System Assessment Scan on Windows Computers; task fails with Return code 2147418113

Products

• Patch Management Solution
• IT Management Suite

Issue/Introduction

• Manually running the Windows System Assessment Scan (WSAS) using the Run System Assessment Scan on Windows Computers task fails on some computers
• The Windows System Assessment Scan policy completes successfully

• From Agent's Log, there are errors:
  • HR=0x80080005, MSG='Shavlik::ShavlikPatchAssessmentImpl::OnInitialize()- Couldn't create traditional provider COM engine'
  • Message='Patch assessment failed' (ExitCode=4).
  • Application exception caught: Patch assessment failed
  • Failed to launch assessment scan for provider: Traditional
• From the console, the task fails with following return code
  • Task status: failed
  • Return code: -2147418113
  • 

Environment

Noticed this error on Altiris 8.5

Cause

• In some cases it was due to missing signing certificates
• In other cases it is unknown but seems related to Local System Account settings

Resolution

First, run through Windows System Assessment Scan fails with Exit Code: 4 to test if this is a signing certificate issue

 

A workaround, if not a certificate issue, is to:

• Clone the Run System Assessment Scan on Windows Computers task
• In Advanced options, select Specific User under Run As section
• Enter the Altiris Application Identity username and password
• Click OK and then Save Changes
• The task should be able to complete successfully at this time