Microsoft KB Archive/933528

Knowledge Base

Error message when you try to install Microsoft Update on a Windows Vista-based computer: "Could not install Microsoft Update on the computer"

Article ID: 933528

Article Last Modified on 5/21/2007

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APPLIES TO

• Windows Vista Business
• Windows Vista Enterprise
• Windows Vista Home Basic
• Windows Vista Home Premium
• Windows Vista Ultimate

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SYMPTOMS

When you try to install Microsoft Update on a Windows Vista-based computer, you may receive the following error message:

Could not install Microsoft Update on the computer.
[Error No. : 0x80004005]

CAUSE

This problem may occur if one of the following conditions is true:

• The user account that is used to install Microsoft Update does not have administrative credentials.
• The account name that is used to install Microsoft Update contains double-byte characters. For example, this problem occurs if the account name contains kanji characters, hiragana characters, or katakana characters.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, create an account name that contains only single-byte, alphanumeric characters. Then, grant administrative credentials to the new account. Log on to Windows Vista by using the new account, and then install Microsoft Update. To do this, follow these steps in the order in which they are listed.

Create a new user

1. Click Start , type Control userpasswords in the Start Search box, and then click Control userpasswords in the Programs list.
2. Click Manage another account.
   

If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type the password, or click Allow.

1. Click Create a new account.
2. In the New account name box, type a single-byte character name, click Administrator, and then click Create Account.
3. Click the user account that you created in step 4.
4. Click Create a password.
5. In the New password box, type a password, type the password again in the Confirm new password box, type a password hint in the Type a password hint box, and the click Create password.

Install Microsoft Update

1. Log on to Windows Vista by using the new account.
2. Click Start, click All Programs, and then click Windows Update.
3. Click Get updates for more products.
4. In Internet Explorer, click to select the I accept the Terms of Use check box, and then click Install.
   

If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type the password, or click Allow.

After Microsoft Update is installed, you can use an account name that contains double-byte characters to use Microsoft Update.

Delete the account that contains the single-byte character name

After you have finished installing Microsoft Update, delete the user account that you created for this task. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Log on to Windows Update by using an account that has the original double-byte character name.
2. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Add or remove user accounts.
3. Click the user account that you want to remove.
4. Click Delete Account.
5. Click Delete Files.
6. Click Delete Account.

Additional query words: winvista updates

Keywords: kbexpertiseinter kbexpertisebeginner kbtshoot kbprb KB933528

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