Jonathan Suber

asked on 9/21/2015

Unable to install Windows 7 Service Pack 1

I am unable to install Windows 7 Service Pack 1 on a desktop PC. I get this error message:

Installation was not successful
"The referenced assembly could not be found"
Error: ERROR_SXS_ASSEMBLY_MISSING(0x80073701)

I have tried running a couple utilities from Microsoft:

* Automatically reset Windows Update components
* System Update Readiness Tool for Windows 7 (KB947821) [August 2011]
* sfc.exe /scannow

I also updated the driver for the graphics card.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Jon

Windows 7Operating Systems

Last Comment

Jonathan Suber

8/22/2022 - Mon

sethu_uuu

9/21/2015

Please check whether you have enough space in C: drive

*** Hopeleonie ***

9/21/2015

I had the same problem last week. Did not find any fix. Only an In-Place Upgrade helped. You will loose nothing. But create a backup first.

How to:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2255099

sethu_uuu

9/21/2015

Also Check the logs C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log

This is the best money I have ever spent. I cannot not tell you how many times these folks have saved my bacon. I learn so much from the contributors.

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jcimarron

9/21/2015

jsuber-tchd--
A very long thread but the most important answers (solutions) are at the top.
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_other-update/windows-7-service-pack-1-x64-installation-failure/1d9c2cf9-2a45-4a6d-a529-c96ad5f0087a?auth=1

rindi

9/21/2015

Reinstall the OS, then as the first thing install SP1 (unless of course the installation media is already on SP1).

Jonathan Suber

9/21/2015

ASKER

These are all good comments...thank you.

This error keeps showing up on my CBS.log:

Failed to get session package state for package: Package_2_for_KB3046480~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.1.1.2 [HRESULT = 0x80070490 - ERROR_NOT_FOUND]

I have removed this update and reinstalled it. Still failed.

I can try an In-Place upgrade or repair but I want to exhaust all possible solutions before I do that. This is an important PC on our network.

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sethu_uuu

9/21/2015

Just remove the update KB3046480 and try to update the service pack without reinstalling it and then check the logs again

rindi

9/21/2015

This has to be a fresh installation, otherwise you'd have had installed SP1 years ago. Support for Windows 7 without SP1 has ended a long time ago. An unsupported OS is completely insecure and subject to attacks caused by unpatched security holes etc. This could also be the cause for SP1 not being installable.

So the best fix is to do a fresh installation.

If it is already freshly installed, maybe something went wrong, and a new installation is fast anyway, so either way, do a fresh installation of the OS. You loose the least time that way.

Jonathan Suber

9/21/2015

ASKER

This PC has been running like this for a few years. I just caught it when I was checking the browser encryption settings. I am going to try to remove update KB3046480 and try to install SP1. If that doesn't work, then I may not have a choice but a fresh install. Thanks, Jon

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rindi

9/21/2015

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Jonathan Suber

9/21/2015

ASKER

I am ordering a new system for this user. This system is from 2011 anyway. I will reinstall the OS and re-purpose somewhere else.

Thank you to all that commented. I appreciate it. Jon