corrupt and missing files in \Windows\servicing\Packages (CLOSED)

[StephanP]

The computer of my father-in-law has trouble with installing Windows Updates.
Investigating the issue I noticed that he had a series of corrupted files on his HD.
After having run chckdsk, Tweaking.com.WindowsRepair reports that there are corrupt and missing files in the \Windows\servicing\Packages folder structure. (See attachment)

I downloaded a Windows 8.1 Pro (32bit) ISO from Microsoft, but I can't seem to find these folders on it.
Any ideas as to where to get copies of these problematic files?

Cheers,
Stephan

[Shane]

I can get them for you

I have been building a large repository of all these files so I have them on hand and to use in a future repair. So far I have over 35,000+ files lol

Mondays are my busiest day and I have to head out the door to a customers. Send me a reminder tomorrow morning and I will grab and post the files here for you

Shane

[StephanP]

Thanks Shane,
That would be very nice of you.
I noticed that there are quite a few *nl_NL* (Dutch language) files in the list.
No probs getting hold of these?
I hope you have some scripted method of collecting the files from your repository, as these file names are quite horrific.
I look froward to hearing from you tomorrow or some time later this week.
Cheers,
Stephan

[Shane]

Well I got them all, except the NL files, mainly because my version of windows is english, so they are all en_us. Those files are on the install disk itself, so I would need to find a copy of your version of Windows to get the nl files off of it.

I have attached the other files I was able to get for you, you will need to extract them and put them in C:\Windows\servicing\Packages

Shane

[StephanP]

Thanks for the files, Shane.
But upon copying the files in the \windows\servicing\Packages folder I receive the error message that I'm not allowed to do that.
(Also when logged in as an Administrator)
Is there a way to bypass this?

[StephanP]

From https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee619779(v=ws.10).aspx

Steps to resolve this issue

Get the files required from other sources. The options available can be found in the “Options for obtaining files” section below.
Copy the files to %Windir%\Temp\CheckSUR directory of the corrupted computer following the subdirectory format as follows:
All files of type *.mum and *.cat should be placed in the %windir%\Temp\CheckSUR\servicing packages directory

All files of type *.manifest should be placed in the %windir%\Temp\CheckSUR\manifests\ directory

For example:

• Copy Package_for_KB958690_sc_0~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.0.1.6.mum to %Windir%\Temp\CheckSUR \servicing\packages\
• Copy x86_microsoft-windows-servicingstack_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6002.18005_none_0b4ada54c46c45b0.manifestto %Windir%\Temp\CheckSUR \winsxs\manifests\

Important: Whenever you copy a .mum file, you must also copy the corresponding .cat file of the same name.

Rerun the System Update Readiness tool.

[StephanP]

Here too, no rights to access the Windows\Temp folder
Is this a Win8.1 thing?

[Shane]

You have to take ownership of the packages folder first, I attached a reg file, apply it and then you will have a take ownership option on the right click menu.

Go to the packages folder and right click on it and select take ownership and then you should be able to copy the files in there

Shane

[StephanP]

I managed to take ownership and copy the files in place.
This hasn't solved the problems with that particular computer though.
I'm now seriously suspecting harddisk or RAM failure.
Until now I've done all investigations remotely via TeamViewer.
I fear that I need to go down there and investigate this PC on site to get a proper feel of it.
Thanks for your help so far

[Shane]

You could have it do a chkdsk on the drive and look for bad sectors

chkdsk c: /r

and then reboot and once it is backup you can remote in and check the event viewer for the results of the chkdsk

Shane

[StephanP]

I ran the chkdsk which came up with a number of bad sectore. See other thread.

But I also worked on replacng those missing and corrupted files.

• I discovered that my netbook has the same windows 8.1 Pro 32-bit version as my inlaw's PC
• So I took the missing and corrupted files from that netbook and copied them to the problematic PC using Take ownership
• After that, WR Pre-Scan continues to report that some .mum files are corrupted
• On my netbook though, they are not seen as corrupted

Any experience with this?

Meanwhile, I've used the Repair All function and this helped getting rid of these nasty Red Warning Crosses in Windows Update. Giving Windows Update another try, it figured something is wrong and suggested that I run a Fix-It, which in its turn reported having fixed some stuff.
Currently, there are no error messages running Windows Update, but it gets stuck at downloading at 5%.

Apologies for intermixing two remedy trajectories.

[Shane]

Bad sectors means bad drive, and only more bad sectors are going to happen. Which is why you had corrupt files.

It is time to backup the data and replace the drive

Shane

[StephanP]

Thanks for the advice.
Data is already on an automatic backup schedule.
I guess, it'll be a fresh install of Windows on the new harddrive. Little point in moving/transfering a corrupted windows system.
Sigh.....

[Shane]

Correct. Before you do make sure to download the network drivers for the system and same them to another disk. That way after you install windows you can install the network drivers and have internet access and then you can grab all the rest

Shane

[jraju]

Hi, Stephan
                       please edit the first post and mark it as solved. Closed may mean that the topic has been closed without solution. Pl