I can't install Windows Installer on Vista SP3 from repository!

[Trancer03]

As you remember, I've Installed Vista SP3 from http://ximonite.com/sp3/ which is like a hybrid of Vista and Server 2008.
Advanced System Care removed my Windows Installer, and when I try to install it from repository, it says: "The Update Doesn't Apply For Your System".

[nononymousse]

hi ^^

what do you mean by "as you remember" ? last issue i see from you on the repo is from more than 6 months ago and i don’t see your nickname on the discord

as for your issue, isn’t it more a issue to do with the modifications you installed than Legacy Update ? i think it will be more suitable to ask the devs of the modifications you linked than here

also i tried to click on your link but UBlockOrigin blocked me to going on the website, it found it in the Online Malicious URL Blocklist from AdGuard, be warned that there might be some malicious software in it (the source of it specifically mention https://urlhaus.abuse.ch/url/3335094/)

[nononymousse]

oof ok, the malware in question (https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/ed00a77d14531ca7668b6a1205c79630147221b731c29a41ceccc33d65ba1576/detection) is a trojan called Babar, made by the French intelligence agency that contain things like a key logger, things to intercept communications, watching your screen, ect (French Wikipedia article on the subject https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babar_(logiciel_malveillant)), which was in revealed by Edward Snowden in 2014

you found something really really nasty there

[kirb]

I’m not too convinced of it being malware. It has a high detection rate, but it seems benign from quick analysis in anyrun. The sandbox reports from VirusTotal also line up with it. That said, I wasn’t able to get a Delphi disassembler to successfully work on the exe, which could be sus, or maybe I just don’t know what I’m doing with reverse engineering a Delphi program (could easily be either).

Still, even if it’s totally clean, I’d put a caveat on all this that it’s a lot harder to know how secure a custom Windows image is, or how reliable it’ll be, etc. And as I say below, if packages are modified (such as by patching system files), it’s likely to cause problems with updates, installing extra features, etc.

[Trancer03]

@nononymousse If you could load the webpage in some other browser or disable UBlockOrigin, you will see that that installation has .NET Framework 4.6.2 when the highest .NET Framework for SP2 for Update Agent to work is 4.6.1. With this in mind I could upgrade to .NET Framework 4.8 as described in the guide https://msfn.org/board/topic/180748-tutorial-how-to-install-net-framework-48-on-windows-vista/ and still get updates! I have had Security Updates installed from 2025, however, for some reason only few updates show in Programs and Features, and I've mentioned it to @kirb before.

[kirb]

Since you’re using a heavily modified image, it’s possible updates packages have been slipstreamed in a way that prevents uninstallation. In general you can’t really expect Windows Update to work that well in this state, either installing or uninstalling. You can only really try installing package cabs directly using pkgmgr (Vista) / dism (7+) at your own risk.

[Trancer03]

I DID install Windows Installer 4.5 from your repository via Dism++. It said it was successful, but when I run .msi packages it still gives me an error.

Why don't you have 5.0 in your repository? Something tells me that with extended kernel I will be able to install it!

[Trancer03]

[kirb]

Our download center only lists exactly what was available from Microsoft’s official download center in June 2020. If it was never posted there as a standalone package then we won’t have it either. It probably either gets installed through Windows Update, or it was intended to be installed automatically by .msi’s that require it (if this is the case, it’s probably failing to install a bundled .msu).

Event Viewer could shed more light on what’s happening here. Can you also try starting the Windows Installer service if it isn’t already running? See if you get an error message. If so, check the event log, as it hopefully should help explain what’s going on.

[Trancer03]

Didn't help! Service is set to a manual startup. I started it before executing .msi - same error!
I don't how to read Event Viewer!

[Trancer03]

I also have Dr. Web telling me from time to time to install corresponding updates for SHA-256 because it claims that it can't install the virus database updates. When I get redirected to Microsoft Update Catalog and press Download, I get an error message with the code [Error number: 8DDD0020]!
I have KB4474419 installed. Shouldn't it be enough?
In other cases it just shows me empty window with the background color.

[Trancer03]

https://support.drweb.com/sha2
I was able to open all the Download windows. None of the updates apply to my system!

[Trancer03]

I think I've deleted something that I didn't mean to, sorry!
The problem with Dr. Web started after I've installed extended kernel for Vista as it described in this guide: https://msfn.org/board/topic/183046-guide-vista-extended-kernel-installation/#comment-1206676
However, it solved the shut down problem this SP3 had ALL the time since I've installed and re-installed it!

[Trancer03]

As of today I've stopped receiving updates from Microsoft!