax64.com/1147955-post2.html

Flavius: I have sort of come in the back door and resolved this issue, albeit unknowingly. As noted, when I posted I had just REinstalled Vista, then 98 updates to it, for which 97 installed leaving the one referenced in my post as the lone one that refused (in multiple tries) to do so. In talking with a friend, he recommended reinstalling SP1 (and NOT SP2), saying that doing so should be 1. helpful to the computer and 2. could/should also resolve the issue with this uninstalled update. #2 apparently was right, because I now am notified that all available updates are installed, and this is with SP1 installed.

I remain unconvinced of the need for SP2 for a couple of reasons. For one, that is what I was trying to do when this whole chain of events began in the first place, but also because my friend (a Network Manager by trade) does not feel I need it. So, for both reasons I am not going to even try to install it and remain with SP1, but I will keep an open mind if anyone out there wants to give me some good reasons for risking the same installation problems I had that triggered this whole mess that in the end caused a Microsoft technician to totally clean off my hard drive, which resulted in my having to REPLACE MS OFFICE 2007 OUT OF MY OWN POCKET when I discovered MS apparently had something in it that prevented me from using the CD to REinstall it into the same machine the initial installation came out of. That brings up the interesting question of why are we told to keep the installation CD if it won't allow us to reinstall the software if/when it becomes necessary, but that is another issue entirely.