0x800F0826 Error

Article Published by Marc Liron - Microsoft MVP

Finding a Solution for the 0x800F0826 Error

This is a fairly common Windows Vista Service Pack 1 upgrade error and hopefully this article will help you resolve the problems you are having.

What Causes The Windows 0x800F0826 Error

A quick scan of the online technical forums and blogs reveal folks asking for help with this windows error.

Your question may be the same as this typical request:

"I am trying to install Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) on my Dell laptop but it is not picking it up via Windows Update automatically. So I downloaded the standalone installation (Windows6.0-KB936330-X86-wave0.exe).

However I when I started the installation process for Windows Vista Service Pack 1 my laptop rebooted and started the 3 stages of "Configuring updates". Then almost immediately I was greeted with the 0x800F0826 error message."

The Windows Update error 800f0826 is often displayed when a previous update for Windows has failed to install and is preventing you from installing any additional updates.

I have also seen this 800f0826 rear its ugly head due to issues with some services not set to "Automatic Startup" type.

So what can you do...? well below are a couple of suggestions to follow:

0x800F0826 - Resolution Suggestion One:

If you are installing Vista P1 from a DVD/CD, or a direct download this is sometimes a "transient" error. Reboot your PC and manually go to Windows Update and make sure there are no other pending updates on Windows Update. If there are download and install them first. Then try and install Vista SP1 again.

0x800F0826 - Resolution Suggestion Two:

Windows Update error 800f0826 is displayed when an update for Windows has failed to install and is preventing you from installing additional updates. Error 800f0826 does not identify the update that has caused the problem. The update that has caused the problem will display a different error!!

This problem affects updates for Windows only and does not prevent you from installing or automatically receiving updates for other Microsoft programs, such as the Microsoft Office System...

To prevent error 800f0826, you need to identify the update that is causing the problem (it will display a different error), fix the problem, and then try installing updates again.

NB - If NO updates have failed to install, this is NOT the reason why you are seeing error 800f0826...

Here's how:

1) Open Windows Update by clicking the Start button , clicking All Programs, and then clicking Windows Update.

2) In the left pane, click View update history.

3) Find an update for Windows that has failed to install, and then double-click the update to view more information.

Updates that have failed to install will display Failed under Status, next to the update name.

4) In the Windows Update dialog box, next to Error details, review the error code for the failed update. If the description contains error 800f0826, click Close, and then repeat steps 3 and 4 until you identify an update for Windows that displays a different error code.

5) Follow the links in the Windows Update dialog box under More Information or Help and Support to try to fix the problem, and then try installing updates again by using Windows Update in Control Panel.

0x800F0826 - Resolution Suggestion Three:

You may have two important Windows Services set to the incorrect start up type. "Windows Event Collector" and "Windows Module Installer" need to be set to "Automatic Startup".

To change/modify their status:

Go to Start --> Control Panel --> Administrative Tools --> Services.

Then find the two services "Windows Event Collector" and "Windows Module Installer" and change their start up type from "Manual" to "Automatic".

NB - If you try and install the now you may get this error:

"An internal error occurred when installing the service pack. Error code 0x80070005."

REBOOT your PC and then try and install the Service Pack 1 again. It should now install OK.

(If not then read my article on error 0x80070005.) 

TIP: Not used to Windows Services? Then read this guide.

...and that should have now resolved the 0x800F0826 error for you!

Trouble Free Computing?

CLICK HERE - For More Information Now!

I hope you got something useful out of visiting this website today?

Kind Regards

Marc Liron - Microsoft MVP
http://www.marcliron.com