Easily Fix 0x80240017 Visual C++ Setup Failed Error

The 0x80240017 Unspecified Error occurs when users try to install Visual C++ Redistributable Package for Visual Studio 2013 or 2015. The Error seems to occur on all versions of Windows and in most cases can be fixed easily by replacing some missing files and DLLs. In this article, we have listed a detailed guide for completely fixing the issue using some easy to follow solutions.

Why is 0x80240017 Unspecified Error Triggered in the First Place?

It is possible that most users have been encountering this error due to the following common reasons.

• Missing DLLs: It is possible in some cases that some DLL files from your computer are missing due to which the error has popped up while trying to install Visual C++ redistributable. Therefore, we suggest that you follow the solutions below to install these files on your computer.
• Outdated Windows: Some users have complained that their Windows was outdated due to which the issue was being triggered on their computer and as soon as they applied the update, the issue went away.
• Installation Glitch: It is possible that the installation has been glitched and you cannot proceed with installing the software from the package. Therefore, you can try alternate ways of installing the Visual C++ redistributable to fix the issue as we have mentioned below.

Now that we have made you aware of some of the common reasons behind its occurrence, we can finally start implementing the solutions.

Fixing the 0x80240017 Error:

Method 1: Download Visual C++ Package Again

1. Download the Visual C++ Redistributable Package from the official Microsoft Website.
2. Select the appropriate architecture of the package and click on the download option.

   

3. After that, run the downloaded “.exe” file and follow the on-screen instructions to install it on your computer.
4. Check to see if doing so fixes the issue while installing Visual C++.

Method 2: Install Service Pack 1 for Windows 7 

1. Download the Windows 7 Service Pack 1 from the Microsoft Website.
2. Make sure to download the ISO file from their website and wait for the download to complete.
3. After downloading the ISO, download the WinCDEMU tool on your computer and run it after installation.
4. Now, run the tool and point it towards the download directory where the Service Pack 1 ISO has been downloaded.
5. After this, right-click on the ISO file and select the “Select Drive Letter and Mount”.
6. Now, select the USB drive letter that you want to make bootable and select “OK”.
7. Now, restart your computer and boot from this USB.
8. Proceed with the on-screen installation steps to install Service Pack 1 on your computer and check to see if the issue is fixed.

Method 3: Install Universal C Runtime Update

1. Using this link, navigate to the Microsoft Website and scroll down to the second method.
2. From there, select the appropriate download according to your device and click on the “Download the Package” now button.

   

3. After downloading the package on your computer, make sure to run its executable to install it.
4. Now, check to see if the issue is fixed.

Method 4: Check for Windows Update

1. Press “Windows + I” to launch into settings, click on the “Update & Security” option and select the “Check for Updates” button from the right side.

   

2. Wait for the checking process to be finished and click on the “Download and Install” button if the updates are available and for them to be installed on your computer.
3. Try to install Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable after this and check to see if the 0x80240017 unspecified error is fixed.

Method 5: Remove Previous Visual C++ Redistributable Packages

1. Press “Windows + R” to launch RUN, type in “Appwiz.cpl” and press “Enter” to launch into the application wizard.

   

2. From here, scroll down on the right side and right-click on any Microsoft Visual C++ installations that you find.
3. Select the “Uninstall” button and follow through with the on-screen instructions to completely remove them from your computer.
4. Check to see if you are able to install the Microsoft Visual C++ redistributable after removing the older versions from your computer.

Method 6: Install Older Python Version

If the error is being triggered while trying to install a Python distribution, we recommend that you try to install an older version and check to see if the issue is fixed. This is because the older versions, especially the Python Version 3.4.3 is more stable than the newer ones and it might fix the 0x80240017 error while installing the Python distribution.

Method 7: Updating GPU Drivers

1. Some GPU driver updates also install the latest version of the Visual C++ updates with them therefore, you can try to install the GPU driver updates and counter this issue along with it.
2. Press “Windows + R” to launch into Run, type in “devmgmt.msc” and press “Enter” to launch into the device management window.

   

3. From here, make sure to expand the “Display Adapters” option and right-click on your GPU driver.
4. Select the “Update Driver” option and then click on the “Search Automatically for Updated Driver Software” button.
5. Alternatively, you can also check for GPU updates on your relevant GPU Support application such as GeForce Experience or AMD Catalyst.

Method 8: Install Visual C++ in Safe Mode

Some programs and services are prevented from running in the safe mode. Therefore, if the service was interfering with the installation of the Visual C++ software, it will no longer do that.

1. Press “Windows + R” to launch the RUN prompt, type in “msconfig” and press “Enter” to launch into the ms configuration panel.

   

2. After doing that, click on the “General” tab from above and ensure that you check the “Selective Startup” option.
3. From there, ensure that only the “Load System Services” option is selected and that the rest aren’t selected.
4. Now, Select the “Services” option and check the “Hide all Microsoft Services” option. After that, click on the “Disable All” button.

   

5. Select “Apply” to save your changes and restart your computer.
6. In this mode, try to install the Visual C++ software and check to see if you still get the 0x80240017 unspecified error while doing so.
7. After the installation, restart your computer after undoing the changes from the ms config panel.

Method 9: Correcting Date and Time Settings

1. Press “Windows + I” to launch into the settings, click on the “Time & Language” option and from the left side, click on the “Date & Time” button.
2. On the right, make sure that the “Set Time Automatically” toggle is turned on and that the time is set properly.

   

3. If the toggle is on but the time isn’t proper, turn the toggle off.
4. After that, click on the “Set Now” button under the “Set Date and Time Manually” heading.
5. Set the proper time and check to see if you are able to fix the 0x80240017 error while Visual C++ installation.

