What is Error 8000FFFF when I try to install a Windows Vista Update?

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This is probably why we never buy a new operating system until it's at LEAST 6 months old. Does anybody actually believe that Microsoft is capable of designing a program that's NOT full of bugs??? Look at all the security patches for Vista, the so-called "impenetrable" OS, and it's been out a whole 3 months!

Wow I am so glad that I read this cause I was going to go and buy the new windows vista so I can update my windows for school, but on the other hand I don't thank so now. Thanks Leo, Vickie

Dan Petri has stumbled into the same problem and was able to resolve, but it wasn't quick: http://www.petri.co.il/cannot_install_update_windows_vista_kb929777.htm

Best of luck to you!

Here is the answer to your problems. Go to your control panel under add and remove programs you will see a hot fix for kb929777. Uninstall this hot fix. Windows will tell you to reboot, do it. Download the kb929777 for the windows website not the auto update site, (if you do it will install the hot fix first before the kb929777 and then kb929777 will not install again). After successful update you will need to reboot. check for updates( there should be none and your history should show successful update on the kb929777. I also took out 3 gb of mem. before I did this but before it would still not download until I removed the hot fix, so I DO NOT KNOW IF YOU NEED TO REMOVE THE MEM. FIRST. But try it with the mem. in first and it may save you a step.

Thanks, that had me confused for a while.

I have 2 gigs of RAM. I get the 8000FFFF error message with no error description; just the number alone. I have automatic update activate. My last updaste is May 31, 2007. Today is June 13, 2007. Will I ever be able to update?

I also have 2GB RAM, the max my Presario allows. (After bootup I have about 1.5GB.) The first time I got this error, 5/22/07, it was for Vista Update KB936824, but Windows Defender deinition downloaded at the same time installed successfully. After a couple tries and failures, I thought it may be because I don't use an iPod, so I hid it and forgot it until 6/12/07 when updates KB931213, KB933566, KB936825, KB929123 failed, and continue to fail with that 8000FFFF error code while Windows Defender defs and Malicious Software Removal Tool continue to install without problem. Somebody needs to kick the Windows Update team into high gear because these updates address security issues.

Since my post of 6/15, things got so bad that every time I tried to check for updates, it kept telling me that I needed to download a new windows update. When I tried this, I got the same error code. I haven't been able even check for updates,let alone install one, not even using a stand alone installer package(*.msu). That is until today. At the point of resorting to full recovery, I tried one last thing. I right clicked on Computer on the Start Menu and chose Manage. From the left colomn I chose Services and Applications, then selected Services. After selecting Windows Update, I clicked on More Actions on the right(under Windows Update). I tried refresh, restart, then I chose Properties and changed the startup type from "Automatic(Delayed Start)" to "Automatic" clicked Apply and Rebooted. I don't know if any of my actions had anything to do with it, BUT, when I logged back on I got a notice to install the new Windows Update. When I clicked Install it not only installed, but checked for updates and successfully installed all the updates that had previously failed. Its good to be up to date! Still don't know what "Windows Update error code: 8000FFFF" means, good luck.

none of the solutions here work...new install of vista, no updates installed

it still comes after following all steps .When can we get a resolution.

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