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The error 0X80070490(Element not found) when you are installing a service pack or update

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Symptom:

When you are installing a service pack or update for Windows 7 or 2008 R2, the update may fail to install with an error 0X80070490.

You have tried the following contents, but still can not resolve the problem:

1. KB977893

2. KB947821

3. https://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Windows-Update-error-80070490

When you examine the setupapi.dev.log, you may find the followings were logged:

     inf: Opened PNF: 'C:WindowsSystem32DriverStoreFileRepositoryscanners.inf_amd64_neutral_08717035d84064b6scanners.inf' ([strings])
     sig: {_VERIFY_FILE_SIGNATURE} 08:56:21.210
     sig:      Key      = scanners.inf
     sig:      FilePath = C:WindowsSystem32DriverStoreFileRepositoryscanners.inf_amd64_neutral_08717035d84064b6scanners.inf
! sig: No installed catalogs matching catalog name '' were found that validated the file.
! sig: Error 1168: Element not found.
     sig: {_VERIFY_FILE_SIGNATURE exit(0x00000490)} 08:56:21.226

*note*: the missing inf file could be different in your computer.

Cause:

Error 0x80070490 is "Element not found". there is a consistent error to the specific drivers.

Resolution:

To resolve the issue please try the following

1. Run the checksur.exe (System Update Readiness Tool) tool.
2. Run System File Checker. From the command line run the command sfc /scannow
3. Review the cbs logs and uninstall the patches which were missing assemblies and reboot the server.
4. Reinstall the update.

For advanced customers, you can maunally fix it:

From an elevated command prompt:

pnputil - a <Inf File Path>

e.g.: C:WindowsSystem32DriverStoreFileRepositoryscanners.inf_amd64_neutral_08717035d84064b6scanners.inf

Well, the repair install is the last choice but worth a try befor you give up. :-)

More information:

Description of the System Update Readiness Tool for Windows Vista, for Windows Server 2008, for Windows 7, and for Windows Server 2008 R2
https://support.microsoft.com/kb/947821

Comments

  • Anonymous
    August 08, 2011
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    October 01, 2011
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    November 22, 2011
    I can't believe you call this a solution. How is a non tech expert supposed to use this. How about some real help that doesn't waist my time.

  • Anonymous
    November 22, 2011
    I can't believe this advice is really from the Microsoft Reduce Customer Effort Center. I have never seen more wasted customer effort logged on more sites and blogs. Please give us an easy fix. Please.

  • Anonymous
    December 20, 2011
    I had to laugh at the previous entry pointing out the title of this site - I hadn't noticed it when I first read the page. I am trying the upgrade repair at the moment.

  • Anonymous
    January 20, 2012
    Have sit in class for two year to understand your limbo.... No help at all

  • Anonymous
    February 06, 2012
    This is such frustrating waste of time and effort. think I will buy a MAC next.......

  • Anonymous
    February 25, 2012
    Come on Microsoft! Do something, installing a pack is really about writing new files to disk, so why it is so hard to copy new files to a disk

  • Anonymous
    March 07, 2012
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    March 08, 2012
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    March 08, 2012
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    March 17, 2012
    Couln't Microsoft be a bit more helpfull than "ERROR_NOT_FOUND" messages ? When you have genuine Windows seven 64 bits preinstalled with your laptop, you expect some real easy-to-use help here. Otherwise you plan to look for another system next time.

  • Anonymous
    June 11, 2012
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    September 30, 2012
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    October 13, 2012
    In my case the netrasa.inf file is missing, causing element not found. Where would I find such an inf file I wonder?

  • Anonymous
    October 17, 2012
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    November 27, 2012
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    April 26, 2013
    I have been looking since January for a way to get around this error. Win7 SP1 won't install, Core XML Services security patch won't install, and Microsoft's advice is always either irrelevant or incorrect. I am not willing to reformat and start over because I got no CD with my computer and because last time I went through all the updates by hand, it took me three days! That is not counting installing the OS (1 day), and fixing the terrible UI (4-5 days).

  • Anonymous
    October 08, 2013
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    November 02, 2013
    Thank you, thank you ever so much!!!

  • Anonymous
    February 01, 2014
    anyone ever get this resolved?

  • Anonymous
    August 22, 2014
    FINALLY FIXED IT! Thank you so much Chib!!

    Follow the instructions on the link Chib listed. It takes a little bit of work, but it actually fixes the problem.

  • Anonymous
    August 23, 2014
    Also as a side note: The installation failed even after following the steps, but after a failed installation the .inf file that you manually install will be different. You just have to keep repeating steps 3, 4, and 5 until you have them all installed.

  • Anonymous
    August 27, 2014
    Hey i have also faced the same issue but i resolved the issue with the help of this linkhttp://www.microsoftliveassist.com/error-80070490-windows-8/

  • Anonymous
    September 09, 2014
    I received this issue running Win 8.1 trying to install the Office Mix Preview Setup. I don't understand why it won't work with the latest program updates.

  • Anonymous
    September 09, 2014
    Same here Tracey. Tried sfc /scannow - no help.

  • Anonymous
    September 09, 2014
    Yeah worst 'help page' ever, wow. This worked for me (although I think this error can pop up for a lot of different scenarios):http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947821/en-us

    Did the command at that link, checked for updates, a firmware update was available, installed that, retried the update I was trying to install when I got the error (which was an Office update, so this might not work for all other update issues), and it worked.

  • Anonymous
    September 09, 2014
    @Tracey and SteveM, the Office Mix update was what I was doing too, so try that link in my last comment.

  • Anonymous
    January 21, 2015
    it worked for me..completed installation successfully.

  • Anonymous
    February 18, 2015
    Hi, many thanks for this topic. I have installed System Update Readiness Tool, sfc / scannow but no change. Then I have checked mentioned log - setupapi.dev.log - and found out error with one inf. So I have tried to run pnputil - a and it worked !

  • Anonymous
    August 17, 2015
    This has destroyed my week with no resolution.

  • Anonymous
    September 09, 2015
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    October 30, 2015
    Beyond frustrating here. I took the new Windows 10 "free" upgrade, you know what they say "no free lunches" really. I've tried all the suggested fixes, still can't open any of my photos other than in the Windows media center and cannot do any editing. So......I can uninstall the Windows 10 upgrade and restore my pc back to 7 (I had 8.1pro) and start all over again is their advice. Come on, don't they have a techie that has figured this out yet, I'm not the only one having these problems, hey on the bright side I got my wifi back, others haven't.