Persistent Windows Update Problem

Hello!
My computer has Windows XP home, nVidia video card, and HP software, and I
have a problem. I think that it is due to KB908531 update, which was
installed through Automatic Updates on April 13, among some other updates
that came that same day. After that all subsequent updates have failed, no
matter if they are automatic or manual. When an update is attempted, the
disk starts "rolling" continuously and the system is almost in freeze state
from several minutes to half an hour. The "freeze" can be released by
stopping update.exe process with Task Manager. I have tried to remove
KB908531 update with "Add and Remove Programs" but it doesn't go away. I get
acknowledgement that it was successfully removed, but it still doesn't
disappear from the list, and the problem persists. I have also manually
downloaded v2.0 of KB908531, but since all updates get hung up the same way,
it doesn't go through either. The disk rolls for ten minutes after which the
installation ends with the following message "Setup could not verify the
integrity of the file Update.inf. Make sure the Cryptographic service is
running on this machine". Same way I have downloaded the latest nVidia
driver, but again the update wizzard hungs up, so I am not able to update the
video driver either. So no updates asre possible. I have also used System
Restore to go back beyond April 13, but it doesn't change the situation. All
updates still hung. And killing all HP processes doesn't help either. Any
suggestions on how to proceed?

Your current problem (about the integrety of the inf file):
Bring up Windows Explorer / Tools / Folder Options/ select VIEW Tab and look at all of settings listed.

"CHECK" (turn on) Display the contents of system folders.

Under column, Hidden files and folders----choose ( *select* ) Show hidden files and folders.
Next, un-check Hide extensions for known file types.
Next un-check Hide protected operating system files.

Use Windows Explorer. Go to C:\Windows\System32

If you have a sub-folder called * Catroot2 * (not Catroot) rename the
folder to CR2OLD. Or delete everything in that folder. Just make sure you do the right one.

(to clean up downloaded files for Automatic updates / Windows Update)
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.

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

EXIT <Enter-key>

Set Automatic updates to notify only.

--
Maurice N
MS-MVP Windows (Shell / User), Aumha.net VSOP , DTS-L
-----

"kimmo" <> wrote in message news:3CBA7296-420C-4DE3-8359-...
> Hello!
> My computer has Windows XP home, nVidia video card, and HP software, and I
> have a problem. I think that it is due to KB908531 update, which was
> installed through Automatic Updates on April 13, among some other updates
> that came that same day. After that all subsequent updates have failed, no
> matter if they are automatic or manual. When an update is attempted, the
> disk starts "rolling" continuously and the system is almost in freeze state
> from several minutes to half an hour. The "freeze" can be released by
> stopping update.exe process with Task Manager. I have tried to remove
> KB908531 update with "Add and Remove Programs" but it doesn't go away. I get
> acknowledgement that it was successfully removed, but it still doesn't
> disappear from the list, and the problem persists. I have also manually
> downloaded v2.0 of KB908531, but since all updates get hung up the same way,
> it doesn't go through either. The disk rolls for ten minutes after which the
> installation ends with the following message "Setup could not verify the
> integrity of the file Update.inf. Make sure the Cryptographic service is
> running on this machine". Same way I have downloaded the latest nVidia
> driver, but again the update wizzard hungs up, so I am not able to update the
> video driver either. So no updates asre possible. I have also used System
> Restore to go back beyond April 13, but it doesn't change the situation. All
> updates still hung. And killing all HP processes doesn't help either. Any
> suggestions on how to proceed?

Thanks million times! Problem solved!
I just wonder how I didn't get it myself...

Hi Kimmo,

That's great. You are most welcome.
--
Maurice N
MS-MVP Windows (Shell / User), Aumha.net VSOP , DTS-L
-----

"kimmo" <> wrote in message
news:307CD3C9-F416-4973-B484-...
> Thanks million times! Problem solved!
> I just wonder how I didn't get it myself...
>
>