Error upgrading Vista to SP1

I have a laptop here with x86 Vista Home Premium that had numerous issues (none were malware related) and I've fixed all the problems but one: I cannot install SP1 for Vista. I have tried installing it from a CD, from the standalone file downloaded to the desktop, and from Windows Update. In each scenario I get the following error message: "Windows Vista Service Pack 1 was not installed on your computer. Error code: 0x800F0826. See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947366 for details". Listed at that link are 4 resolutions and I've tried them all, but with #2, I downloaded and installed the 'System Readiness Tool' but I can't seem to find it to run it. Strange. It's not listed in 'All Programs' anywhere that I can see, and I looked in 'System Tools' and 'Accessories' and a bunch of other places and it seems to have disappeared. Googling the error code 0x800F0826 produces 3 results, one is useless garbage, one is German or Dutch (?), and one mentions that it's not a Java problem and some other things that I'm still looking into.... any thoughts?

All comments will be appreciated.

 

I forgot to mention that SP1 isn't even listed as an update when I use Windows Update or Automatic Updates. What's up with that?!!?!???!? :confused

One of the problems I fixed was Windows Updates. It wasn't working, but that was due to a bad Software Distribution folder... I renamed the old one, created a new empty folder, and that fixed Windows Updates.

 

If you have problems installing a service pack, Microsoft is here to help, free of charge Give it a try, the link is near the foot of the page .

 

Thanks for all the help folks! But, as it turns out, the owner of the laptop was in a huge rush and didn't seem to care about getting SP1 installed :confused and seemed happy with the fact that I got the Windows Updates working, and that I repaired his Office 2003 installation. So this is done (I guess) until he comes back.... and he will be back! LOL Sometimes, you can just tell, you know what I mean? LOL Some people just don't "click" with PCs and have a tendency to completely mess things up without even trying.