Thanks for this route to delete the pending.xml file, I had been struggling
for weeks trying to do this via the cmd route but my user account was always
rejected.

I deleted the file....restarted my computer and sucessfully downloaded 46
updates.

Fingers crossed that this has solved my 12 months worth of error code
80073712.

Thanks again from a computer illeterate 54 yr old.


"Kristof" wrote:

>
>
> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
>
> > The "Windows Features" dialog box is empty in Windows Vista, or you receive
> > an error message that includes the following code when you try to use
> > Windows Update: "0x80073712":
> > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/KB931712
>
> Tanks a lot for the tip, but it doesn't help me since there is no
> "pending.xml" file to be found in the mentioned directory:
>
> 1. Click Start Start button , type %windir%\winsxs in the Start Search box
> 2. Press ENTER.
> 3. Locate and right-click the pending.xml file.
> 4. Click to select Properties.
> 5. Click the Security tab, and then click Edit.
> 6. Click Users, and then click to select Allow Full control.
> 7. Click OK two times.
> 8. Try to delete the pending.xml file again.
>
> ... I searched in all possible ways I think, can someone help me a bit
> further?
>