Method 10: Performing Repair Installation

1. If the issue is still occurring while installing the Visual C++ software, you can download the Windows Media Creation Tool on your computer.
2. Now, Run the tool and select the “Repair this Computer” option when prompted.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to completely repair the Windows installation on your computer and check to see if the 0x80240017 error is fixed.

Fixing the 0x80240017 Windows Failed to Execute MSU package:

Fix 1: Running the DISM and SFC Scan

1. Press “Windows + R” to launch Run, type in “cmd” and press “Shift + CTRL + Enter” to launch with admin permissions.

   

2. From there, type in the following commands and press “Enter” after each to execute them on your computer.

   DISM.exe/Online/Cleanup-image/Scanhealth
   
   DISM.exe/Online/Cleanup-image/Restorehealth
   
   sfc/ scannow

3. After the commands have been run, make sure to check if the MSU package can be executed normally now.

Fix 2: Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

1. Press “Windows + I” to launch into the settings, click on the “Update and Security” option and from the left side, click on the “Troubleshoot” button.

   

2. On the right, click on the “Additional Troubleshooters” option and select the “Windows Update” button after that.
3. Click on the “Start the Troubleshooter” button that drops down and wait for the process to be completed.

Fix 3: Reset Microsoft Store App

1. Press “Windows + R” to launch into Run, type in “WSReset.exe” and press “Enter”.

   

2. Wait for the new window to execute and complete this process and it will close automatically.
3. After the window has been closed, check to see if the 0x80240017 Windows Failed to Execute MSU package error has been fixed.

Fix 4: Configure Windows Installer Service to Manual

1. Press “Windows + R” to launch into the Run prompt, type in “services.msc” and press “Enter” to launch into the service management window.

   

2. From there, right-click on the “Windows Installer Service” and select the “Properties” option.
3. From the “General” tab, click on the “Startup Type” dropdown and select the “Manual” option.
4. Now, click on “OK” to save your changes, restart your computer and check to see if the 0x80240017 Windows Failed to Execute MSU package error has been fixed.

Fix 5: Removing Temporary Files

1. Press “Windows + R” to launch the Run prompt, type in “%temp%” and press “Enter” to launch into the temporary files folder.

   

2. Inside here, press “CTRL + A” to select all the files and then press “Shift + Delete” to remove the files from your computer.
3. After doing this, make sure to try again and check to see if the 0x80240017 Windows Failed to Execute MSU package error has been fixed

Fix 6: Register Windows Installer Server Again

1. Press “Windows + R” to launch the Run prompt, type in “cmd” and press “Shift + CTRL + Enter” to launch with admin permissions.
2. Type in the following commands one by one and press “enter” to execute them.

   msiexec /unregister
   
   msiexec /regserver

3. After executing the commands, check to see if the issue has been fixed.

Fix 7: Install Windows 8 Package (Windows 8 Users Only)

1. On your computer, navigate to the following address.

   C:\ProgramData\Package Cache

2. Here, follow the path that is similar to the one below. (The long code and the Windows 8.1 KBXXX patch can be different).

   FC6260C33678BB17FB8B88536C476B4015B7C5E9\packages\Patch\x64\Windows8.1-KB2999226-x64.msu

3. Copy the complete path from the navigation bar in the File Explorer and press “Windows + R” to launch the Run prompt.
4. Inside the Run prompt, type in “cmd” and press “Shift + CTRL + Enter” to launch with admin permissions.
5. Inside the Command prompt, type in the following commands one by one and press “Enter” after each to execute them.

   C:
   
   mkdir tmp
   
   mkdir tmp\tmp
   
   move C:\ProgramData\Package Cache\FC6260C33678BB17FB8B88536C476B4015B7C5E9\packages\Patch\x64\Windows8.1-KB2999226-x64.msu c:\tmp
   
   expand -F:* c:\tmp\Windows8.1-KB2999226-x64.msu c:\tmp\tmp
   
   dism /online /add-package /packagepath:c:\tmp\tmp\Windows8.1-KB2999226-x64.cab

6. Make sure that while typing these commands, you replace the long code and the Windows 8.1 KB patch name with the one that you have on your computer.
7. After executing all the commands, restart your computer and check to see if the issue is fixed.

Fix 8: Disable Antivirus Temporarily

1. Press “Windows + I” to launch into the settings, click on the “Update & Security” option and select the “Windows Security” button from the left side.
2. After this, click on the “Virus & Threat Protection” option from the right side and click on the “Manage Settings” button under the “Virus & Threat Protection” button.
3. Now, from here, make sure to disable the toggle under the “Real-Time Protection” option.

   

4. Now that the Real-Time protection has been disabled, install the app and check to see if the 0x80240017 unspecified error has been fixed.

Fix 9: Reset Windows Update Components

1. Press “Windows + R” to launch the Run prompt, type in “cmd” and press “Shift + CTRL + Enter” to launch with admin permissions.
2. After that, execute the following commands one by one and to completely reset the Windows Update components.

   net stop wuauserv
   
   net stop cryptSvc
   
   net stop bits
   
   net stop msiserver
   
   ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
   
   ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 Catroot2.old
   
   net start wuauserv
   
   net start cryptSvc
   
   net start bits
   
   net start msiserver

3. After having executed all of these commands, restart your computer, try to install the software and check to see if the 0x80240017 Windows Failed to Execute MSU package error is fixed.

Fix 10: Use Activated Windows

This issue can sometimes plague your computer if the Windows installation hasn’t been fully activated. This is because an activated version of Windows is required in order to be able to install and use some Microsoft services. Therefore, we suggest that you try to activate your Windows installation.

If the above fixes weren’t able to fix your issue, contact us for further troubleshooting.