How to Fix Windows Update Error 80073712 in Windows Vista?

It may happen that while you are downloading the Windows Updates, you get to see a progress bar of updates being downloaded but shows 0% progress and finally fails with the error 80073712. This may happen if you disrupted the updates or the PC was shut down or restarted amidst when the updates were being downloaded. This leads to the corruption of Update Agent.

You can fix this error in the following manner:

1) Open Elevated Command Prompt and type takeown /f C:\Windows\winsxs\pending.xml and press Enter key



Figure 1


2) Now type cacls C:\Windows\winsxs\pending.xml /G <user_name>:F and press Enter key.

Note: Replace <user_name> with user name you are logged on with.

3) Now type del C:\windows\winsxs\pending.xml and press Enter key

4) Now download and install Windows Update agent from the following link

Download Windows Update Agent

5) Restart your PC for the changes to take effect.

You can now run Windows Update to download and install updates.