Error Fix: Error Code 8000FFFF and Error Code 8024D00F in Windows Vista

In some cases the following error code 8000FFFF is generated when you try to update your Windows Vista computer.The error message says:

Windows could not search for new update.

Error(s)found:Code 8000FFFFAdditionally, error code 8024D00F with the following details is added to the update history: Installation status: FailedError Details: Code: 8024D00FUpdate Type: ImportantThe following two problems are known to generate these error codes:

• The Windows Update Temporary folder on your Windows Vista computer is corrupt.
• Some keys in the Windows Vista registry are corrupt.

Therefore, to resolve this Windows Vista update issue, you need to rename the Windows Update Software distribution and remove the incorrect components key from the Windows Vista registry.

Do the following steps to rename the Windows Update Software distribution folder:

• Exit all opened windows on your Windows Vista computer.
• Click Windows Vista Start, and then click All Programs, and then click Accessories.
• Right-click on the Command Prompt option and then select Run as Administrator from the opened right-click context menu.
• Type in the following command in the opened Administrator: Command Prompt window and then press Enter.

net stop WuAuServ

After this do the following steps:

• Next, click again Windows Vista Start, select Start Search, type in %windir% to the search box and then press Enter.
• In the folder that opens, search for the Software Distribution folder.
• Rename that particular folder to Software Distribution Old.
• Go back to the previously opened Administrator: Command Prompt windowand type in the following command and then press Enter.

net start WuAuServ

• Check the Windows Update Web site to see if you can update your Windows Vista computer now. The Windows Update Software distribution folder is created again when the update starts.

If you still encounter the above error messages, perform the following steps to remove incorrect components key from the Windows Vista registry.

• Click the Windows Vista Start button, in the Start Search bar, type in Regedit and then press Enter.
• In the opened Windows Vista Registry Editor window, open File menu and the select Export.
• In the Export range section, select All Export, select a folder to save the exported backup file, provide a name to the registry file in the File name box, and then click the Save button.

Note: This exported registry backup file can be restored to the Windows Vista registry by double-clicking on it. Exporting the Windows registry is a very essential step because the Windows registry is an important component of your Windows Vista computer and any incorrect modifications or changes in its values can leave your PC unusable or unstable. You may also use a reliable third party registry cleaner utility to make a backup of your windows registry.

• Next, in the opened Windows Vista Registry Editor window, navigate to the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\COMPONENTS

• Check the following three values in the above registry key.
  • PendingXmldentifier
  • NextQueueEntryIndex
  • AdvancedInstallersNeedResolving
• If you find any one or all of the these values in the registry delete them.
• Exit the Windows Registry Editor, restart your Windows Vista computer and try to update it once again from the Microsoft website.

The Windows update error code 8000FFFF and error code 8024D00F may also generate if:

• The required Windows Update services stop working on your Windows Vista computer.
• There is a serious problem or error with the Windows Update Agent.
• An installed third-party utility, such as Internet or Web accelerators, antispyware/antivirus programs, and firewalls are running on your computer.

To ensure that the above Windows services are running on your computer, perform the following steps:

• In the Windows Vista Start Search box in the Start menu, type in services.msc and then press Enter.
• In the opened Services window, ensure that the following services are running:
  • Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS)
  • Windows Event Log
  • Windows Update
• In case any of these services have not started or disabled, start it or enable it.

If the Windows Update Agent is not working in your Windows Vista computer, download and install the agent on your computer again.

• For x86-based versions of Windows computer, download the WindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe package.
• For x64-based versions of Windows computer, download the WindowsUpdateAgent30-x64.exe package.

Save the downloaded file in an easy to locate folder on your computer. Consider that you saved the downloaded file in the root of D drive, then to install the package, you should do the following:

• Open Windows Vista Start menu and select Run.
• Type in the following command to Run box and then press Enter.

D:\WindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe /wuforce

Or

D:\ WindowsUpdateAgent30-x64.exe /wuforce

The Windows Update Agent will now install on your Windows Vista computer.Finally, if you have any installed third-party program such as Internet or Web accelerators, antispyware or antivirus programs, and firewalls running on your computer, temporarily disable them before updating your computer.