Several updates fail

I did a repair install on XP Pro last week and now all the updates are coming
in. My OEM copy was purchased around when SP2 was released. None of my
updates install - the failure is not explained. The most problematic seems to
be Windows Installer 3.1, I get an "Access Denied" error. I've done
everything I could from http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555175, but with no
success.

The failed updates are piling up. Here they are now:

Security Update for Windows XP (KB935839)
Update for Windows XP (KB916595)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB926255)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB905414)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB902400)
Security Update for Windows Media Player 6.4 (KB925398)
Microsoft Windows Installer 3.1

Am I vulnerable to attack without the ability to install these? Should I try
installing them in any certain order?

Thanks,
Mark Nelson
--
Attitudes are contagious. Is yours worth catching?

Mark Nelson wrote:
> I did a repair install on XP Pro last week and now all the updates
> are coming in. My OEM copy was purchased around when SP2 was
> released. None of my updates install - the failure is not
> explained. The most problematic seems to be Windows Installer 3.1,
> I get an "Access Denied" error. I've done everything I could from
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555175, but with no success.
>
> The failed updates are piling up. Here they are now:
>
> Security Update for Windows XP (KB935839)
> Update for Windows XP (KB916595)
> Security Update for Windows XP (KB926255)
> Security Update for Windows XP (KB905414)
> Security Update for Windows XP (KB902400)
> Security Update for Windows Media Player 6.4 (KB925398)
> Microsoft Windows Installer 3.1
>
> Am I vulnerable to attack without the ability to install these?
> Should I try installing them in any certain order?

Search and Search before asking...

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

Can't figure that out?

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://download.windowsupdate.com/Wi...gent30-x86.exe
(You *may* need to install it using the command line switch "/wuforce"
right after the reboot - immediately after logging in.)

- Download/Install the 927891 patch.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...9-404327772E5A

- Reboot.

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

- Come back and let us know how things went!

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

Hey Shenan I really appreciate your help. Here's my status.

I restored my OEM license to the original machine, with another repair
install and phone validation. All is well as you predicted on that front.
Then started your procedure to re-enable updates following a repair install:

- The DAF appeared to work, although I got several errors. I "OK"ed through
them and DAF finished eventually.

- Windows Update v3 appeared to work, but I can't really tell. I suspect
without the windows installer 3.1 update, microsoft installations fail
silently leaving me even more clueless than usual.

- 927891 patch failed, prerequisites were missing.

- http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ If I try to open it in IE I get a
blank white screen and "Done" on the status bar. That also happens if I try
to access this forum in IE, I can only get on here with firefox, I'm not
trying to be controversial here honest. My theory - I'm missing an update
that enables activeX content in IE.

- I manually navigated to updates from www.microsoft.com. Normal update
wants to put Windows Installer 3.1 on before proceeding with other updates,
but it keeps failing after the status bar gets to ~75%.

- I also researched this error and found the recommendation to use
WindowsInstaller-KB893803-v2-x86.exe. When I try this however, I get a big
ACCESS DENIED error, I'm told files need to be restored, another message that
windows installer was only partially installed and may not work properly,
then an auto hard reboot to SOSDD.

NOTE - I have problems with flash 9, where a website would tell me I need
it, then I install and adobe says it's installed, but the website still says
I need it no matter how hard I restart the browser. Also, there's a Live
update engine COM module from Symantec that pops up and can't be uninstalled.
(I use different virus/spam filter sold by AT&T ISP, but I disable this
during these installation attempts.) Are these symptoms or causes...?

I tried to research as best as possible but the fixes I find don't work for
me. The Windows Installer 3.1 problem is preventing a whole world of updates
I need and I'm really stuck. Thanks.