Kurt Shintaku's Blog

CheckSUR or "Check for System Update Readiness" is a recently published update for Windows Vista that appeared on March 17th, 2008. 

CheckSUR will try to fix certain Windows Update installation failure causes.  Why do you care?  Well, if Windows Vista Service Pack 1 won’t install this is one way of fixing it and it’s pretty cool.  Basically, all that is entailed is downloading the .MSU file and running it.  During the installation it will run the check and store the results at %WINDIR%LogsCBSCheckSUR.log.

What is CheckSUR?
System resources, such as file data, registry data, and even in-memory data, can develop inconsistencies during the lifetime of the operating system. These inconsistencies may be caused by various hardware failures or by software issues. In some cases, these inconsistencies can affect the Windows Servicing Store, and they can cause a Windows Vista update to fail. When the update fails, it blocks the user from installing updates and service packs. CheckSUR addresses this issue.
When Windows Update detects inconsistencies that are related to system servicing in system files or in the registry, Windows Update offers CheckSUR as an available update package. The package titles are as follows:

• Update for Windows Vista (KB947821)
• Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB947821)

Note This Windows Update or Automatic Update package will only be offered if such inconsistencies have been detected on the system. CheckSUR should run automatically after it has been installed from Windows Update.

What does CheckSUR do?
Currently, CheckSUR verifies the integrity of the following resources that can affect Windows

Update in Windows Vista:
Files that are located under the following directories:

• %systemroot%ServicingPackages
• %systemroot%WinSxSManifests

Registry data under the following registry subkeys:

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINECOMPONENTS
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESchema
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionComponent Based Servicing

Note This list may be updated at any time.
When CheckSUR detects incorrect manifests, files, or registry data, CheckSUR may replace the incorrect data with a corrected version.

If you look at the %WINDIR%LogsCBSCheckSUR.log, you’ll see something like this on a system that needed repair:

=================================
Checking System Update Readiness.
Version 6.0.6000.2
2008-03-28 13:43:50 PM

Checking Deployment Packages

Checking Package Manifests and catalogs.

Checking package watchlist.

Checking component watchlist.

Checking packages.
Checking component registry

Checking component store
(f)    Corrupt Manifest    CSI    0xC0150006    x86_microsoft-windows-a..ltimateed.resources_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_en-us_a76808992e5c7cfd        Manifest: Parsing failed
(x)    Corrupt Manifest    CSI    File Successfully Replaced    x86_microsoft-windows-a..ltimateed.resources_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_en-us_a76808992e5c7cfd.manifest from Cabinet: C:WindowsCheckSurv1.0base.CAB.
(f)    Corrupt Manifest    CSI    0xC0150006    x86_microsoft-windows-a..s-windowsultimateed_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_none_5fa5452a84857ebe        Manifest: Parsing failed
(x)    Corrupt Manifest    CSI    File Successfully Replaced    x86_microsoft-windows-a..s-windowsultimateed_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_none_5fa5452a84857ebe.manifest from Cabinet: C:WindowsCheckSurv1.0base.CAB.
(f)    Corrupt Manifest    CSI    0xC0150006    x86_microsoft-windows-b..-ultimate.resources_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_en-us_01e9e9eb17df0d8c        Manifest: Parsing failed
(x)    Corrupt Manifest    CSI    File Successfully Replaced    x86_microsoft-windows-b..-ultimate.resources_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_en-us_01e9e9eb17df0d8c.manifest from Cabinet: C:WindowsCheckSurv1.0base.CAB.
(f)    Corrupt Manifest    CSI    0xC0150006    x86_microsoft-windows-b..ding-shell-ultimate_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_none_c268e045cd758d6a        Manifest: Parsing failed
(x)    Corrupt Manifest    CSI    File Successfully Replaced    x86_microsoft-windows-b..ding-shell-ultimate_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_none_c268e045cd758d6a.manifest from Cabinet: C:WindowsCheckSurv1.0base.CAB.
(f)    Corrupt Manifest    CSI    0xC0150006    x86_microsoft-windows-b..oyment-languagepack_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_en-us_719e4df1e8a92435        Manifest: Parsing failed
(x)    Corrupt Manifest    CSI    File Successfully Replaced    x86_microsoft-windows-b..oyment-languagepack_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_en-us_719e4df1e8a92435.manifest from Cabinet: C:WindowsCheckSurv1.0base.CAB.
(f)    Corrupt Manifest    CSI    0xC0150006    x86_microsoft-windows-b..ultimate-deployment_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_none_b10781b28b8b5f0d        Manifest: Parsing failed
(x)    Corrupt Manifest    CSI    File Successfully Replaced    x86_microsoft-windows-b..ultimate-deployment_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_none_b10781b28b8b5f0d.manifest from Cabinet: C:WindowsCheckSurv1.0base.CAB.
(f)    Corrupt Manifest    CSI    0xC0150006    x86_microsoft-windows-branding-base-ultimate_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_none_39706b8cc247a1df        Manifest: Parsing failed
(x)    Corrupt Manifest    CSI    File Successfully Replaced    x86_microsoft-windows-branding-base-ultimate_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_none_39706b8cc247a1df.manifest from Cabinet: C:WindowsCheckSurv1.0base.CAB.
(f)    Corrupt Manifest    CSI    0xC0150006    x86_microsoft-windows-h..cultimate.resources_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_en-us_7407fbaacd407b25        Manifest: Parsing failed
(x)    Corrupt Manifest    CSI    File Successfully Replaced    x86_microsoft-windows-h..cultimate.resources_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_en-us_7407fbaacd407b25.manifest from Cabinet: C:WindowsCheckSurv1.0base.CAB.
(f)    Corrupt Manifest    CSI    0xC0150006    x86_microsoft-windows-h..oyment-languagepack_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_en-us_9c4390e8e4d3e99d        Manifest: Parsing failed
(x)    Corrupt Manifest    CSI    File Successfully Replaced    x86_microsoft-windows-h..oyment-languagepack_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_en-us_9c4390e8e4d3e99d.manifest from Cabinet: C:WindowsCheckSurv1.0base.CAB.
(f)    Corrupt Manifest    CSI    0xC0150006    x86_microsoft-windows-h..oyment-languagepack_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_en-us_f052545ff0a8b48b        Manifest: Parsing failed
(x)    Corrupt Manifest    CSI    File Successfully Replaced    x86_microsoft-windows-h..oyment-languagepack_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_en-us_f052545ff0a8b48b.manifest from Cabinet: C:WindowsCheckSurv1.0base.CAB.
(f)    Corrupt Manifest    CSI    0xC0150006    x86_microsoft-windows-h..ultimate-deployment_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_none_54e22a1aeccf9a7f        Manifest: Parsing failed
(x)    Corrupt Manifest    CSI    File Successfully Replaced    x86_microsoft-windows-h..ultimate-deployment_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_none_54e22a1aeccf9a7f.manifest from Cabinet: C:WindowsCheckSurv1.0base.CAB.
(f)    Corrupt Manifest    CSI    0xC0150006    x86_microsoft-windows-h..ultimate-deployment_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_none_c2343a73151e464f        Manifest: Parsing failed
(x)    Corrupt Manifest    CSI    File Successfully Replaced    x86_microsoft-windows-h..ultimate-deployment_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_none_c2343a73151e464f.manifest from Cabinet: C:WindowsCheckSurv1.0base.CAB.
(f)    Corrupt Manifest    CSI    0xC0150006    x86_microsoft-windows-help-bitlock.resources_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_en-us_ca2aadced68f1fb1        Manifest: Parsing failed
(x)    Corrupt Manifest    CSI    File Successfully Replaced    x86_microsoft-windows-help-bitlock.resources_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_en-us_ca2aadced68f1fb1.manifest from Cabinet: C:WindowsCheckSurv1.0base.CAB.
(f)    Corrupt Manifest    CSI    0xC0150006    x86_microsoft-windows-help-bitlock_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_none_10a02aad240e0f90        Manifest: Parsing failed
(x)    Corrupt Manifest    CSI    File Successfully Replaced    x86_microsoft-windows-help-bitlock_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_none_10a02aad240e0f90.manifest from Cabinet: C:WindowsCheckSurv1.0base.CAB.
(f)    Corrupt Manifest    CSI    0xC0150006    x86_microsoft-windows-help-hhomeue.resources_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_en-us_9d3575f6331e3dbc        Manifest: Parsing failed
(x)    Corrupt Manifest    CSI    File Successfully Replaced    x86_microsoft-windows-help-hhomeue.resources_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_en-us_9d3575f6331e3dbc.manifest from Cabinet: C:WindowsCheckSurv1.0base.CAB.
(f)    Corrupt Manifest    CSI    0xC0150006    x86_microsoft-windows-help-hhomeue_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_none_09d85f6e30652b6b        Manifest: Parsing failed
(x)    Corrupt Manifest    CSI    File Successfully Replaced    x86_microsoft-windows-help-hhomeue_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_none_09d85f6e30652b6b.manifest from Cabinet: C:WindowsCheckSurv1.0base.CAB.

Scanned 11234 components, 13706 component payload files
Summary:
Milliseconds: 499594
Found 16 errors
Fixed 16 errors
  CSI Corrupt Manifest Total Count: 16
  CSI Corrupt Manifest Fixed.  Total Count: 16
Customer Experience report successfuly uploaded.  Thank you for participating.  For more information, see the Microsoft Customer Experience Improvement Program on the Microsoft web site.

Read more on this little gem at:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=947821.