An update is available to resolve an issue in which the Wusa.exe tool returns a "1 (S_FALSE)" error code in Windows Vista and in Windows Server 2008

In Windows Vista and in Windows Server 2008, software updates use a new technology to install .msu files. To manually install .msu files in a Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008 environment, you must have the Wusa.exe tool installed. However, this tool returns a "1 (S_FALSE)" error code when either of the following conditions is true:

• You try to install a software update that is already installed on the computer.
• You try to install a software update that does not apply to the computer.

An update is available to resolve this issue. After you install this update, the Wusa.exe tool is modified to return more meaningful error codes, as follows:

• If the software update has already been installed, the Wusa.exe tool returns a "0x240006 (WU_S_ALREADY_INSTALLED)" error code.
• If the software update does not apply to the computer on which it will be installed, the Wusa.exe tool returns a "0x80240017 (WU_E_NOT_APPLICABLE)" error code.

The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
Download the update 949545 package now.Download the update 949545 package now.Download the update 949545 package now.Download the update 949545 package now.Download the update 949545 package now.

Release Date: June 24, 2008

For more information about how to download Microsoft support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

Prerequisites

To apply this update, you must be running one of the following operating systems:

• Windows Vista
• Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1)
• Windows Server 2008

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this update.

Update replacement information

This update does not replace any other previously released updates.

Registry information

To enable this update, follow these steps.

Important This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

1. Click Start, type regedit in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
2. Locate the following registry subkey:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
3. If the WUSA subkey is present under the CurrentVersion subkey, click the WUSA subkey.
   
   If there is no WUSA subkey under the CurrentVersion subkey, create the WUSA subkey. To do this, right-click CurrentVersion, point to New, click Key, and then type WUSA for the new subkey name.
4. On the Edit menu, point to New, click DWORD Value, and then type ExtendedReturnCode for the new DWORD value name.
5. Right-click the ExtendedReturnCode registry entry, and then click Modify.
6. In the Value data box, type 1 to enable this update, and then click OK.
7. Exit Registry Editor.

After you install this update, the Wusa.exe tool checks to determine whether this registry entry is present. If the registry entry is present and is set to 1, the tool returns the new error codes. If this registry entry is not present, or if it is present but is set to 0, the tool continues to return the old error code.

File information

The English version of this update has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Windows Vista, x86-based versions

Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008, x86-based versions

Windows Vista, x64-based versions

Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008, x64-based versions

Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008, Itanium-based versions

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: