Optional/Software Updates Won't Install

Using Windows Update, I recently tried to download & install the
optional/software updates selected (by Windows Update) for my Win/XP system.
While I appear to have been successful in DOWNLOADing these updates,
INSTALLATION fails with NO further indication (no error number/msg) as to
reason for installation failure. Same symptoms with all 4 software/optional
packages offered by Windows Update (one of them happes to be Windows Media
Player 11, if that's relevant to anyone).

This is a fairly new Win/XP installation (hasn't had time to get corrupted)
and all of the REQUIRED/CRITICAL updates (as identified by Windows Update)
have been successfully installed. I did notice that one of the required
updates was Win/XP Service Pack 3. Is there a compatablity problem between
SP3 and these optional/software updates? Does anyone know of solution?

bluesky18 wrote:
> Using Windows Update, I recently tried to download & install the
> optional/software updates selected (by Windows Update) for my
> Win/XP system. While I appear to have been successful in
> DOWNLOADing these updates, INSTALLATION fails with NO further
> indication (no error number/msg) as to reason for installation
> failure. Same symptoms with all 4 software/optional packages
> offered by Windows Update (one of them happes to be Windows Media
> Player 11, if that's relevant to anyone).
>
> This is a fairly new Win/XP installation (hasn't had time to get
> corrupted) and all of the REQUIRED/CRITICAL updates (as identified
> by Windows Update) have been successfully installed. I did notice
> that one of the required updates was Win/XP Service Pack 3. Is
> there a compatablity problem between SP3 and these
> optional/software updates? Does anyone know of solution?

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.

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

Hello Bluesky,

Go ahead and download Dial-ª-Fix.
<http://wiki.djlizard.net/Dial-a-fix>

Scroll down about 2/3 of the way to Download Dial-ª-fix

Reboot into safe mºde (F-8)

Click the Double green checkmark and click Go.

After it has finished, Reboot

Try Windows Update and see if you can get your updates installed.

Let us know what hªppens.
- -- ----

"bluesky18" wrote:

> Using Windows Update, I recently tried to download & install the
> optional/software updates selected (by Windows Update) for my Win/XP system.
> While I appear to have been successful in DOWNLOADing these updates,
> INSTALLATION fails with NO further indication (no error number/msg) as to
> reason for installation failure. Same symptoms with all 4 software/optional
> packages offered by Windows Update (one of them happes to be Windows Media
> Player 11, if that's relevant to anyone).
>
> This is a fairly new Win/XP installation (hasn't had time to get corrupted)
> and all of the REQUIRED/CRITICAL updates (as identified by Windows Update)
> have been successfully installed. I did notice that one of the required
> updates was Win/XP Service Pack 3. Is there a compatablity problem between
> SP3 and these optional/software updates? Does anyone know of solution?