can't run windows update on Lenovo Y530: error 80004002

I've run into a very frustrating catch-22 on a Lenovo Y530 ideapad laptop that I set up for my sister. She complained of getting various error messages, including something about the power management, so I took it home and started working to get things straightened out. I fixed the power management issue, but very quickly found myself in a state where I couldn't do a Windows Update: the update program would report "Windows could not search for new updates. Error(s) found: Code 80004002".

I got rid of this error by restoring back to a previous restore point, but then my graphics adapter shows up with a yellow exclamation point in the device driver and I can't set the screen resolution properly (because it reverts to a PnP VGA driver which can only handle 800x600 or 1024xwhatever).

I can fix the graphics problem by running Lenovo one-click recovery/repair, which reports that it has found several corrupted files, after which the display adapter appears to reinstall fine and I can get the proper 1280x800 resolution.

But then I'm back to square one and I get an error when I try to run Windows Update. I've run through the cycle twice, and I've tried every remedy I can find online, but all with no success.

I could wipe out all data and software and restore the laptop back to factory settings, but I'd sort of hate to do that if I don't have to.

Any ideas?

thanks,
-huge

 

Restore the system and keep the VGA driver. Then go to Lenovo's website and download GPU drivers, unless the drivers are on the Intel website instead.

Otherwise

Open an elevated command prompt, and type the following commands. Press ‘ENTER’ key after each command:

regsvr32 wuapi.dll
regsvr32 wuaueng.dll
regsvr32 wuaueng1.dll
regsvr32 wucltui.dll
regsvr32 wups.dll
regsvr32 wups2.dll
regsvr32 wuweb.dll

Another way would be to Install Vista SP1, unless you already have, then you can do so again.

 

Dude55 - Thanks for the quick reply. I think I've tried all that (short of restoring factory settings), but let me make sure I understand...

I've definitely downloaded and installed drivers from the Lenovo site. Strangley, when I'm having the problem with the display adapter, installing the Lenovo drivers does not fix it - only running the Lenovo "repair" procedure seems to clear that problem (and in turn it brings the problem with update).

I've run all the regsvr32 *.dll commands that I have seen suggested, with no success. I was logged on to an admin account, so I didn't choose "Run as Administrator" for the command prompt - do I need to do both?

It is already running Vista Home Premium Service Pack 1 ... are you suggesting that I download and reinstall SP1?

thanks again,
-huge

 

youre welcome...my pleasure to help.

http://download.windowsupdate.com/v7/windowsupdate/redist/standalone/WindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe

try installing that, then restarting and running windows update

if that doesnt work then i would suspect a reinstall of sp1 would fix it for sure.

 

thanks ... already tried reinstalling the update agent (including deleting all files in the SoftwareDistribution folder) 2 or 3 times, with no luck.

Sounds like reinstalling SP1 is my next step - at least a little better than restoring to factory state...

 

ok let me know how it goes.
im sure that will work. if it doesnt, in the meantime i will think of more options, but i dont see any.

 

downloading it as I type this ... will let you know ... thanks

 

ok sounds good.
youre welcome

 

blecchhh ...

I can't figure out a way to reinstall SP1, because:

The laptop came with SP1 already installed, so it's not on the list of installed updates to be uninstalled.

I don't have an old enough system restore point from before SP1.

The pkgmgr.exe option ( method 3 on this page) doesn't seem to do anything (the steps they list to remove SP1 doesn't seem to do anything at all).



The only thing I'm left with is to one-key-restore all the way back to factory settings, but I just can't believe that's the only way to deal with this (and I'm not even sure the problem won't just come back after I do that).

If anyone has any more ideas, let me know.

thanks...

 

Method 1: Uninstall the Windows Vista service pack by using the Programs and Features item in Control Panel
The easiest way to uninstall a Windows Vista service pack is to use the Programs and Features item in Control Panel. To uninstall the Windows Vista service pack by using the Programs and Features item in Control Panel, follow these steps:

1. Click Start
Collapse this imageExpand this image
the Start button
, type Appwiz.cpl in the Start Search box, and then click Appwiz.cpl in the Programs list.

