All updates fail following a Windows Repair

I am running Windows XP Pro SP2. I recently had to run a Windows Repair and
subsequently, all Windows updates fail.
I have tried all of the options available here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
I have also tried the advice given here:
http://www.windowssecrets.com/2007/0...ents-XP-repair
Nothing has worked. I have also restarted my machine after each option. The
only thing I can think of is that I am trying to run updates via my Mobile 3G
connection using Microsoft ActiveSync. Could this be an issue?

Rowan Wittels wrote:
> I am running Windows XP Pro SP2. I recently had to run a Windows
> Repair and subsequently, all Windows updates fail.
> I have tried all of the options available here:
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
> I have also tried the advice given here:
> http://www.windowssecrets.com/2007/0...ents-XP-repair
> Nothing has worked. I have also restarted my machine after each
> option. The only thing I can think of is that I am trying to run
> updates via my Mobile 3G connection using Microsoft ActiveSync.
> Could this be an issue?

Could be. Visit a local wifi spot (coffee shop, bookstore, etc) and try
there.

Have you tried dial-a-fix?

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Try downloading the latest version of the update agent and running it with
the /wuforce switch
download from:
http://download.windowsupdate.com/Wi...one/7.1.6001.6
5/WindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe


Eddie Bowers
Security Support
Microsoft Corporation

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

Hi. Since running the repair, I cannot start the Wireless Zero service on my
machine. This is why I am trying to do a Windows update. I will try an
ethernet connection today.


"Shenan Stanley" wrote:

> Rowan Wittels wrote:
> > I am running Windows XP Pro SP2. I recently had to run a Windows
> > Repair and subsequently, all Windows updates fail.
> > I have tried all of the options available here:
> > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
> > I have also tried the advice given here:
> > http://www.windowssecrets.com/2007/0...ents-XP-repair
> > Nothing has worked. I have also restarted my machine after each
> > option. The only thing I can think of is that I am trying to run
> > updates via my Mobile 3G connection using Microsoft ActiveSync.
> > Could this be an issue?
>
> Could be. Visit a local wifi spot (coffee shop, bookstore, etc) and try
> there.
>
> Have you tried dial-a-fix?
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
>
>

Hi. Tried it twice. Just does not work. I am loathe to roll my machine back
to its factory state. I really need a solution.

"Eddie Bowers [MSFT]" wrote:

> Try downloading the latest version of the update agent and running it with
> the /wuforce switch
> download from:
> http://download.windowsupdate.com/Wi...one/7.1.6001.6
> 5/WindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe
>
>
> Eddie Bowers
> Security Support
> Microsoft Corporation
>
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights

Hi again. I have tried an ethernet connection, so the issue is not with
ActiveSync. Also, I have tried manually downloading and running
WindowsInstaller-KB893803-v2-x86.exe (which fails through automatic updates),
but it keeps giving me the error: "update.exe is not a valid Win32
application" !?

"Rowan Wittels" wrote:

> Hi. Tried it twice. Just does not work. I am loathe to roll my machine back
> to its factory state. I really need a solution.
>
> "Eddie Bowers [MSFT]" wrote:
>
> > Try downloading the latest version of the update agent and running it with
> > the /wuforce switch
> > download from:
> > http://download.windowsupdate.com/Wi...one/7.1.6001.6
> > 5/WindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe
> >
> >
> > Eddie Bowers
> > Security Support
> > Microsoft Corporation
> >
> > This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights

I tried an ethernet connection. Nothing works.

"Shenan Stanley" wrote:

> Rowan Wittels wrote:
> > I am running Windows XP Pro SP2. I recently had to run a Windows
> > Repair and subsequently, all Windows updates fail.
> > I have tried all of the options available here:
> > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
> > I have also tried the advice given here:
> > http://www.windowssecrets.com/2007/0...ents-XP-repair
> > Nothing has worked. I have also restarted my machine after each
> > option. The only thing I can think of is that I am trying to run
> > updates via my Mobile 3G connection using Microsoft ActiveSync.
> > Could this be an issue?
>
> Could be. Visit a local wifi spot (coffee shop, bookstore, etc) and try
> there.
>
> Have you tried dial-a-fix?
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
>
>

Hello Rowan,

"update.exe is not a valid Win32 application" !?

That error usually indicates the file is corrupt.


Get a fresh copy.

<http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=889482fc-5f56-4a38-b838-de776fd4138c&displaylang=en>


If repeated downloads all result in a corrupt file, the problem is either
with your Internet connection, security software or the download server.

Good luck
- -- ---

"Rowan Wittels" wrote:

> Hi again. I have tried an ethernet connection, so the issue is not with
> ActiveSync. Also, I have tried manually downloading and running
> WindowsInstaller-KB893803-v2-x86.exe (which fails through automatic updates),
> but it keeps giving me the error: "update.exe is not a valid Win32
> application" !?
>
> "Rowan Wittels" wrote:
>
> > Hi. Tried it twice. Just does not work. I am loathe to roll my machine back
> > to its factory state. I really need a solution.
> >
> > "Eddie Bowers [MSFT]" wrote:
> >
> > > Try downloading the latest version of the update agent and running it with
> > > the /wuforce switch
> > > download from:
> > > http://download.windowsupdate.com/Wi...one/7.1.6001.6
> > > 5/WindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe
> > >
> > >
> > > Eddie Bowers
> > > Security Support
> > > Microsoft Corporation
> > >
> > > This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights

Or, the issue may be related to faulty hardware, 2 software firewalls
running concurrently, or, a router needs it's MTU setting tweaked.

If there's only one software firewall running or there is no router
involved, run a memory tester overnight: http://www.memtest.org/
If the memory checks out, do a chkdsk to see if there is an issue with
the Hard Drive.
Run the disk defragmenter afterwards to see if the disk defragmentation
is the cause of th issue.


MowGreen [MVP 2003-2008]
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============



Engel wrote:

> Hello Rowan,
>
> "update.exe is not a valid Win32 application" !?
>
> That error usually indicates the file is corrupt.
>
>
> Get a fresh copy.
>
> <http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=889482fc-5f56-4a38-b838-de776fd4138c&displaylang=en>
>
>
> If repeated downloads all result in a corrupt file, the problem is either
> with your Internet connection, security software or the download server.
>
> Good luck
> - -- ---
>
> "Rowan Wittels" wrote:
>
>
>>Hi again. I have tried an ethernet connection, so the issue is not with
>>ActiveSync. Also, I have tried manually downloading and running
>>WindowsInstaller-KB893803-v2-x86.exe (which fails through automatic updates),
>>but it keeps giving me the error: "update.exe is not a valid Win32
>>application" !?
>>
>>"Rowan Wittels" wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Hi. Tried it twice. Just does not work. I am loathe to roll my machine back
>>>to its factory state. I really need a solution.
>>>
>>>"Eddie Bowers [MSFT]" wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Try downloading the latest version of the update agent and running it with
>>>>the /wuforce switch
>>>>download from:
>>>>http://download.windowsupdate.com/Wi...one/7.1.6001.6
>>>>5/WindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Eddie Bowers
>>>>Security Support
>>>>Microsoft Corporation
>>>>
>>>>This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights

>Hi. Tried it twice. Just does not work.

Actually you didn't if you were following the steps in the URL you pointed
to.
That is installing an older version. This is the latest version.

Anyway, try this tool I just published. It works for 90% of problems. I
have been using it (and updating it) for a long time, but just recently
modified it so that it could be posted publically.

http://www.codeplex.com/aureset


Eddie Bowers
Security Support
Microsoft Corporation

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.