Windows installer fails to update itself with error 0x80073701 ERROR_SXS_ASSEMBLY_MISSING and will not load any other updates

64-bitupdateswindows 7windows update

Another symptom is that it claims that there has been no last update installation ever. It quotes a null in a non-existing source code file on somebody's d: drive:

2014-12-27 00:12:17, Error                 CSI    00000351@2014/12/26:23:12:17.141 (F) d:\win7sp1_gdr\base\wcp
\componentstore\csd_locking.cpp(324): Error STATUS_SXS_ASSEMBLY_MISSING originated in function 
CCSDirectTransaction::LockComponent expression: (null)

And it appears from the CBS.log below that it cannot find WUClient-SelfUpdate-Core-CoreComp~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~de-DE~7.6.7600.256 .
de-DE in that package name indicates something in standard German. The installation is in Danish.

This is Windows 7 Professional, so I cannot just install other languages as suggested for some solutions as suggested on one Microsoft page (only bigger versions allow multiple language packs).

I have tried following this suggestion:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058/en-us

The fixit automatic troubleshooting program linked from that page determines that Windows Update needs updating, which fails.

The manual procedure fails at point 11: Install the latest Windows Update Agent. So it just achieves to disable internet access until the machine is restarted.
The mentioned files gpkcsp.dll, initpki.dll, msxml.dll, muweb.dll, sccbase.dll, slbcsp.dll, wuaueng1.dll, wucltui.dll and wuweb.dll do not exist. For the files browseui.dll, mshtml.dll, qmgr.dll and shdocvw.dll it says something to the effect of shared library loaded, but DllRegisterServer attachment point not found.

As instructed, I have tried with/without point 4.

I also tried the unorthodox suggestion of using Vistalizator (http://www.froggie.sk/index.html), but it failed installing the German language pack.

All attempts so far failed with the error in the headline in some guise, ie. have no effect.

System Update Readiness Tool reports no problems and sfc /scannow the same.

The problem appears to be similar to some problems people had installing SP1, but this machine already has SP1 installed.

CBS.log says:

2014-12-27 00:12:16, Info                  CBS    Exec: Resolving Package: WUClient-SelfUpdate-Aux-AuxComp~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~da-DK~7.6.7600.320, Update: Aux-64and32
2014-12-27 00:12:16, Info                  CBS    Exec: Resolving Package: WUClient-SelfUpdate-Aux-AuxComp~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~da-DK~7.6.7600.320, Update: Aux-64and32, PinDeployment: amd64_microsoft-windows-w..oyment-languagepack_31bf3856ad364e35_7.6.7600.320_da-dk_d9072471cf1d591b
2014-12-27 00:12:16, Info                  CSI    0000034b Performing 1 operations; 1 are not lock/unlock and follow:
  AddCat (14): flags: 0 catfile: @0x198c248
2014-12-27 00:12:16, Info                  CSI    0000034c Performing 1 operations; 1 are not lock/unlock and follow:
  Stage (1): flags: 8 app: [Microsoft-Windows-WindowsUpdateClient-Aux.Deployment-LanguagePack, Version = 7.6.7600.320, pA = PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE_AMD64 (9), Culture = [l:10{5}]"da-DK", VersionScope = 1 nonSxS, PublicKeyToken = {l:8 b:31bf3856ad364e35}, Type neutral, TypeName neutral, PublicKey neutral]) comp: (null) man: @0x198cab8
2014-12-27 00:12:16, Info                  CBS    Exec: Resolving Package: WUClient-SelfUpdate-Aux-AuxComp~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~de-DE~7.6.7600.320, Update: Aux-64and32
2014-12-27 00:12:16, Info                  CBS    Exec: Resolving Package: WUClient-SelfUpdate-Aux-AuxComp~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~de-DE~7.6.7600.320, Update: Aux-64and32, PinDeployment: amd64_microsoft-windows-w..oyment-languagepack_31bf3856ad364e35_7.6.7600.320_de-de_d632b9add0f3adb5
2014-12-27 00:12:16, Info                  CSI    0000034d Performing 1 operations; 1 are not lock/unlock and follow:
  AddCat (14): flags: 0 catfile: @0xb56888
2014-12-27 00:12:17, Info                  CSI    0000034e Performing 1 operations; 1 are not lock/unlock and follow:
  Stage (1): flags: 8 app: [Microsoft-Windows-WindowsUpdateClient-Aux.Deployment-LanguagePack, Version = 7.6.7600.320, pA = PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE_AMD64 (9), Culture = [l:10{5}]"de-DE", VersionScope = 1 nonSxS, PublicKeyToken = {l:8 b:31bf3856ad364e35}, Type neutral, TypeName neutral, PublicKey neutral]) comp: (null) man: @0xb566d8
2014-12-27 00:12:17, Info                  CBS    Exec: Resolving Package: WUClient-SelfUpdate-Aux-AuxComp~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~hu-HU~7.6.7600.320, Update: Aux-64and32
2014-12-27 00:12:17, Info                  CBS    Exec: Resolving Package: WUClient-SelfUpdate-Aux-AuxComp~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~hu-HU~7.6.7600.320, Update: Aux-64and32, PinDeployment: amd64_microsoft-windows-w..oyment-languagepack_31bf3856ad364e35_7.6.7600.320_hu-hu_6916e2d1972a909d
2014-12-27 00:12:17, Info                  CSI    0000034f Performing 1 operations; 1 are not lock/unlock and follow:
  AddCat (14): flags: 0 catfile: @0xb56be8
2014-12-27 00:12:17, Info                  CSI    00000350 Performing 1 operations; 1 are not lock/unlock and follow:
  Stage (1): flags: 8 app: [Microsoft-Windows-WindowsUpdateClient-Aux.Deployment-LanguagePack, Version = 7.6.7600.320, pA = PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE_AMD64 (9), Culture = [l:10{5}]"hu-HU", VersionScope = 1 nonSxS, PublicKeyToken = {l:8 b:31bf3856ad364e35}, Type neutral, TypeName neutral, PublicKey neutral]) comp: (null) man: @0xb56648
2014-12-27 00:12:17, Info                  CBS    Exec: Resolving Package: WUClient-SelfUpdate-Aux-AuxComp~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~de-DE~7.6.7600.256, Update: Aux
2014-12-27 00:12:17, Info                  CBS    Exec: Resolving Package: WUClient-SelfUpdate-Aux-AuxComp~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~de-DE~7.6.7600.256, Update: Aux, PinDeployment: amd64_microsoft-windows-w..oyment-languagepack_31bf3856ad364e35_7.6.7600.256_de-de_d631806fd0f4d02b
2014-12-27 00:12:17, Error                 CSI    00000351@2014/12/26:23:12:17.141 (F) d:\win7sp1_gdr\base\wcp\componentstore\csd_locking.cpp(324): Error STATUS_SXS_ASSEMBLY_MISSING originated in function CCSDirectTransaction::LockComponent expression: (null)
[gle=0x80004005]
2014-12-27 00:12:17, Error                 CSI    00000352 (F) STATUS_SXS_ASSEMBLY_MISSING #7307067# from CCSDirectTransaction::OperateEnding at index 0 of 1 operations, disposition 2[gle=0xd015000c]
2014-12-27 00:12:17, Error                 CSI    00000353 (F) HRESULT_FROM_WIN32(ERROR_SXS_ASSEMBLY_MISSING) #7306952# from Windows::ServicingAPI::CCSITransaction::ICSITransaction_PinDeployment(Flags = 0, a = Microsoft-Windows-WindowsUpdateClient-Aux.Deployment-LanguagePack, Version = 7.6.7600.256, pA = PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE_AMD64 (9), Culture = [l:10{5}]"de-DE", VersionScope = 1 nonSxS, PublicKeyToken = {l:8 b:31bf3856ad364e35}, Type neutral, TypeName neutral, PublicKey neutral, cb = (null), s = (null), rid = [77]"WUClient-SelfUpdate-Aux-AuxComp~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~de-DE~7.6.7600.256.Aux", rah = [2]"32", manpath = (null), catpath = (null), ed = 0, disp = 0)[gle=0x80073701]
