Continue reading How to troubleshoot Volume Activation error codes in Windows 7, in Windows Server 2008, and in Windows Vista →

First
make sure you are able to boot to the desktop.

You can try performing the Method 3 suggested in the article

( http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949358)

Try performing the following steps:

Start Windows Vista and go to the System Recovery options:

1.
Insert the Windows Vista installation disc in the disc drive, and then restart
the computer.

2. When you are prompted to restart from the disc, press any key.

3. When you are prompted, configure the Language to install, Time and currency
format, and Keyboard or input method options that you want, and then click
Next.

4. On the Install Windows page, click Repair your computer.

5. On the System Recovery Options page, click the version of the Windows Vista
operating system that you want to repair, and then click Next.

6. Use the System Recovery options to rename the Pending.xml file and edit the
registry:

7. On the System Recovery Options page, click Command Prompt.

8. Type cd C:\windows\winsxs, and then press ENTER.

9. Type ren pending.xml pending.old, and then press ENTER.

10. Type regedit, and then press ENTER.

11. Select HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.

12. On the File menu, click Load Hive.

13. Locate the following folder:

14. C:\windows\system32\config\components

15. When you are prompted for a name, type Offline_Components.

16. In Registry Editor, locate and then delete the following registry subkey:

17. HLKM\Offline Components\AdvancedInstallersNeedResolving

18. HKLM\Offline Components\PendingXmlIdentifier

19. Exit Registry Editor, At the command prompt, type exit to exit Registry
Editor. Press ENTER.Click Restart.

20. Once you are back on the desktop try performing windows updates and check

1st try this

Click “Start”

Then Click “Run”

Copy and Paste this ” regsvr32 MSXML3.dll ”

Click “OK”

You should see a dialog box stating that the operation has suceeded.

Then open Messenger again and sign in.

If this doesn’t work then try to clear your DNS cache by:

Click “Start” then “Run” and type “cmd.exe”

Then type “ipconfig /flushdns”. You should get a message stating that the cache has been cleared.

if thats not working try this

edit the registry and find for this key ‘UseWUServer’ if the value is ‘1’ ). I changed it to ‘0’, rebooted, and Run Windows Update

Imagine a situation where you need to install Windows Vista or 7 in a system but you don’t have access to DVD drive. We all know Windows Vista, Server 2008 or 7 comes in DVDs and you’ll need a DVD drive to install them. Then how will you install them? The solution is, you can create a bootable USB drive which can be used to install Windows without using DVD drive.

Requirements:

    * A USB Drive (4 GB or more)
    * Windows Vista, Server 2008 or 7 ISO image or DVD
    * Host OS: Windows Vista (SP1 or SP2), Server 2008 or 7

How to use:

Once you meet the requirements, run the utility. Its a portable utility so doesn’t need installation. Simply run it and check the option “I have read and accepted the following License Agreement”. Now click on OK button and it’ll launch the main application.

It also shows a Help window so that you can use the utility easily. The utility requires only 4 easy steps to follow:

    * Check USB drive (To check whether your USB drive is attached or not)
    * Format USB drive
    * Choose DVD or ISO image (To copy the required files to USB drive)
    * Start the process to create bootable USB drive

Download_Here