0x800A01AE & Windows Update Install fails

Hi there

Tearing my hair out trying to get windows update v6 to work on my XP Pro SP1
m/c.
22 updates were initially downloaded successfully but whenever they are
installed, the instalation hangs at "initialising instalation" and then also
refuses to cancel.

Tried both automatic and manual updates - both caused the problem.

Then found some advice, followed it and got the following error: 0x800A01AE
and no pages showing other than the home page.

The advice I followed:
<<
Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS)
Cryptographic Services
Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
System Restore Service

Go to Start menu >Run > MSCONFIG <enter>
Click on the "Services" Tab & review these services. They should have a
green "tick/check" mark on left; and status "Running" on the far right.

Do a basic sanity check .... insure you have at least 300 MB of free space
on your C drive (assuming Windows is on C).

Do some cleanups:
From main Windows Start menu, select RUN, type in
CMD <Enter-key>

type in
net stop wuauserv <Enter-key>

Go to Windows Explorer.
Look on your system drive (usually C ) and look at the Windows folder name.
Like Windows or WINNT.
Modify following as appropriate.
If your Windows folder is C:\Windows. Look at this folder
C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download

If you find files in there, delete them. That folder is where files are
stored from W U downloads.

********* n.b. I only deleted the files from this directory, NOT
sub-directories********

Go back to Command prompt window.
type in
net start wuauserv <Enter-key>

EXIT <Enter-key>

>>

Any help gratefully received
Sarah

Hello Sarah,

First, that advice sure looks like my writing. ;0) Anyhow, the essence is to do some checks & basic cleanup after an install failure.

On your current "error" : First, post back with the name of your Windows folder name (eg., WINNT or Windows).

Take a look to see (do SEARCH) to see if these XML dynamic-link-libraries are on this system. (You may not have all of them. But make a list of what it has and post back).
The files would be in your \Windows\System32 folder (note yours may be at \WINNT\System32).

C:\windows\system32\msxml.dll

C:\windows\system32\msxml2.dll

C:\windows\system32\msxml2r.dll

C:\windows\system32\msxml3.dll

C:\windows\system32\msxml3r.dll


How come your system is not up to Service Pack 2?

Lastly, if you visit the Windows Update website, do not take many (22 in your case) updates all at once. Keep the selections down.
Choose critical & security updates first, but the topmost item should be the o.s. service pack.

Post back with info. I'm going to be suggesting you re-register the MSXML files.
--
Maurice N
MVP Windows - Shell / User
-----

Sarah wrote:
> Hi there
>
> Tearing my hair out trying to get windows update v6 to work on my XP
> Pro SP1 m/c.
> 22 updates were initially downloaded successfully but whenever they
> are installed, the instalation hangs at "initialising instalation"
> and then also refuses to cancel.
>
> Tried both automatic and manual updates - both caused the problem.
>
> Then found some advice, followed it and got the following error:
> 0x800A01AE and no pages showing other than the home page.
>
> The advice I followed:
> <<
> Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS)
> Cryptographic Services
> Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
> System Restore Service
>
> Go to Start menu >Run > MSCONFIG <enter>
> Click on the "Services" Tab & review these services. They should have
> a green "tick/check" mark on left; and status "Running" on the far
> right.
>
> Do a basic sanity check .... insure you have at least 300 MB of free
> space on your C drive (assuming Windows is on C).
>
> Do some cleanups:
> From main Windows Start menu, select RUN, type in
> CMD <Enter-key>
>
> type in
> net stop wuauserv <Enter-key>
>
> Go to Windows Explorer.
> Look on your system drive (usually C ) and look at the Windows folder
> name. Like Windows or WINNT.
> Modify following as appropriate.
> If your Windows folder is C:\Windows. Look at this folder
> C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download
>
> If you find files in there, delete them. That folder is where files
> are stored from W U downloads.
>
> ********* n.b. I only deleted the files from this directory, NOT
> sub-directories********
>
> Go back to Command prompt window.
> type in
> net start wuauserv <Enter-key>
>
> EXIT <Enter-key>
>
>>>
>
> Any help gratefully received
> Sarah

Sarah,

See this section at the Windows Update Troubleshooter
http://update.microsoft.com/microsof...cleid=38&ln=en

--
Maurice N
MVP Windows - Shell / User
-----

Situation has now changed!

Was able to see my update history etc the next time I switched on and
visited the windows update site.

Decided to bite the bullet and install SP2 (after it completely trashed my
system last year). It has installed successfully but I haven't tried the
windows update site since.

I will do so and if I have more problems I will start a new post, as the
situation has changed!

With thanks for your quick response
Sarah
"Maurice N ~ MVP" wrote:

> Sarah,
>
> See this section at the Windows Update Troubleshooter
> http://update.microsoft.com/microsof...cleid=38&ln=en
>
> --
> Maurice N
> MVP Windows - Shell / User
> -----
>

Sarah,
Glad to hear the good news. YW.
--
Maurice N
MVP Windows - Shell / User
--
"Sarah" wrote
> Situation has now changed!
>
> Was able to see my update history etc the next time I switched on and
> visited the windows update site.
>
> Decided to bite the bullet and install SP2 (after it completely trashed my
> system last year). It has installed successfully but I haven't tried the
> windows update site since.
>
> I will do so and if I have more problems I will start a new post, as the
> situation has changed!
>
> With thanks for your quick response
> Sarah
> "Maurice N ~ MVP" wrote:
>
>> Sarah,
>>
>> See this section at the Windows Update Troubleshooter
>> http://update.microsoft.com/microsof...cleid=38&ln=en
>>
>> --
>> Maurice N
>> MVP Windows - Shell / User
>> -----