2014-12-27 00:12:17, Info                  CBS    Failed to pin deployment while resolving Update: Aux from file: (null) [HRESULT = 0x80073701 - ERROR_SXS_ASSEMBLY_MISSING]
2014-12-27 00:12:17, Info                  CBS    Failed to resolve item[0] in Package: WUClient-SelfUpdate-Aux-AuxComp~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~de-DE~7.6.7600.256, Update: Aux [HRESULT = 0x80073701 - ERROR_SXS_ASSEMBLY_MISSING]
2014-12-27 00:12:17, Info                  CBS    Failed to resolve execution update. [HRESULT = 0x80073701 - ERROR_SXS_ASSEMBLY_MISSING]
2014-12-27 00:12:17, Error                 CBS    Failed to resolve execution package: WUClient-SelfUpdate-Aux-AuxComp~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~de-DE~7.6.7600.256 [HRESULT = 0x80073701 - ERROR_SXS_ASSEMBLY_MISSING]
2014-12-27 00:12:17, Info                  CSI    00000354@2014/12/26:23:12:17.320 CSI Transaction @0x4a5460 destroyed
2014-12-27 00:12:17, Info                  CBS    Perf: Resolve chain complete.
2014-12-27 00:12:17, Info                  CBS    Failed to resolve execution chain. [HRESULT = 0x80073701 - ERROR_SXS_ASSEMBLY_MISSING]
2014-12-27 00:12:17, Error                 CBS    Failed to process single phase execution. [HRESULT = 0x80073701 - ERROR_SXS_ASSEMBLY_MISSING]
2014-12-27 00:12:17, Info                  CBS    WER: Generating failure report for package: WUClient-SelfUpdate-Aux-TopLevel~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~7.6.7600.320, status: 0x80073701, failure source: Resolve, start state: Absent, target state: Staged, client id: WindowsUpdateAgent
2014-12-27 00:12:17, Info                  CBS    Failed to query DisableWerReporting flag.  Assuming not set... [HRESULT = 0x80070002 - ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND]
2014-12-27 00:12:17, Info                  CBS    Failed to add %windir%\winsxs\pending.xml to WER report because it is missing.  Continuing without it...
2014-12-27 00:12:17, Info                  CBS    Failed to add %windir%\winsxs\pending.xml.bad to WER report because it is missing.  Continuing without it...
2014-12-27 00:12:18, Info                  CBS    Reboot mark refs: 0
2014-12-27 00:12:18, Info                  CBS    SQM: Reporting package change for package: WUClient-SelfUpdate-Aux-TopLevel~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~7.6.7600.320, current: Absent, pending: Default, start: Absent, applicable: Installed, target: Staged, limit: Staged, hotpatch status: StillGoing, status: 0x0, failure source: Resolve, reboot required: False, client id: WindowsUpdateAgent, initiated offline: False, execution sequence: 1484, first merged sequence: 1484
2014-12-27 00:12:18, Info                  CBS    SQM: Upload requested for report: PackageChangeBegin_WUClient-SelfUpdate-Aux-TopLevel~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~7.6.7600.320, session id: 142859, sample type: Standard
2014-12-27 00:12:18, Info                  CBS    SQM: Ignoring upload request because the sample type is not enabled: Standard
2014-12-27 00:12:18, Info                  CBS    SQM: Reporting package change completion for package: WUClient-SelfUpdate-Aux-TopLevel~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~7.6.7600.320, current: Absent, original: Absent, target: Staged, status: 0x80073701, failure source: Resolve, failure details: "(null)", client id: WindowsUpdateAgent, initiated offline: False, execution sequence: 1484, first merged sequence: 1484
2014-12-27 00:12:18, Info                  CBS    SQM: resolve time performance datapoint is invalid. [HRESULT = 0x80070490 - ERROR_NOT_FOUND]
2014-12-27 00:12:18, Info                  CBS    SQM: stage time performance datapoint is invalid. [HRESULT = 0x80070490 - ERROR_NOT_FOUND]
2014-12-27 00:12:18, Info                  CBS    SQM: execute time performance datapoint is invalid. [HRESULT = 0x80070490 - ERROR_NOT_FOUND]
2014-12-27 00:12:18, Info                  CBS    SQM: Upload requested for report: PackageChangeEnd_WUClient-SelfUpdate-Aux-TopLevel~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~7.6.7600.320, session id: 142862, sample type: Standard
2014-12-27 00:12:18, Info                  CBS    SQM: Ignoring upload request because the sample type is not enabled: Standard
2014-12-27 00:12:18, Info                  CBS    Enabling LKG boot option
2014-12-27 00:12:18, Info                  CBS    Exec: End: nested restore point - complete.
2014-12-27 00:12:18, Info                  CBS    Restored system sleep block state: 0x80000000
2014-12-27 00:12:18, Info                  CBS    Exec: Processing complete.  Session: 30417249_1631225687, Package: WUClient-SelfUpdate-Aux-TopLevel~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~7.6.7600.320 [HRESULT = 0x80073701 - ERROR_SXS_ASSEMBLY_MISSING]

I would be greatful for any suggestions – thank you.

Best Answer

magicandre1981's suggestion in the comments worked:

Do an in-place upgrade to fix WinSxS issues.

magicandre1981 Dec 27 '14 at 7:26

After a year I figured it was OK to add your answer as the answer!

Possible solution

Open an administrator command prompt. Run sfc /scannow. If Windows Update files are damaged, this should fix them.

If you encounter an error with System File Checker

I've seen cases where sfc doesn't fix this, often but not always related to a recent malware infestation. If it can't fix a file, it will tell you that it could not repair the errors it found. If you get a message like this: CD to an easy-to-access directory like "%userprofile%\Desktop", then run findstr /c:"[SR]" %windir%\logs\cbs\cbs.log >sfcdetails.txt to pull the log events for the sfc scan and add the contents of the sfcdetails.txt to your question.

Note that if you look in the sfcdetails.txt file you may find a line like the following:

Cannot repair member file [l:14{7}]"url.dll" of Microsoft-Windows-IE-WinsockAutodialStub, Version = 6.0.5752.0, pA = PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE_INTEL (0), Culture neutral, VersionScope = 1 nonSxS, PublicKeyToken = {l:8 b:31bf3856ad364e35}, Type neutral, TypeN

In this example, the problem is with "url.dll". You can try using Windows Search to find the newest backup copy of the file and replace it yourself. However some files, like TrustedInstaller.EXE are set so that they can only be modified by certain system processes, so you will either have to replace the file from a bootable linux disc OR reinstall. Some files will throw a fit later on if the permissions aren't correct, so if you have to use a linux boot disc to replace the file, I recommend backing up everything as soon as possible, because it may fail again eventually. If you have the time and a recent backup, I recommend doing an "in-place upgrade" reinstall by running setup from the Windows 7 disc while Windows is already running. If that doesn't work the only remaining option may be a clean reinstall.

If your log shows problems with the TrustedInstaller.exe file, you will need a linux boot disk to replace the bad copy with a good one from one of the hotfix backup folders, because Windows will only let TrustedInstaller.exe be modified by itself.

Edit: Since SFC found no problems

Since I've never actually seen a persistent issue with Windows Update that didn't cause SFC to report errors as well, I'm not sure if the following steps will help. I've done a bit more looking around and have found the following possible resolutions:

Firewall

If you are using a third-party firewall, try temporarily disabling it, then trying to update again. If it succeeds, you will need to find the setting in your firewall that is blocking Windows Update. The easiest way to fix this is to completely uninstall your firewall, then reinstall it.

Infection

Usually in my experience, malware infections interfere with Windows Update by corrupting Windows Update files. Since this isn't the case, it is still possible that malware is blocking updates any number of alternate methods, such as DLL injection or blocking the connection. A common technique malware uses is to change your proxy settings to use a program installed on your computer as a proxy.

To check this, click start, typing configure proxy settings, then hit enter. Click LAN settings. If the proxy server address is set to localhost, 127.0.0.1, or ::1, uncheck the "Use proxy server" checkbox, click OK, then OK on the "Internet Properties" dialog, then try again.

-- Note: many web accelerators will set a proxy server like this, which is not a malware infection, but may still interfere with Windows Update. If you are using a web accelerator, uninstall it.

You should also run a full virus scan. Also, do a scan with Spybot Search&Destroy (you don't need to worry about any tracking cookies it tells you about unless you are paranoid about advertisers and your privacy, but it is a good idea to remove them anyway).

Built-in troubleshooter

If a virus and spyware scan returns nothing, and your firewall isn't the culprit, you can run the built-in troubleshooter to try to find another solution. Click the Action Center icon in the Notification Area
Notification Area icon
then click "Open Action Center".

Click "Troubleshooting"
Troubleshooting Icon
then "System and Security"
System and Security icon

Click "Windows Update" then follow the directions on the screen. alt text

Windows updates fails with error 80070bc9

Logon with administrator rights.

Type cmd in the bottom left windows button

I fix it with:

fsutil resource setautoreset true c:\

Then in safe mode try to delete these files:

C:\WINDOWS\system32>cd %SystemRoot%\System32\SMI\Store\Machine
C:\WINDOWS\System32\SMI\Store\Machine>attrib -s -h *
C:\WINDOWS\System32\SMI\Store\Machine>del *.blf
C:\WINDOWS\System32\SMI\Store\Machine>del *.regtrans-ms
C:\WINDOWS\system32\SMI\Store\Machine>cd %SystemRoot%\System32\config\TxR
C:\WINDOWS\System32\config\TxR>attrib -s -h *
C:\WINDOWS\System32\config\TxR>del /q *

Reboot and it will all work !