MS UPDATE FAIL causes api-ms-win-downlevel-user32-l1-1-0.dll MISSING

I have set up numerous cases with this same issue and the resolution comes down to a repair install.  There's no easy fix.  I've set up cases with "real" engineers.

 

If you are looking for a quick fix, I'm not seeing one coming.

I was able to resolve this issue, but the solution required another computer.   My clients laptop reported that it had completed the automatic IE10 upgrade but had not.    I tried downloading the offline installation files for IE10 (to a jump drive using a healthy pc), but the failed pc said that a newer version of IE10 was already installed.  I tried uninstalling, and it said that not all of the updates were removed successfully.  There were no restore points available to roll back to.  It was an endless loop!!!   My solution was this:

I found another computer running the same service pack and edition of windows ( In my case Windows 7 Pro SP1 32 Bit ).   I made sure that System restore was enabled on the good laptop.  Created a restore point.  Then manually updated that computer to IE10.  After successful update, I copied the missing Dll files to a jump drive, and pasted them into the system32 directory of my failed computer.  This FINALLY allowed me to remove IE 10 from my failed computer, and install the IE9 + IE10 Block.

Hopefully this helps someone else, I have used these forums enough that it feels good to return the favor

I was able to resolve this issue, but the solution required another computer.   My clients laptop reported that it had completed the automatic IE10 upgrade but had not.    I tried downloading the offline installation files for IE10, but the pc said that a newer version was already installed.  I tried uninstalling, and it said that not all of the updates were removed successfully.  There were no restore points available to roll back to.  It was an endless loop!!!   My solution was this:

I found another computer running the same service pack and edition of windows ( In my case Windows 7 Pro SP1 32 Bit ).   I made sure that System restore was enabled on the good laptop.  Created a restore point.  Then manually updated that computer to IE10.  I copied the missing Dll files to a jump drive, and pasted them into the system32 directory of my failed computer.  This FINALLY allowed me to remove IE 10 from my failed computer, and install the IE9 + IE10 Block.

Hopefully this helps someone else, I have used these forums enough that it feels good to return the favor

I am afraid Susan is right, gang. After living this nightmare for almost 3 weeks this is the only thing that worked.

Thanks, Susan, for all your help!

I have set up numerous cases with this same issue and the resolution comes down to a repair install.  There's no easy fix.  I've set up cases with "real" engineers.

If you are looking for a quick fix, I'm not seeing one coming.

I have IE10 installed on 2 computers at home with no issues. On a friends system installing IE10 results in a "cannot find api-ms-win-downlevel-user32-l1-1-0.dll" error whenever attempting to execute a program after the IE10 install. Backup and restore on this system will not successfully restore to the previous point before IE10 install.  Booting from a win 7 disk and choosing repair will successfully restore to before the IE10 install. The alleged missing file is right where it should be at all times.

I have done this several times with the same result -- most recent was 4/17/2013. This is an ACER AX-1920 system and one of the systems I have at home is also an AX-1920 that has no issues after IE10 install. Both are Win 7 64 bit. The one that works is running Norton 360 and the one that does not is using Zonealarm.

There seems to be enough people experiencing this problem that MS should take note and find out what is happening. We should be nearing the end of the "blame the individual user" phase so maybe MS will put a real engineer on this and solve the problem. Again, for those who experience this problem the system might be quickly recovered by booting from a Win 7 installation disk and choosing repair-restore. I hope we get an answer soon so I can turn auto updates back on and don't have to keep skipping over the IE10 update on this system.