error code 84bc0643

SQL Server 2012 install of SP1 fails with error code 84BC0643.

"Windows Update ran into a problem."

No kidding, Windows Update. 

This was followed by the Windows Update (KB2793634) - "Windows Installer starts repeatedly after you install SQL Server 2012 SP1"

This update DID succeed, and Windows Update now shows a clean slate - no updates found.

Patching a VPC: Revisited

So after installing my VPC, and starting it up to update it, I realized it wasn't getting SQL Server updates.

Here's what I did to fix that:

1. Click Start >> All Programs
2. Click Windows Update
3. In the Windows Update window, there's a link that says "Learn More" or "More Info"... click it
4. This takes you to a Microsoft Page where you get to make a choice. While the verbage is designed to steer you towards picking their reccommended setting, as I understand it, either choice will upgrade your Windows Update to now include SQL Server.
5. Click Install, and you should be brought back to the Windows Update window, where it should already have begun a scan of your local drive.

You'll know your update type changed if the section of the window "Most recent check for updates" now says "Never" instead of the date/time it held before.

How To Build A Virtual PC: The OS - Patch That Up!

Don't forget to force a patch session for your new VPC!



To do this, you'll need to configure Windows Update, and then force it to do a manual scan, if it doesn't automatically. In my case, I configured Windows Update for a daily scan, went to bed, and came back the next morning to patches waiting to be installed.

Hooray for automation! :)