Windows XP SP2 not installing updates

batman2000

I have a Winxp with SP2, it says in the system tray that updates are ready to be installed. When I go to install them it says 'they could not be installed. They are downloaded OK, but wont install. They are the same updates each time. Any adivice??

ethernet

Have you tried installing them through Windows Update instead?

batman2000

Yep tried that too. BTW, I upgraded from Win2000

ethernet

Have you tried a system restore and then trying to install them again?

kaizersoze

Try this from another forum:
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=579735&pid=588769676&st=0&#entry588769676

batman2000

No havent tried system restore cause I only upgraded 2000->Xp the same day and trying to install the updates so I figured it wouldnt be much good ! I could be wrong... Thx kaizersoze...will try this

guigsy

Hi there,

What I suggest is the following;

1. Ensure you have plenty of hard disk space and at least 256mb of Ram. SP2 only really runs well with 512mb to be honest.
2.

Clear the contents of the WindowsUpdate folder
1. Click Start, click Programs, and then click Windows Explorer.
2. In the left pane, double-click the Program Files folder.
3. In the left pane, double-click the WindowsUpdate folder.
4. In the right pane, click the V4 folder, click Edit, and then click Invert Selection.
5. Press DELETE, and then click Yes to confirm.
6. Open the V4 folder, then in the right pane, click to select the IUHIST.XML file, click Edit, and then click Invert Selection.
7. Press DELETE, and then click Yes to confirm.

3. go to update.microsoft.com and run through the process.

I had this problem before and it waas that windows update was corrupt. I fixed it by a wonderful little tool that some guy release to update PC's in an automatic fashion and funnily enough its called Autopatcher!!! Download it and install it and hey presto!!!!

http://www.autopatcher.com/

Osh

batman2000

Thanks for that information: Does the Invert selection in Step 6 mean the link that kaizersose provided. Or else I can just download that autopatcher and it will do everything ?!!

guigsy

yes and Autopatcher will do absolutely everything!!!

mukki

i remember a few months ago finding the installer service disabled on a pc that wouldn't install updates. funnyily enough came accross the same problem a few times in about a week, and never saw it since

start
run
services.msc
double click on windows installer and set it to manual and click apply and start, then ok the window

Earth Worm Jim

batman2000 wrote:

I have a Winxp with SP2, it says in the system tray that updates are ready to be installed. When I go to install them it says 'they could not be installed. They are downloaded OK, but wont install. They are the same updates each time. Any adivice??

This is a common problem with XP updates, could be a couple of things but mainly error "0x800A01AE" or "0x080070570", easy enough fix :

Manual steps to resolve "0x800A01AE" or "0x080070570" error messages
To manually resolve this problem, follow these steps: 1. Stop the Background Intelligent Transfer Service and the Automatic Updates service. To do this, follow these steps: a. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
b. At the command prompt, type the following commands, and then press ENTER after each command:
net stop wuauserv
net stop bits
exit

2. Rename the Catroot2 folder.

Note Do not follow this step if you are using Microsoft Windows 2000.

To rename the Catroot2 folder, follow these steps: a. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
b. At the command prompt, type the following commands, and then press ENTER after each command:

net stop cryptsvc
ren %systemroot%\System32\Catroot2 oldcatroot2
net start cryptsvc
exit
Important Do not rename the Catroot folder. The Catroot2 folder is automatically recreated by Windows, but the Catroot folder is not recreated if the Catroot folder is renamed.
3. Rename the "SoftwareDistribution" folder: a. Click Start, click Run, type %systemroot%, and then click OK.
b. Right-click the SoftwareDistribution folder, and then click Rename.
c. Type SoftwareDistribution.old, and then press ENTER to rename this folder.

4. Register the files that are used by Windows Update and Microsoft Update. To do this, follow these steps: a. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
b. At the command prompt, type the following commands, press ENTER after each command, and then click OK every time that you receive a verification message:
regsvr32 wuapi.dll
regsvr32 wuaueng1.dll
regsvr32 wuaueng.dll
regsvr32 wucltui.dll
regsvr32 wups2.dll
regsvr32 wups.dll
regsvr32 wuweb.dll


5. Start the Background Intelligent Transfer Service, the Automatic Updates service, and the Event Log service. To do this, follow these steps: a. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
b. At the command prompt, type the following commands, and then press ENTER after each command:
net start bits
net start wuauserv
net start Eventlog
exit