Windows Vista - error message

"WindowsUpdate_80070641 i get this error message. how do i fix this

would suggest you to follow the steps from the below link and check if it helps:

How to troubleshoot problems connecting to Windows Update or to Microsoft Update

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/818018/en-us>

hope this will help you.

Hello Brain,

Try installing the updates in a http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135clean boot state. This will eliminate any software conflicts if that is the cause of the update failures.

This issue can be caused by the following factors:

1. The Windows Update service has been stopped.
2. Corrupted Windows Update Temporary folder.

Step 1: Verify the relevant Windows Update services

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1. Click the “Start” Button, in Start Search box, type: "services.msc" (without quotes) and press Enter. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

2. Double click the service "Windows Update".

3. Click on the "General" tab; make sure the "Startup Type" is "Automatic". Then please click the "Start" button under "Service Status" to start the service.

4. Please repeat the above steps with the "Background Intelligent Transfer Service" service.

You can also temporarily stop these services, restart the computer, and then start these services again. If any service is missing or cannot be stopped or restarted, please let me know.

Step 2: Rename the Windows Update Softwaredistribution folder

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This problem may occur if the Windows Update Software distribution folder has been corrupted. We can refer to the following steps to rename this folder. Please note that the folder will be re-created the next time we visit the Windows Update site.

1. Close all the open windows.

2. Click the “Start” Button, click "All programs", and click "Accessories".

3. Right-click "Command Prompt", and click "Run as administrator".

4. In "Administrator: Command Prompt" window, type in "net stop WuAuServ" (without the quotes) and press Enter.

Note: Please look at the cmd window and make sure it says that it was successfully stopped before we try to rename the folder. However, if it fails, please let me know before performing any further steps and include any error messages you may have received when it failed.

5. Click the “Start” Button, in the "Start Search" box, type in "%windir%" (without the quotes) and press Enter.

6. In the opened folder, look for the folder named "SoftwareDistribution".

7. Right-click on the folder, select Rename and type "SDold" (without the quotes) to rename this folder.

8. While still in the "Administrator: Command Prompt" window, type the command "net start WuAuServ" (without the quotes) in the opened window to restart the Windows Updates service.

Windwos Update Error 0x80070641

 

The definition of the error code you’ve received 0x80070641 can be found below:

 

ERROR_INSTALL_SERVICE_FAILURE - The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed. This can occur if the Windows Installer is not correctly installed.

 

If you can successfully install applications that rely on the Windows Installer then the service itself is most likely functional, and was simply in use at the time of the update. Thus, you will want to make sure that the Windows Installer service is not in use prior to attempting updates.

 

If the issue persists after you’ve confirmed no installations are taking place proceed with the troubleshooting below.

 

How-to stop the Windows Installer service.

 

If you are sure no installations or configurations, which rely on the Windows Installer, prior to updating you can try manually stopping the Windows Installer service, and then attempting Windows Update. If the error code persists after that the issue may be related to a corrupt or otherwise damaged Windows Installer.

 

Stop the Windows Installer service and then use Windows Update…

1.   Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as Administrator. 2.   At the Command Prompt window type the following, and press Enter: 3.   net stop msiserver Note: This will effectively stop the Windows Installer service. This service will load-on-demand so manually stopping it does not adversely affect the computer. 4.   Launch Windows Update, and then attempt to install the previously failed updates.