Windows 8 Pro updates (KB2802618), KB2871777 and KB2920189 not installing (800703F1)

[livingdi]

Hi,

Windows 8 Pro (x64) cannot install the updates: (KB2802618), KB2871777 and KB2920189 (the last two particularly), gets error code: 800703F1, manually also not (from: www.microsoft.com/en-US/download/details.aspx?id=40033, www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=42680) (I use AVG AntiVirus Free Edition 2014 and Advanced SystemCare 7, but it still won't update after a clean start). I tried most of the solutions I found online, stressing and wasting many hours, nothing seems to work. Perhaps you have to be an Einstein just to make Windows work (function normally)? I don't understand why Windows is corruptible in the first place and does not seem have any intelligent monitoring for self-protection/-reconstruction, nor do the updates come with a decent research tool that has an automatic solution for all possible problems. What makes matters worse is that these updates are set as a precondition to be able to Update to Windows 8.1. I'm sure there must be more people who are having this particular problem. How could it be solved (apart from choosing another operating system)? Thank you. View attachment 8121

 

[livingdi]

I want to simplify everything and start Nanosoft where system "deterioration" will not be an option. I'm not the only one: www.sysnative.com/forums/windows-update/9458-windows-8-update-error-800703f1.html. :eightstart::rose:

 

[livingdi]

:lightbulb:It's been about 3 weeks now, anyone who had the same problem or could put me on the right track are invited to reply. Let's try something new. Thanks in advance. Windows should serve us, not the other way around: this monster has gone out of control: Unable to install updates in Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2.

 

[livingdi]

:computer: How Microsoft Windows makes you feel sometimes: How to kill yourself wit a keyboard - YouTube.

 

[tom982]

Hello livingdi, welcome to Sysnative!

Yeah these errors can be pretty frustrating at times!

I was hoping I'd be able to bring you some good news to spare your keyboard from being smashed to pieces, but this is a very bad sign:

2014-05-28 15:31:59, Info                  CBS    Failed to load the COMPONENTS hive from 'C:\WINDOWS\System32\config\COMPONENTS' into registry key 'HKLM\COMPONENTS'. [HRESULT = 0x800703f1 - ERROR_BADDB]

You'll almost definitely have to reinstall Windows to fix this, but I want to check just in case. This will upload your COMPONENTS hive (mentioned above) to me:

SFCFix Script

Warning: this fix is specific to the user in this thread. No one else should follow these instructions as it may cause more harm than good. If you are after assistance, please start a thread of your own.

1. [sfcfixdownload]Download SFCFix[/sfcfixdownload] (by niemiro) and save this to your Desktop.
2. Download the attached file, SFCFix.txt, and save this to your Desktop. Ensure that this file is named SFCFix.txt - do not rename it.
3. Save any open documents and close all open windows.
4. On your Desktop, you should see two files: SFCFix.exe and SFCFix.txt.
5. Drag the file SFCFix.txt onto the file SFCFix.exe and release it.
6. SFCFix will now process the script.
7. Upon completion, a log should be created on your Desktop: SFCFix.txt.
8. Copy (Ctrl+C) and Paste (Ctrl+V) the contents of this into your next post for me to analyse please - put [CODE][/CODE] tags around the log to break up the text.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u...s/~Generic/Collect/COMPONENTS/SFCFix.txt?dl=1

Tom

 

[livingdi]

Thank you.

SFCFix version 2.2.4.0 by niemiro.Start time: 2014-06-23 12:13:45.892
Using .txt script file at C:\Users\Naam\Desktop\SFCFix.txt








Collect:: directive completed successfully.








Successfully processed all directives.
SFCFix version 2.2.4.0 by niemiro has completed.
Currently storing 0 datablocks.
Finish time: 2014-06-23 12:15:55.649
----------------------EOF-----------------------

 

[tom982]

I've had a look at your hive and although the data is all there, there's corruption somewhere at the start meaning it can't be loaded. I managed to repair enough to get it to load, but I've tried a few times to reveal the rest of the information and I've had no luck. I'm afraid you're going to have to reinstall Windows:

https://www.sysnative.com/forums/wi...-install-windows-windows-7-windows-vista.html

Tom

 

[livingdi]

I've many programs, also very large ones, so reinstalling Windows (7/8?) is not really an option. I have no idea what could have caused this, perhaps the upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 8? Also, would it be worthwhile, when things can get corrupted again thereafter (for no apparent reason)? Is there a bypass to still Update to Windows 8.1? Thank you.

 

[tom982]

Sorry about that, I sent you the wrong link. The correct one is here.

Without the logs I can't really say what could've caused this, and with a damaged components hive the tools I use to get the logs won't work, so it's a bit of a vicious cycle really.

This sort of corruption is unlikely to happen, you were just a bit unlucky so don't let it put you off doing anything.

As for updating to Windows 8.1, I'm afraid anything you try will definitely fail. The COMPONENTS hive, as the name suggests, contains information on all of the components installed on your computer. Without it, Windows will have no idea what to update and what to remove, so you'll never be able to update your computer again until this is fixed. Installing other MS components (like .NET and Silverlight) might fail as well, but I'm not 100% sure on that.

I know it's a hassle having to reinstall Windows, especially with lots of programs to transfer over, but it's really important you get this fixed so your computer has the latest security patches installed. With malware like CryptoLocker (encrypts all your files and demands a ransom of $300 to decrypt them) out there, it's just not worth the risk.

One thing you could try before biting the bullet and reinstalling is to do a refresh:

How to refresh, reset or restore your PC - Windows Help
The section: Refreshing your PC without affecting your files

I'm not sure if this will work or not but it's definitely worth a try.

Tom

 

[livingdi]

Successfully installed Windows 8.1 Pro, thank you for pulling me through, Tom.

For the possible benefit of other tormented souls, what did/didn't work for me:
- The method from the link above did not work, got: "The inserted media is not valid".
- Trying the same thing directly from the Windows 8 upgrade USB drive also did not work, got: "The drive where Windows is installed is locked. Unlock the drive and try again."
- What did work: right-clicked "setup.exe" on upgrade USB drive and "Run as administrator" and - after starting the installation process over - under "Choose what to keep": "Windows settings, personal files, and apps" (virtually all my programs were preserved this way, so perhaps it's a good thing that the refresh didn't work).*

* As before, my Wi-Fi became slow because of the corrupt Windows 8 driver; solved that as before, by reinstalling the original driver:
Control Panel > System and Security > System > Device Manager > Network adapters > right-click Broadcom adapter > Update Driver Software > Browse my computer for driver software > Let me pick from a list... > Have Disk > then locate the original WLAN Broadcom driver (Win7) (.inf) on computer.