Windows Update Failing with Error 80243004

The Problem

I have 8 computers that due to the software they have on them I must some and update them manually once a month. Upon doing this I had three that failed with the error to the right. The Screen sat with the status "Preparing to Install" for quite a long time then all of them failed with the error 80243004.

I had one of the computers "Try again" with no avail it just failed again. After doing that I ran around the Internet searching for a solution. I found the following thread on Technet and in it my solution here.

The Solution

The solution is strange. It has to do with the notification area of the taskbar. See by default the notification area in Windows 7 and Server 2008 hide most of the notification icons in an area found by clicking on the skyward pointing white arrow shown to the right. Well if you look at this area after this error you will see the notification area is huge with tons of blank spaces. If you are seeing this then the solution to your update problem follows below.

Right-click on some blank space on the taskbar and select "Properties" about half-way down the screen you will see a button that says "Customize...", click it. On the next screen you will see the option displayed in the picture below: "Always show all icons and notifications on the taskbar", place a check by it and click "OK" to close out that window and do it again for the notification properties window as well.

 It will then display all of the notifications now in the taskbar as you see in the picture below. Go ahead and have Windows Update "Try Again" now. It should complete successfully. After that you can revert your notification area back by going back and unchecking the setting you see in the picture above.

Conclusion

You should now be good to go. After checking the Windows Update Log located at C:\Windows\WindowsUpdate.lob I found the following error lines:

Can not perform non-interactive scan if AU is interactive-only
AU setting pending client directive to 'Install Complete Ux'
WARNING: Pending directive, 'Install Complete Ux', is not applicable
Successfully wrote event for AU health state:0

Now I was installing these updates under a standard user account and I know from UAC group policy a standard user is also referred to as "interactive-only" in some policies. I don't know if it was trying to display something to me and choked, hopefully Microsoft finds out. Either way thanks to all in that thread who discovered this wierd fix.

UPDATE:

I found that changing this setting while Windows Update is displaying "Preparing to Install" seems to actually kick start it so if the above solution doesn't work for you try checking or unchecking that setting and mousing over the notification area while windows update is displaying "Preparing to Install." 

Kodak EasyShare C613 Lens Error

So my favorite niece got a Kodak EasyShare C613 for Christmas I believe about a year and a 1/2 ago. Well It had gotten stuck halfway out and when turned on would give a "Lens Error" and then some numbers not sure what they were since it's working now. The process to get it fixed was a piece of cake.

Just take out the 7 screws on the sides and bottom of the camera. I used a #0 Phillips to take them out. The front is not connected by any wires so you will take it off. First though take out the batteries, SD card and pop open the battery compartment.

Start pulling the front from the body of the camera on the bottom. The tops and halfway up the sides is a little more tight. I used a 1.4mm regular screw driver to slide into the gap and turned it to widen the gap. Doing this slowly all around got the front off.

Wipe off the sides of the telescopic lens. Pop the batteries back in and close the compartment. Turn it on. To do this you need to press the on/off button which may be hard to see. Pull the black plastic back some to see it. I used the phillips to turn it on.

For me it turned on and finished it's extension. Tested it by turning it off and on a couple of time. Good to go. It sounded a little mechanical so I blew it out which fixed it a little. But it worked and thats what mattered. Then time to put it back together. Pull out the batteries and leave the door open. Slide the front back on starting at the top and pressing it together. When done put the 7 screws back, followed by the SD card and batteries. You are good to go.

If the above didn't fix it for you yours may have been damaged further then hers. Hope this helps someone