Vista SP1 RC Delivery via Windows Update Not as Smooth as You Might Think

The delivery of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Release Candidate 1 via Windows Update is not as smooth as you might think. In fact, Microsoft is aware of erroneous installations for Vista SP1 RC, scenarios that subsequently involve failed deployments of the service pack. Through the Windows Vista Service Pack 1 RC Public Availability Program, Microsoft is allowing all Vista users to access the Release Candidate public build of Vista SP1 as a download from Windows Update, instead of the standalone installers also made available.

The program involves grabbing and executing a script designed to set a registry value that will permit the identification of Vista SP1 RC, on Windows Update. However, it is not uncommon for users to come across error 0x80092004, and having the Vista SP1 WU download stop. "This issue only affects customers who previously installed the RC Preview (Build 17042 / v658). It is caused by a component that did not completely uninstall when you uninstalled the RC Preview, especially if you tried to install the latest build over Windows Update right away", Microsoft informed.

Fortunately enough, the Redmond company also has a workaround in place to resolve the issue. According to Microsoft, one cause of the error is the slow pace at which the built-in "Trustedinstaller" service is moving, in correlation with the hardware configuration. In such a context, all that users have to do is to wait for about 30 minutes before attempting to install Vista SP1 RC 1 again. Alternatively, you also have the possibility to manually force "Trustedinstaller" service to perform the cleanup.

"Make sure all current updates for Windows Update are installed except the Service Pack, and reboot to ensure your machine is in a clean state. On the start menu, select All Programs, then under Accessories, find the 'Command Prompt'. Right click on 'Command Prompt' in the start menu and select 'Run as Administrator' and accept the UAC prompt. This creates a command prompt that has administrator privileges. Type 'net stop trustedinstaller' without the quotes. Type 'net start trustedinstaller' without the quotes. Make sure it starts. Wait 30 minutes to an hour", Microsoft advised.

At this time, installing Vista SP1 via WU should no longer pose problems. But on top of this, in the context in which a user has gone through the process and the installation is still unsuccessful, Microsoft is also offering a script to resolve the issues. However, the company cautioned that the script applies only to this specific issue and just to the Vista copies, where SP1 build 17042 (RC Preview) was installed and then uninstalled. In order to get the script, users have to email Microsoft and request the "Workaround script for 80092004 after uninstalling build 17042" at 80092004@microsoft.com.