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Thread ID: 90191 2008-05-26 04:49:00 Security Update for Excel 2007 (KB946974) fails to install Chikara (5139) Press F1
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672619 2008-05-26 04:49:00 Hi all,

I've been away from home for a while and I've just been downloading a whole lot of Windows Updates. Up until now, everything's been fine until I try and install this update (Excel 2007 KB946974)

When it's installed via Windows update, after the installation window goes through it's paces, it gives the very helpful message at the end "Some updates were not installed". No other error codes or details are given.
Checking back on the update history page, it says Failed. It does this each time I try.

I've also noticed that when I shut down the PC, the 'Turn Off' icon says there are pending updates to install. (You know, with the little shield and message next to it).
If I turn off the PC, it looks like it is installing it, then seems to shuts down normally without any error messages. The only indication something didn't work properly, is when I start up the computer next, I get a quick glimpse of a scan progress bar before it boots up. It's almost too quick to see, but it's like the progress bar you used to get if you turned off the PC without shutting down properly. (Does that make sense).
And then it still has the pending updates shield and message next to the shut down button.

So it seems like somehow the update is failing right at the end, just before the PC shuts down?

I have tried this a number of times with the same result. I've tried downloading the stand-alone .exe installation for this update instead, and it just says installation failed, with no messages.

I'm running XP Pro with SP2, and Office 2007 SP1. Office has all the other patches apart from this one.
I have about 40GB hard drive space free, so there should be plenty of room for the installation files. The computer is pretty old, Athlon 1400 with 512MB RAM, but that should still be enough to run everything.

I'm thinking I should try deleting the pending installation files and try again, where are those files stored on the PC? Can I do that?

Or does anyone have any other suggestions?

Thanks!

Tony 		Chikara (5139)
672620 2008-05-26 05:08:00 Hmm according to this (www.microsoft.com)

Office 07 SP1 isnt affected

If it insists, get it from here and see what it says (www.microsoft.com)

When you try and install it 		Speedy Gonzales (78)
672621 2008-05-26 05:27:00 Hiya, thank for the quick reply Speedy as always!

I had already tried the standalone updated from the link you provided.

I've had another thought ...
I only upgraded to Office 2007 a month ago, and only put SP1 on, over the weekend.
Is it possible it identified I needed the update *prior* to me upgrading to SP1, but only finished downloading and installing it *after* I'd upgraded?

I just tried loading the Excel application, and it's given me the following message:

Error 1406: Setup cannot write the value Contexts to the registry key \Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\User Settings\Excel_Core\Create\Software\Microsoft\Inte rnetExplorer\MenuExt\E&xport to Microsoft Excel. Verify that you have sufficient permissions to access the registry or contact Microsft bla bla bla...

I wonder, did the previous installation not finish properly before trying to do this update?
If so, how can I fix this? 		Chikara (5139)
672622 2008-05-26 05:38:00 Any of these installed ? (service1.symantec.com)

By any chance?

Hmm I wonder if its similar to this ? (support.microsoft.com)

Its a registry limit

It sounds, or looks like a permission prob in the registry

Are you logged in as admin? 		Speedy Gonzales (78)
672623 2008-05-26 05:56:00 Nope, no Symantec or Norton software installed :D and haven't had for many years.

I had already found and checked the link about the Windows Installer 2.0, and had installed that prior to this, so I don't think it could be a registry limit?
There does seem to be a lot of info on the Net about this error (Error 1406) but all seem to apply to different products, or registry settings, I can't find a generic solution.

I am the only user on the PC, and I'm set up as the admin... 		Chikara (5139)
672624 2008-05-26 06:01:00 Also, note in my previous post, the registry path contained a "&" That wasn't a typo, the ampersand character is part of that registry entry, could that somehow affect it?
I'm not familiar with registry settings (too scary for me) so i didn't want to delete or change it... 		Chikara (5139)
672625 2008-05-26 21:15:00 Okay, after a few more hours playing I fixed it. :banana
I ended up uninstalling office totally (this was the only way to remove office SP1).
Then I reinstalled Office again, but without SP1 - installed that problematic update - and then put SP1 back on.
So far, all seems fine :thumbs: 		Chikara (5139)
672626 2008-05-26 21:50:00 Cool ! :banana Speedy Gonzales (78)
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