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

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for those suggesting solutions with the command pront running as administrator, for future referance please use the following instructions

windows key+r to bring up run, type in cmd and instead of hitting enter alone hit control+shift+enter

cmd as administrator which you will verify in the title bar

None of these solutions work. I've tried them all and the update KB929777 still fails. I've tried Stopping services like windows firewall, defender, and update service. Then manually downloading the patch from MS and it fails. I've renamed the SoftwareDistribution folder and letting the update service recreate it. Fails to install. I've checked those registry keys. They don't exist.

I believe this is related to having 3 or more GB of memory. The Dell XPS Laptop I'm trying to update has 4GB RAM and shows 3.5GB. All I want is to exclude it so that I can image this thing and drop on about 10 similar systems. How Microsoft can release such a problem with no solution is beyond me. And I've spent hours reading solutions posted all over, and none work!

4 GB of memmory will only show up if using a 64bit OS....32Bit OS's can't see all of the memorry.

We understand 32 bit memory addressing. The issue is the error messages, interruptions, and hassle.

DOS is such a pathetic OS. Oh, did I say DOS? All the "window" dressing in the world won't make Windows a useful OS because of the hoops it has to jump through to manage memory.

I'd buy a Mac if I could justify the cost.

I have 4Gigs and I'm having this problem.

I just bought my dell 1720 and ran into so many problems with Vista that I tried installing XP. I got it on my computer but there was no way to download all the drivers it needed. I couldn't even connect to the internet. It was a mess, I had to a call Dell tech, because I'm a total Noob, and they can only help me putting back Vista. Which leaves me here, trying to fix this update problem.

ALL 32 bit Os's can only address 4gig of memory max, considering other devices in your pc use memory addressing to you wont see all 4gigs unless you go to a 64 bit os. So its not something that microsoft can 'fix', its simply how computers work, so you might want to edit that part of the page, its noobish.

My PC came with Vista installed and only 1 Gig of memory. Cant get of rid of the error either.

...I also have an article posted here on this error:

http://www.instantvista.com/8000ffff.html

Regards

Marc Liron - Microsoft MVP

I just updated my Dell XPS M1710 to 4gig of ram and now I have the same problem. I have never had this problem till I updated the ram.

I also just updated my Dell (dimension E521) to 4 gig and instantly started getting the error messages. I've just removed 2 gigs and am attempting the update... Update appears to have worked. This is insane. The best part of this 8000ffff error is that if you search the Microsoft Knowledge base it will autofill the search bar as you type out the error number but there's no information on the actual error code. F You Microsoft and your stupid buggy OS!

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