What is Windows Update Error 80070641?

by Shaun on December 29, 2008

in How To, Windows XP

If you get this message: “Windows Update Error 80070641“  it means that your “Windows Installer” service is not enabled or not started. Contrary to some myths out there, this is not the end of days for your computer nor is it necessary to reinstall Windows to fix the problem. To fix this:

  1. Click Start
  2. Click on the Control Panel
  3. Click on System And Maintenance
  4. Click on Administrative Tools
  5. Click on Services
  6. (Give your user account control password or confirmation)
  7. Make sure the service called Remote Procedure Call (RPC) is on/started. Also make sure the Windows Installer Service is on/started.
  8. If their not started, Right Click on the Service
  9. Click on Properties
  10. Under the general tab, make sure the start up type is “Automatic”
  11. Click OK in the left hand pane of the services window, where it describes the service, click start.
  12. You’ll have to do the above steps for both services if neither of them are running. After you are finished with both:
  13. Restart Your computer.

After the computer reboots. Try to install the updates again and if it doesn’t work, check to make sure the error message you received it the correct one. Windows has quite a few and sometimes they can be deceiving.  This error is usually caused by advanced users tweaking their settings.

Related posts:

  1. Start or Disable Services in Windows 7
  2. Disable Services In Ubuntu Linux
  3. Rename the Guest account in Windows 7

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