Collapse this imageExpand this image
User Access Control permission
If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.
2. Click View installed updates.
3. Click the service pack that you want to uninstall, and then click Uninstall.

If you cannot see the Uninstall option for Windows Vista service pack in the list, go to method 2.
4. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen to complete the uninstall process.

If these steps successfully uninstalled Windows Vista service pack, and this resolves the issue, you are finished.

* If these steps do not uninstall the Windows Vista service pack, or if these steps successfully uninstall the Windows Vista service pack but do not resolve the issue, you might have to restore the system to a previous state. To do this, go to method 2.
* If you do not want to remove changes that you have made since installing the service pack and restore the system to a previous state, go to method 3. Method 3 is intended for advanced users.

Back to the top
Method 2: Uninstall Windows Vista service pack and restore your computer by using System Restore
Important This method removes any changes that you may have made since installing the Windows Vista service pack. If you do not want to remove these settings, go to method 3.

If method 1 did not work, or if you want to uninstall the Windows Vista service pack and restore the system to a previous working state, use this method. You can use offline System Restore or System Restore to remove a Windows Vista service pack and restore your computer.

Note As a best practice, use offline System Restore when you want to use System Restore to uninstall a Windows Vista service pack.

Note The System Restore process does not delete any personal files or personal data.
Method 2A: Offline System Restore
Use this method when you have the Windows Vista installation CD or DVD. If you do not have the installation disc, go to method 2B.
Prerequisite
To use offline System Restore, you must have a Windows Vista CD or DVD. Additionally, your computer must be configured to start from the CD or DVD drive. In some cases, you may have to modify the BIOS settings on the computer to configure the computer to start from the CD or DVD drive. For more information about how to configure the computer to start from the CD or DVD drive, see your computer documentation or contact the computer manufacturer.

First, start the computer from the CD drive. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Insert the Windows Vista CD or DVD, and then restart the computer.
2. When you receive the following message, press any key:
Press any key to boot from CD or DVD.
3. Set the following preferences, and then click Next:
* Language to install
* Time and currency format
* Keyboard or input method

Then, use offline System Restore to remove the Windows Vista service pack. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Repair your computer, select the operating system that you want to repair if it is necessary, and then click Next.
2. Click System Restore, and then click Next.
3. Click to select the Restore Point that matches the installation date for the service pack. The Restore Point will be labeled either Install: Windows Update or Install: Windows Vista Service Pack <version>.
4. Confirm the hard disk that you want to restore, and then click Next.
5. Click Finish, and then click Yes when you are prompted.
6. When the System Restore process is complete, click Restart to restart the computer.
7. After the computer restarts, click Close to confirm that the System Restore process has finished successfully.

If these steps successfully uninstall the Windows Vista service pack and restore your computer, you are finished. If these steps do not uninstall the Windows Vista service pack, or if these steps successfully uninstall the Windows Vista service pack but do not resolve the issue, go to the “Next Steps” section for information about how to contact Support.
Method 2B: System Restore in Windows Vista
Use this method if you do not have the Windows Vista installation CD or DVD.

Important Before you use System Restore, make sure that you have restarted the computer at least one time since you have installed the Windows Vista service pack. By restarting the computer, you allow for any remaining servicing processes to finish.

To use System Restore in Windows Vista to remove the Windows Vista service pack, follow these steps:

1. Click Start
Collapse this imageExpand this image
the Start button
, type rstrui in the Start Search box, and then click rstrui in the Programs list.

Collapse this imageExpand this image
User Access Control permission
If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.
2. In the Restore System Files and Settings window, click Next.
3. In the Choose a Restore Point window, click to choose the Restore Point that matches the installation date for the Windows Vista service pack, and then click Next.

Note The Restore Point will be labeled either Install: Windows Update or Install: Windows Vista Service Pack <version>.
4. Verify the restore point that you want to use, and then click Finish.

