When I run this it shows me that it is going through the process by way of progression bar. When the bar reaches 100%, for some strange reason it launches Fallout 3. After waiting for something to happen, I check the options / display screen and it says that Fallout 3 is still version 1.0.0.12. Exiting and launching the Official Patch again does the same thing, Fallout 3 is not updating to 1.7. Is there a way?

Edit:

Aaaarrrgh!

The updater prepares to update, but instead of finishing it runs Fallout 3. It can't update the files it needs to because Fallout 3 is running. Closing Fallout 3 also closes the updater before it can update the files. It is programmed to prevent itself from doing its job. Why? This can't be incompetence but straight deliberate intent.

I think that Bethesda is behind the disappearance of Flight 370, because who else would do that? They have inspired dissent in Ukraine, and when the time comes, Flight 370 will de-cloak and nuke Russia, and the Russians will blame Malaysia. That has to be it. What did Russia ever do to Bethesda?

Martin Luther King was shot by a Bethesda operative. Also, it was Bethesda that pissed of Genghis Khan and unleashed his wrath.

Information would be helpful
What platform? Steam? Xbox?
Do you have a disc-based or digital download copy?

Windows 7. This is the disc version of Fallout 3, bought when Fallout 3 came out. Games for Windows Live included with it. I have also searched the internet and found that many people have the update problem for different reasons.

1. Make sure the game is not installed in programs folder. It is best to install to c:\Games\Fallout3 or something like that.

2. Good idea to disable anti virus or security program when updating if having problems installing the update. They might be blocking the game from accessing parts of the system the game needs access to. it is good practice not to be connected to the internet during this process.

3. Make sure the game is not running.

4. Make sure you run the updater as Admin.

Thanks guys! The real solution for me was to click Live for the Games for Windows Live overlay and login with my G4WL account. I had to dig up the password, but it was there. Then it asked me to find the FO3 serial access key. Then it downloaded the 1.7 patch and restarted the computer. I'm happy, but this is very strange because this is DEFINITELY NOT the way I installed patch 1.7 last time.

Might be due to the fact that G4WL is being scrapped by MS, I believe Arkham City (made by a totally different dev studio, publisher and all, but relevant to the G4WL thing) even had it patched out entirely IIRC.