“The update is not applicable to your computer” when installing KB4474419

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I am running Windows 7 Professional SP1.  Firefox is my preferred browser, and I finally got tired of dismissing the message about an available update that appeared when Firefox 100 came out.  I knew I needed KB4474419, but wanted to be sure it wouldn’t mess up a system that was already working.

I did a test run on my Windows 7 laptop last week with no issues, so I decided to update my desktop machine.  I downloaded the appropriate file from the Microsoft catalog, created a backup and a system restore point,  and tried to install the patch.  I got a pop-up saying, “The update is not applicable to your computer.”

I double-checked that I had the correct file downloaded, and I do.  I checked my Services and saw that while the Windows Update Service was running.  It was set to Manual start, so  I set it to Automatic start, but I’m not sure if that would make any difference in a stand-alone installation.  I checked for installed updates in case it was already installed, but it was not in the list.

If anyone else has run into this problem, I would appreciate their input.  Searches present a variety of solutions, not all of which apply.  I think I would rather continue to dismiss the warning on Firefox than start editing the registry.

I use Webroot Internet Security, but since I successfully downloaded the file, I can’t see where disabling it would make any difference to the installation.

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Are you sure you have the right bittage? (In the downloaded file name: x86 for 32-bit or x64 for 64-bit, they are not interchangeable)

Is KB4474419 already installed on your system? Go to Windows Update in the Control Panel. On the lower left, click on “View installed updates.” You can sort by the column that has the KB# in it by clicking on the title bar at the top in the right column.

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WSBirdLady

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I have checked both.  The version is for x64, and no KB4474419 is listed in the installed updates.  I run the same operating system on a laptop, where I was able to install KB4474419 with no problem.

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Hi WSBirdLady:

The MS support article Windows Update Troubleshooting lists some of the common causes of this “The update is not applicable to your computer” error. According to the MS support article <here> for KB4474419 there are no prerequisites for this update, and as far as I know KB4474419 has not been superseded (replaced) by a newer update, so I would agree with PKCano the most likely reason for that error on your computer (assuming you are certain you have a 64-bit OS and downloaded the correct 64-bit .msu installer) is that KB4474419 is already installed on your desktop computer.

Go to Control Panel | Programs | Programs and Features | View Installed Updates and search there for KB4474419. When searching, enter the full KB number in the search box (e.g., enter KB4474419 and not a partial string like 4474419). I’m not sure about Win 7 SP1, but searches for KB numbers at Windows Update at Control Panel | Windows Update | View Installed Updates never worked correctly on my old Vista SP2 machine (and wouldn’t list any update manually installed with a standalone .exe or .msu installer)  so I always searched at Control Panel | Programs | Programs and Features | View Installed Updates.

You can also open an elevated command prompt with Administrator rights and enter the command wmic qfe | find “KB4474419” (include the quote marks around the KB number) to see if KB4474419 is installed. See the Pureinfotech article How to Check Update History on Windows 10 for more information about using this wmic command.

Also see Malwarebytes employee Advanced Setup’s 05-Jun-2021 instructions in Now MBAM Wants a Microsoft Security Update for adding SHA-2 code signing support to a Win 7 SP1 computer. You might want to try the 64-bit download link for KB4474419 (2019-09 Security Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems) in those instructions just to make sure you’re using the correct standalone .msu installer. If you are also missing KB4490628 (2019-03 Servicing Stack Update for Windows 7) note that you will have to perform Step # 2 of AdvancedSetup’s instructions to finish activation of SHA-2 code signing support on your system.
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Dell Inspiron 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v21H2 build 19044.1889 * Firefox v104.0.1 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.2205.7-1.1.19500.2 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.5.14.210-1.0.1751 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.6867

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WSBirdLady

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Need to continue using Windows 7? You have to install KB4474419, KB4490628, and KB448407.
These updates were first released during the March 2019 Patch Tuesday updates.
All 3 cumulative updates will provide your Windows 7 system with SHA-2 code sign support.

https://windowsreport.com/kb4474419-kb4490628-kb4484071/

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WSBirdLady

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I went back to one of the websites addressing this issue and reread the list of causes.  I wanted to try the simplest things first, and sure enough, I discovered that the Windows Modules Installer Service was not running.  I set the startup type to Automatic, started the service and tried the installation again.  Success!

I had addressed the Windows Update Service earlier, but wasn’t aware of this one.

 

 

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lmacri, Alex5723

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WSBirdLady wrote:

…I discovered that the Windows Modules Installer Service was not running. I set the startup type to Automatic, started the service and tried the installation again. Success! I had addressed the Windows Update Service earlier, but wasn’t aware of this one.

Hi WSBirdLady:

Thanks for the status update. I didn’t realize that the Windows Modules Installer service had to be running in order to install a standalone .msu update package but according to the MS support article Error message when you install a .msu update package on a computer that is running Windows: “The Windows Modules Installer must be updated before you can install this package” an outdated Windows Module Installer can cause standalone .msu installers to fail, so it must provide some required functionality.

Just an FYI that stopping the Windows Update service (wuauserv) shouldn’t affect the installation of standalone .msu installers. These .msu installers are associated with with the Windows Update Standalone Installer (C:WindowsSystem32wusa.exe) and can be installed on computers without an internet connection.

Also note that the Windows Modules Installer service (service name TrustedInstaller) has a Startup Type of “Manual” on my Win 10 Pro machine and it doesn’t automatically run at boot-up (see image below). According to Black Viper’s list <here> of Win 7 SP1 services “Manual” is also the default Startup Type for this service for all Win 7 SP1 editions (Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional, etc.) so I’m not sure why it was necessary for you to start this service manually before the .msu installer for KB4474419 would run correctly.  If it were needed I would assume that the Windows Update Standalone Installer (wusa.exe) would start the service.

It doesn’t really matter now since you already found a workaround to your problem. Were you able to update your Firefox browser on your desktop once KB4474419 was installed?
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Dell Inspiron 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v21H2 build 19044.1889 * Firefox v104.0.1 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.2205.7-1.1.19500.2 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.5.14.210-1.0.1751 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.6867

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WSBirdLady

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Firefox updated just fine after KB4474419 installed.

I had to start the Windows Module Installer Service because I had it set to “disabled” rather than manual.  Once both services were started, I set them temporarily to Automatic startup, just to be sure Windows had what it needed for the install and the restart, and it worked.

 

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lmacri

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Just to add some clarification: When already installed, KB4474419 is the rare case of reporting accurately. As is KB3033929. No “not applicable” in that case.

Can’t install or uninstall KB3033929

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