If these steps successfully uninstall the Windows Vista service pack and restore your computer, you are finished. If these steps do not uninstall the Windows Vista service pack, or if these steps successfully uninstall the Windows Vista service pack but do not resolve the issue, go to the “Next Steps” section for information about how to contact Support.
Back to the top
Method 3: Uninstall Windows Vista service pack from a Command Prompt
Collapse this tableExpand this table
Note If you have used the Disk Cleanup Wizard, it may have removed some temporary installation files which are needed to uninstall the Windows Vista service pack. If this is the case, this method may not work for you and you should go to method 2.

This section is intended for advanced users. Use this method if you are running the prerelease version of a Windows Vista service pack, or if you cannot see the uninstall option for a Windows Vista service pack listed in the Program and Features window. If you cannot see the uninstall option for the Windows Vista service pack, you may still be able to uninstall the service pack at a command prompt. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open an elevated Command Prompt window. To do this, click Start
Collapse this imageExpand this image
the Start button
, type command in the Start Search box, right-click CommandPrompt, and then click Run as administrator.
2. Run the following command, as appropriate for the version of the Windows Vista service you want to uninstall:
* For Windows Vista Service Pack 1:
C:\temp\Windows6.0-KB936330-X86.exe /x:C:\temp
Collapse this tableExpand this table
Note This command assumes that the Windows6.0-KB936330.exe folder is in the C:\Temp folder
* For Windows Vista Service Pack 2:
C:\temp\Windows6.0-KB948465-NNN.exe /x:C:\temp
Where Where NNN is x86, x64, or ia64.
Collapse this tableExpand this table
Note This command assumes that the Windows6.0-KB948465-X86.exe folder is in the C:\Temp folder.
3. You have to create a sandbox environment before you can continue to step 4. This helps you safely run an untrusted program. To create a sandbox, type md sandbox.
4. To remove the Windows Vista service pack, type, or copy and paste the following command, as appropriate for the version of the Windows Vista service you want to uninstall::
* For Windows Vista Service Pack 1
start /w pkgmgr.exe /m:c:\temp\Windows6.0-KB936330-X86.cab /up /s:sandbox
* For Windows Vista Service Pack 2
start /w pkgmgr.exe /m:c:\temp\Windows6.0-KB948465-NNN.cab /up /s:sandbox.
Where NNN is x86, x64, or ia64.
5. After Pkgmgr.exe finishes, you are prompted to restart the computer to complete the uninstall process.

If these steps successfully uninstall the Windows Vista service pack, and this resolves the issue, you are finished. If these steps do not uninstall the Windows Vista service pack, or if these steps uninstall the service pack but do not resolve your issue, you will have to restore the system to a previous state. To do this, go to method 3.

 

Yeah, I had found that KB page at microsoft, and tried pretty much everything on it. Nothing seemed to work, because the laptop had SP1 installed on it from the start so there wasn't an option to uninstall it.

In the end I just one-click-recover'd back to the factory settings (after using the Easy Transfer Wizard, which worked pretty well), uninstalled all the bloatware, reinstalled AVG and other software, and it seems pretty happy.

But I learned something pretty weird:

After all that, I set a restore point and then ran the One-Click Rescue "Lenovo System Repair" function, and once again it found several "corrupted files" and "fixed" them. After that, once again, running Windows Update caused the 80004002 error. Luckily, this time around restoring to the previous restore point fixed that problem and everything else seems fine (no display adapter problems).

So clearly the Lenovo System Repair function is doing something wrong, and presumably its attempt to fix a corrupted file is actually blocking Update from working. Some of the files it's reporting as corrupted match with the ones that are often listed as candidates for the regsvr32 command, which I'm guessing is no coincidence, but now my system seems happy and stable so I think I'm done with my research.

Advice to anyone reading this: create a new restore point before you ever do a Lenovo System Repair ... you might need it.


Thanks again Dude55 - I appreciate all your replies, even though I ended up punting and going in another direction. Maybe some other hapless Lenovo owner will find this thread and get some help out of it...