Update won't install (KB2251489)

Question

    I keep getting a failed install with this update.  It downloads again, replaces "sleep" with "shutdown" on the start menu; then when I shut down and start again, I wind up in the same fix.  This update is for the Visual Studion
2010 XML editor.  It probably started out as part of the last big update (19 items) because the problem started right after I installed the big one.  I tried to install the update manually, and that failed too.  It gave me error code 643 (unknown
error).  What can I do now?Gary Burton

Answer 1

Leo:
I’m having a heck of a time with this.
I know this is very long and I apologize, but I think a person much smarter than me (such as you) could read all these clues and condense them into a sensible approach to a solution.
This link: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/906602 
does not support Windows 7.  I'm sure you knew that and were just covering all bases, but it threw me for a while.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/910339 
Safe mode install, didn’t work; but the attempt gave me a new error code: 0x80070641, “Windows Installer could not be accessed.”
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/923100/en-us
Does not apply to Windows 7.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/976982 
Method 1, the MSI fix didn’t work. 
This time the error code was 0x80070643, “Fatal error during installation.” 
Method 2, Manual fix for .NET framework. 
Here’s where I got into even more trouble. 
Version 3.5 SP1 seemed to never install.  Consequently, Visual studio Express no longer works – possibly other programs as well. 
When I tried to install Framework 3.5 SP1 (bootstrap version), I got the permissions box to add it to the hard drive, then nothing happened. 
After a reboot, still nothing.  So I downloaded the full version, but that behaved the same way.
In the hope that reinstalling Visual Studio would also reinstall the DOTnet framework, I attempted to install Visual Basic. 
It got about 80% done, then I got the following:
“Error 1913. 
Could not update the ini file C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Express\Try Visual Studio 2010 Professional.url. 
Verify that the file exists and that you can access it.”
I verified that the file exists and I can access it. 
The link works from my Start menu, but when I click “Retry” I get the same box again. Since it’s only a link, I cancelled that operation and continued. 
Then I got the following:
“Error 1712. 
One or more of the files required to restore your computer to its previous state could not be found. 
Restoration will not be possible.”
I cancelled out of that and installation continued. 
Supposedly, I now have .NET Framework 4 and everything else that goes with Visual Basic Express except for “Microsoft Visual Basic Express –ENU”. 
Isn’t that just the link?
Anyway, I tried the update again and it still would not install. 
When I tried the Windows Update again it found 4 important updates available and selected 2 of those. 
One was the infamous one.  I tried to install both updates and the other installed successfully but not KB2251489. 
I still haven’t tried the other two because I expect Windows has its reasons for not selecting them until KB2251489 is installed.
http://www.softipblog.com/windows-update-error-code-643.php: 
I ran that, but it didn’t find anything that looked relevant. 
It gave my PC a pretty good grade, and I didn’t want to pay $65 to find out more.
More info that probably is relevant:
Although I uninstalled and reinstalled Registry Mechanic and it worked just fine I had a similar problem trying to install Vipre Antivirus Premium The dialog box I got for that went as follows:
“Error 1303. 
The installer has insufficient privileges to access this directory: 
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\...\Vipre Antivirus Premium. 
The installation cannot continue.  Log on as an administrator or contact your system administrator.” 
What’s most interesting about that is that this is an administrator account, and I verified that it hadn’t changed by checking User Account Control. 
I also have another administrator account.  I tried that as well and got the same result.
When I run the Windows Update Troubleshooter from the Update History window, it finishes by telling me it gives me two instances of “Repair Windows Update components….Fixed”. 
Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to repair anything.
I think there are major clues in error 1913, which tells me that a link is not accessible when it is and error 1303, which tells me that I should go get the administrator when I am the administrator.
Perhaps I should have taken Sven’s advice, skipped all this and gone straight for the clean boot. 
I am waiting on that because the clean boot approach would (even if it fixed the problem) leave me with no clues as to what the problem is. 
There is also a strong indication that there is a permissions problem or ownership problem that a clean boot would not address. 
Now there are lots of clues – possibly too many. 
I know this is a marathon, but please, please help if you can.
Gary Burton