Failing to install updates

I'm stumped... I have recently reformatted my computer, reinstaled my Virus
Scan (Eset's NOD32), and tried to get all the Windows Updates. I was able to
install SP3 for XP, but now all 24 available updates have downloaded but fail
to install. I am able to download and install them one by one from
Microsoft.com, but this is very inconveinient. Any thoughts on what could be
causing this, and how it could be resolved? Thanks in advance.

Curtis wrote:

> I'm stumped... I have recently reformatted my computer, reinstaled my
> Virus Scan (Eset's NOD32), and tried to get all the Windows Updates. I
> was able to install SP3 for XP, but now all 24 available updates have
> downloaded but fail to install. I am able to download and install them
> one by one from Microsoft.com, but this is very inconveinient. Any
> thoughts on what could be causing this, and how it could be resolved?
> Thanks in advance.

See:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
"Updates are not installed successfully from Windows Update, from Microsoft
Update, or by using Automatic Updates after you repair a Windows XP
installation".

--
Vincenzo Di Russo
Microsoft® MVP - Most Valuable Professional since 2003
Windows Internet Explorer, Windows Desktop Experience & Security
My MVP Profile: https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Vincenzo
My Blog: http://blogs.dotnethell.it/vincent/

Awesome. You amaze me with how fast you got that. I really appreciate it.
Thanks a million Vincenzo!

"Vincenzo Di Russo [MVP]" wrote:

> Curtis wrote:
>
> > I'm stumped... I have recently reformatted my computer, reinstaled my
> > Virus Scan (Eset's NOD32), and tried to get all the Windows Updates. I
> > was able to install SP3 for XP, but now all 24 available updates have
> > downloaded but fail to install. I am able to download and install them
> > one by one from Microsoft.com, but this is very inconveinient. Any
> > thoughts on what could be causing this, and how it could be resolved?
> > Thanks in advance.
>
> See:
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
> "Updates are not installed successfully from Windows Update, from Microsoft
> Update, or by using Automatic Updates after you repair a Windows XP
> installation".
>
> --
> Vincenzo Di Russo
> Microsoft® MVP - Most Valuable Professional since 2003
> Windows Internet Explorer, Windows Desktop Experience & Security
> My MVP Profile: https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Vincenzo
> My Blog: http://blogs.dotnethell.it/vincent/
>
>
>

Curtis wrote:
> I'm stumped... I have recently reformatted my computer, reinstaled
> my Virus Scan (Eset's NOD32), and tried to get all the Windows
> Updates. I was able to install SP3 for XP, but now all 24
> available updates have downloaded but fail to install. I am able
> to download and install them one by one from Microsoft.com, but
> this is very inconveinient. Any thoughts on what could be causing
> this, and how it could be resolved? Thanks in advance.

Just so it is posted again and can be found by even the most basic attempt
(web search engine of your choice) at locating an answer for this issue...

First thing to try:
As many will tell you - ignore the title and symptoms listed in the article
referred to. Do method 1 and 2 and see if it fixes your issue whether or
not you repaired anything.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
Try method 1 and try to update*.
If fails - try method 2 and try to update*.

*try to update:
- Visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
- If it asks you to install anything before you see a selection of "Custom"
or "Express" - do so.
- Once you see the "Custom" or "Express" selection, choose "Custom".
- Scan for updates.
- When it lists what it finds - install the critical ones.
- You are generally safe doing the Optional Software Updates. I suggest
avoiding the Optional Hardware Updates completely.


Second thing to try:
http://www.codeplex.com/aureset


Third thing to try:
Get Dial-a-Fix:
http://wiki.djlizard.net/Dial-a-fix

Use its options to fix:
- Windows Installer
- Windows Update
- All the Registration Center options.

Turn off the "Empty System32\Catroot 2"
Do NOT do "Flush SoftwareDistribution".

Then click "GO" and wait until it is done... Reboot will be needed.

- Download/Install Windows Update v3.
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=91237
(You *may* need to install it using the command line switch "/wuforce"
right after the reboot - immediately after logging in.)

- Reboot.
- Visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and scan for/install updates.


Usually - method one from the first suggestion fixes the issue.
Sometimes they have to proceed to method two from the first suggestion.

Less seldom - but it does happen - only the tool from the second suggestion
will work - although the first suggestion is contained within the second in
many ways (as well as some of the third.)

And the third suggestion is there because before there was a suggestion (1)
and a suggestion (2) - the third was the best bet and worked in most cases.

Let us know!

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

Curtis wrote:

> Awesome. You amaze me with how fast you got that. I really appreciate
> it. Thanks a million Vincenzo!

YW. Glad to help and thank you for your feedback, Curtis.

--
Vincenzo Di Russo
Microsoft® MVP - Most Valuable Professional since 2003
Windows Internet Explorer, Windows Desktop Experience & Security
My MVP Profile: https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Vincenzo
My Blog: http://blogs.dotnethell.it/vincent/

> "Vincenzo Di Russo [MVP]" wrote:
>
>> Curtis wrote:
>>
>>> I'm stumped... I have recently reformatted my computer, reinstaled my
>>> Virus Scan (Eset's NOD32), and tried to get all the Windows Updates. I
>>> was able to install SP3 for XP, but now all 24 available updates have
>>> downloaded but fail to install. I am able to download and install them
>>> one by one from Microsoft.com, but this is very inconveinient. Any
>>> thoughts on what could be causing this, and how it could be resolved?
>>> Thanks in advance.
>>
>> See:
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
>> "Updates are not installed successfully from Windows Update, from
>> Microsoft Update, or by using Automatic Updates after you repair a
>> Windows XP installation".
>>
>> --
>> Vincenzo Di Russo
>> Microsoft® MVP - Most Valuable Professional since 2003
>> Windows Internet Explorer, Windows Desktop Experience & Security
>> My MVP Profile: https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Vincenzo
>> My Blog: http://blogs.dotnethell.it/vincent/

Vincenzo Di Russo [MVP] wrote:
> Curtis wrote:
>
>> I'm stumped... I have recently reformatted my computer, reinstaled my
>> Virus Scan (Eset's NOD32), and tried to get all the Windows Updates.
>> I was able to install SP3 for XP, but now all 24 available updates
>> have downloaded but fail to install. I am able to download and
>> install them one by one from Microsoft.com, but this is very
>> inconveinient. Any thoughts on what could be causing this, and how
>> it could be resolved? Thanks in advance.
>
> See:
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
> "Updates are not installed successfully from Windows Update, from
> Microsoft Update, or by using Automatic Updates after you repair a
> Windows XP installation".

I had a smiliar problem months ago on my XP SP3 system and came across the
same KB article fix as noted above. I went through each solution but the
result was no change. I still could not install udates automatically. I do
not recall what the error message was other than the update files did
download but would not install. Finally after searching several sources I
came across the fix which ultimately did work for me. Seems that somehow a
Registry Key for SensLogn was missing. Restoring this Key and all
associated subkeys was the fix I needed. The OP should search HKLM for the
SensLogn key to see if it exists on his system. If not then do a search for
the proper addition of this key and he should be okay.