Windows update offers me KB938371 when I already have it.

[Chris Benton]

For months, I've been getting a prompt from Windows Update to install
KB938371. The install always fails, but then I thought to check my installed
updates list, and I discovered that this update had already been installed
back in February. Even so, Windows Update constantly pushes me to install it,
and I can't make it go away. I suspect that this is what is keeping me from
installing Visa SP1, since it thinks I don't have an update that I do, in
fact, have. I can't uninstall the previous installation of this update.
Please advise. Thanks.

 

[Mr. Arnold]

For months, I've been getting a prompt from Windows Update to install
KB938371. The install always fails, but then I thought to check my
installed
updates list, and I discovered that this update had already been installed
back in February. Even so, Windows Update constantly pushes me to install
it,
and I can't make it go away. I suspect that this is what is keeping me
from
installing Visa SP1, since it thinks I don't have an update that I do, in
fact, have. I can't uninstall the previous installation of this update.
Please advise. Thanks.

Well, you go to the Windows Update site, view update list, find the update
site, right-click the like, and select Hide. It won't come to your machine
after you do that.

 

[Chris Benton]

This doesn't solve the underlying problem; the fact that Windows still
doesn't think I have this update. SP1 will not install if it detects hidden
updates. I need to figure out why Windows thinks the update isn't there.

 

[Mr. Arnold]

This doesn't solve the underlying problem; the fact that Windows still
doesn't think I have this update. SP1 will not install if it detects
hidden
updates. I need to figure out why Windows thinks the update isn't there.

So why can't you just manually install SP1?

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, Chris.

My computer is running Vista Ultimate x64. My Windows Update list shows the
following:

<paste>
Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB938371)

Installation date: ‎7/‎10/‎2008 5:14 PM

Installation status: Successful

Update type: Important

Install this update to enable future updates to install successfully on all
editions of Windows Vista. This update may be required before selected
future updates can be installed. After you install this item, you may have
to restart your computer. Once you have installed this item, it cannot be
removed.

More information:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/938371

Help and Support:
http://support.microsoft.com
</paste>

You say you've been getting this "for months". I got it just last month, on
July 10 - but that's misleading! Bad RAM caused my computer to die on July
3 and it took me a week to get the problem diagnosed, pull the old RAM, and
reinstall Vista from scratch. July 10 is the date that I got up and running
again. WU installed 15 updates for me on the 10th, 15 more on the 11th, and
5 more on the 12th (and nearly 3 dozen more since then). Since my reinstall
already included SP1, there was no later download of the SP.

Have you read this KB article:
A software update is available for the Windows Vista installation components
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/938371

The current revision is dated June 16, 2008. The first paragraph says:
<paste>
Technical update, April 8, 2008
This is a rerelease of this update. The rereleased version includes
additional performance and reliability enhancements that apply to both
Windows Vista-based and Windows Vista Service Pack 1-based systems. The
original update was applicable only to Windows Vista-based systems. Users
who have already installed Windows Vista Service Pack 1 will only install
the new components in this rereleased update.
</paste>

I'm not sure that the instructions in that KB will resolve your situation.
Please read it and then post back with more details about what you have done
and what results you saw. "I tried it" doesn't tell us much that will help
us help you; neither does "didn't work". And please be specific about which
version of Vista you are running. It takes only a few more keystrokes to
say "Vista Ultimate x64 SP1" and it tells us so much more than just "Vista
SP1".

It does look like there may be a Catch 22 which has caught you. ;>( You
may have to contact Microsoft Support to resolve this.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
(Running Windows Live Mail 2008 in Vista Ultimate x64 SP1)