Windows System Assessment Scan Fails With Exit Code -2147467259 or 9009 for Patch Management Solution for Windows

Products

• Patch Management Solution
• Client Management Suite
• IT Management Suite

Issue/Introduction

When the Windows System Assessment Scan runs on the agent it fails with an exit code of -2147467259 or 9009.

The related informational messages that are generated in the agent logs are below.

• For exit code -2147467259:
  • AeXPatchUtil: State [NOT READY] of Software update agent does not allow to start scan
• For exit code 9009:
  • Program 'Windows System Assessment Scan' completed. Exit code=9009. Execution context='Administrator'. RunAs='\'

Environment

• ITMS 8.5, 8.6

Cause

The computers are not targeted by an enabled software update plug-in policy which is required for the the Software Update Agent to be ready.

Note:
Also, no having the proper target (by default "Windows Computers with Software Update Plug-in Installed Target" ) under "Windows Patch Remediation Settings" (under Settings>Software>Patch Management) can cause issues. 

Resolution

1. Ensure that all computers with the Software Update Plug-in installed are being targeted by an enabled software update plug-in policy.
2. The policies can be configured by browsing to Settings > Agents/Plug-ins > All Agents/Plug-ins > Software > Patch Management > Windows in the management console.
   • Note: The Default Software Update Plug-in Policy targets all computers that have not been targeted by another software update plug-in policy.
3. Ensure the proper target (by default "Windows Computers with Software Update Plug-in Installed Target" ) under "Windows Patch Remediation Settings" (under Settings>Software>Patch Management) is in use. 
4. Best practices for configuring the software update plug-in policies are noted in Step 5 of article Configuring Patch Management for Windows - Best practices for 7.5.x - 8.x