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Error 800f020b

If you need a device to be connected to the computer before Windows Update tries to install something, shouldn’t Windows Update ask you to connect it?

Jeez. Talk about stupid software design.

So, today’s lesson: If Windows Update has a Windows Mobile-related update, connect your Windows Mobile device before running Windows Update and leave it plugged in until it’s done.

September 4th, 2007 Posted by Nathan Weinberg | Windows Mobile, Vista, Windows, General | 3 comments



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3 Comments »

  1. When you got the error, did you click “Get help” next to the error code
    That should have given you the message to connect the device.

    Comment by Redd | September 5, 2007

  2. It didn’t tell me to connect the device before trying to install, even though the install was 100% going to fail.

    It didn’t tell me, “Install cannot continue until you connect your device”.

    Clicking for help told me that a device may not be connected. Nothing told me it was a Windows Mobile device that needed to be connected. How do I know it wasn’t a printer problem?

    I had to figure all this out. Most users wouldn’t. If you fail most users, you failed completely.

    Comment by Nathan Weinberg | September 7, 2007

  3. I agree that it would be more useful if it prompts you to connect the device before install.

    But it seems to me that the troubleshooter tells to connect the devices and retry the install. It also tells about how to find the device causing the problem.

    This is what the troubleshooter says
    If you receive Windows Update error 800f020b while trying to install updates, an update that you’re trying to install applies to a device that is not connected to the computer. Make sure that all of your devices are connected and turned on, and then try installing updates again.
    To see which device is causing the problem, you can review available updates before trying to install them. The device name or manufacturer will be displayed in the list of available updates. For more information, follow the steps for installing drivers and other optional updates in Install Windows updates.

    Comment by Redd | September 13, 2007

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