"Installation Failure. Unknown Error (-2147024770)" Error Message When You Try to Use Windows Update (315297)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
  • Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 98
This article was previously published under Q315297

SYMPTOMS

When you try to use Microsoft Internet Explorer to update Windows from the Windows Update site (http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com), you may receive the following error message:
Installation Failure. Unknown Error (-2147024770)

CAUSE

This problem may occur if Internet Explorer has some damaged files, or if the Inseng.dll dynamic link library (DLL) file is not registered.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, use the following methods in the order in which they are presented.

Method 1: Register the Inseng.dll File

  1. Click Start, and then click Run.
  2. In the Open box, type regsvr32 /u inseng.dll, and then click OK.
  3. When you receive the message that states that DllUnregisterServer in Inseng.dll succeeded, click OK.
  4. Click Start, and then click Run.
  5. In the Open box, type regsvr32 inseng.dll, and then click OK.
  6. When you receive the message that states that DllRegisterServer in Inseng.dll succeeded, click OK.
  7. Restart the computer.
If the problem is not resolved, proceed to method 2.

Method 2: Repair Internet Explorer

Use one of the following procedures, as appropriate for your operating system.

Windows 2000 Service Pack 1 (SP1) or later, Windows Millennium Edition (Me), or Windows 98

NOTE: Because there are several versions of Microsoft Windows, the following steps may be different on your computer. If they are, see your product documentation to complete these steps.
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Add/Remove Programs.
  2. Click Microsoft Internet Explorer version (where version is the version of Internet Explorer that is installed), and then click Change/Remove.
  3. Click Repair Internet Explorer, and then click OK.
  4. Click Yes to confirm the repair operation.
  5. Follow the on-screen instructions to repair Internet Explorer, and then restart the computer when you are prompted.

Windows 2000 without SP1 or Service Pack 2 (SP2)

  1. Click Start, and then click Run.
  2. In the Open box, type rundll32 setupwbv.dll, ie5maintenance, and then click OK.

    NOTE: There is a space between "rundll32" and "swtupwbv.dll" in this command.
  3. Follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall Internet Explorer, and then restart the computer when you are prompted.
If the problem is not resolved, or if you cannot successfully repair Internet Explorer, proceed to method 3.

Method 3: Reinstall Internet Explorer

Reinstall your current version of Internet Explorer, or upgrade to the latest version of Internet Explorer. To obtain the latest version of Internet Explorer, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

Internet Explorer Update
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.asp

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:12/21/2004
Keywords:kberrmsg kbprb KB315297
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.