3 of 5 November Windows XP Updates fail to download

I got the yellow shield icon in my tray advising me that there were
updates ready for Windows XP. I clicked on the shield to
install/download(can't remember which) the updates and after a few
seconds the shield disappeared. After another minute or two of nothing
happening...no activity on DSL modem, no hard drive light flashes...I
went to the Windows Update site manually by clicking on the start
button and clicking on the link that appears. I went to the Microsoft
Update site and it checked for the proper updating software and then
let me know there were 5 high-priority updates that need to be
installed. I tried to install all five, but only the first and fifth
downloaded and installed.(Sorry, didn't jot down the names of the two
that worked). I got a message that the download of KB923980, KB924270,
and the November Malicious Software Removal Tool KB890830 had all
failed. Thus it was no surprise when the installation of all three
failed as well. I tried to go back and recheck the first Windows
Update page, but was told I would need to reboot my computer first. I
did so, and when I went back to the Windows Update page manually(didn't
wait for any shield icon in the tray), I now had three updates that
needed to be installed. I have tried installing them one by one, all
at once, skipping only the large-ish Malicious Software Removal Tool,
etc etc All to no avail. I get download failed on all three items.

Is there anyway to force the installation of these updates or do them
manually? I have not seen anything in the FAQ or troubleshooting guide
that gives me any idea other than to try again. The only other time I
have had problems with Windows Update was when I installed Service Pack
2 on October 11th. The installation hung during the clean-up stage and
I let the computer sit for 3 hours hoping it would eventually complete.
I forced a reboot and everything seemed fine. My computer appears to
have Service Pack 2 installed even though the Windows Update page
insists that the installation failed. I believe I have installed a
whole slew of updates since and had no problems. But now I get the
almost instantaneous download failed message when I try to update these
three items. It's not like there is a connection problem and after
several minutes I get a download failed message...this message pops up
even before it seems there has been a chance to download the new
updates. I wonder if that yellow shield I clicked on at first had
started to download these three updates and when I went to the Update
site on my own I may have corrupted the download files. Any idea of
where I can look for these files and possibly remove them?

Thanks in advance for any help or advice.

Danny in Yorktown, VA

Nothing much to add, except that I'm having the same problem. Been to
the Microsoft
web site and was totally unsuccessful at obtaining the updates, even
"manually" (i.e.,
search the web site, download the update file, install manually). Once
again, Microsoft
as screwed up. Guess all of the support people are working on Zune.
;-)

Duane in Richardson, TX

Auto updates yellow icon came and went here
so i went to update.microsoft and had 6 updates, all failed.

Figured server was busy or something because they never seemed to actually
download.

Went to download.microsoft, searched KB numbers and saved them all to a
folder & one by one installed each. Worked but pia ,.. have to pay
attention if you download them as there are some choices of op sys for a
few, and seems like every other one wants a reboot after install.


<> wrote in message
news: oups.com...
> Nothing much to add, except that I'm having the same problem. Been to
> the Microsoft
> web site and was totally unsuccessful at obtaining the updates, even
> "manually" (i.e.,
> search the web site, download the update file, install manually). Once
> again, Microsoft
> as screwed up. Guess all of the support people are working on Zune.
> ;-)
>
> Duane in Richardson, TX
>