Update failures on XP after recovery

A couple of days ago, I had to do a system recovery from the recovery CD on
my computer (XP Home Edition). I then upgraded it to XP Professional and then
installed XP Office 2003.

The problem I'm having is that automatic updates, and manual updates from
Microsoft's website, are not installing at all. I've tried the suggestion
offered at http://support.microsoft.com/default...b/943144/en-us to no
avail. Trying to install the x-64 based systems file returns a "wusetup.exe
is not a valid win32 application".

I've reviewed the WindowsUpdate file in C:\WINDOWS but have not had any luck
locating an error code.

Fortunately, I did not lose everything in the recovery. I have a backup
folder located on the hard drive so I've got the old folders and files from
C:\WINDOWS that was there before the recovery. (I'm not sure if that makes a
difference, but just in case it does, those files are there.)

shelbelle wrote:
> A couple of days ago, I had to do a system recovery from the
> recovery CD on my computer (XP Home Edition). I then upgraded it to
> XP Professional and then installed XP Office 2003.
>
> The problem I'm having is that automatic updates, and manual
> updates from Microsoft's website, are not installing at all. I've
> tried the suggestion offered at
> http://support.microsoft.com/default...b/943144/en-us to no
> avail. Trying to install the x-64 based systems file returns a
> "wusetup.exe is not a valid win32 application".
>
> I've reviewed the WindowsUpdate file in C:\WINDOWS but have not had
> any luck locating an error code.
>
> Fortunately, I did not lose everything in the recovery. I have a
> backup folder located on the hard drive so I've got the old folders
> and files from C:\WINDOWS that was there before the recovery. (I'm
> not sure if that makes a difference, but just in case it does,
> those files are there.)

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

shelbelle wrote:
> A couple of days ago, I had to do a system recovery from the
> recovery CD on my computer (XP Home Edition). I then upgraded it to
> XP Professional and then installed XP Office 2003.
>
> The problem I'm having is that automatic updates, and manual
> updates from Microsoft's website, are not installing at all. I've
> tried the suggestion offered at
> http://support.microsoft.com/default...b/943144/en-us to no
> avail. Trying to install the x-64 based systems file returns a
> "wusetup.exe is not a valid win32 application".
>
> I've reviewed the WindowsUpdate file in C:\WINDOWS but have not had
> any luck locating an error code.
>
> Fortunately, I did not lose everything in the recovery. I have a
> backup folder located on the hard drive so I've got the old folders
> and files from C:\WINDOWS that was there before the recovery. (I'm
> not sure if that makes a difference, but just in case it does,
> those files are there.)

It's too bad you don't have the actual Windows XP Home Edition media - so
you could clean install Windows Xp Professional (unless you actually need
other installs from the 'recovery' media.)

As for the 'old stuff being there' - it makes no difference and you would
have probably been better off with a TRUE clean install and restoring your
own personal stuff (files/folders, email, contacts, etc) from your periodic
and consistent backup system (to whatever external media you utilize to do
that.) Those old files are just taking up space.

You say you have had no luck with:

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

Have you tried this?

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. Go to a command
prompt where you saved it, type in the executables name followed by
a space and /wuforce.)

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

- Reboot.

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

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

shelbelle wrote:
> A couple of days ago, I had to do a system recovery from the
> recovery CD on my computer (XP Home Edition). I then upgraded it to
> XP Professional and then installed XP Office 2003.
>
> The problem I'm having is that automatic updates, and manual
> updates from Microsoft's website, are not installing at all. I've
> tried the suggestion offered at
> http://support.microsoft.com/default...b/943144/en-us to no
> avail. Trying to install the x-64 based systems file returns a
> "wusetup.exe is not a valid win32 application".
> I've reviewed the WindowsUpdate file in C:\WINDOWS but have not had
> any luck locating an error code.
>
> Fortunately, I did not lose everything in the recovery. I have a
> backup folder located on the hard drive so I've got the old folders
> and files from C:\WINDOWS that was there before the recovery. (I'm
> not sure if that makes a difference, but just in case it does,
> those files are there.)

Shenan Stanley wrote:
> It's too bad you don't have the actual Windows XP Home Edition
> media - so you could clean install Windows Xp Professional (unless
> you actually need other installs from the 'recovery' media.)
>
> As for the 'old stuff being there' - it makes no difference and you
> would have probably been better off with a TRUE clean install and
> restoring your own personal stuff (files/folders, email, contacts,
> etc) from your periodic and consistent backup system (to whatever
> external media you utilize to do that.) Those old files are just
> taking up space.
> You say you have had no luck with:
>
> 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
>
> Have you tried this?
>
> 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. Go to a
> command prompt where you saved it, type in the executables
> name followed by a space and /wuforce.)
>
> - Download/Install the 927891 patch.
> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...9-404327772E5A
>
> - Reboot.
>
> - Visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and scan for/install
> updates.

Also, it is *highly* unlikely you need anything 64-bit. You must have
Windows XP 32 bit.

Windows XP Home only comes in it and you cannot 'upgrade' (an actual
upgrade - not a clean install after wiping out an older OS) to Windows XP
x64 that I know of.

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

Are you running an x64 version of WinXP? (I doubt it.)
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.org/

shelbelle wrote:
> A couple of days ago, I had to do a system recovery from the recovery CD
> on
> my computer (XP Home Edition). I then upgraded it to XP Professional and
> then installed XP Office 2003.
>
> The problem I'm having is that automatic updates, and manual updates from
> Microsoft's website, are not installing at all. I've tried the suggestion
> offered at http://support.microsoft.com/default...b/943144/en-us to no
> avail. Trying to install the x-64 based systems file returns a
> "wusetup.exe
> is not a valid win32 application".
>
> I've reviewed the WindowsUpdate file in C:\WINDOWS but have not had any
> luck
> locating an error code.
>
> Fortunately, I did not lose everything in the recovery. I have a backup
> folder located on the hard drive so I've got the old folders and files
> from
> C:\WINDOWS that was there before the recovery. (I'm not sure if that makes
> a
> difference, but just in case it does, those files are there.)

My heart skipped a beat or two in the hope the Dial A Fix would work for me.
I also cannot get Windows automatic update to work. I also did a complete
system recovery and started all over with Windows XP Home Edition. The auto
update used to work. Somewhere down the line one of the updates messed things
up! I also cannot get the update to work when I visit the Windows update web
page. I click on "Express" and the system hangs (I also turned off all the
AVG antivirus and the Zone Alarm). The Task Manager shows something called
wuauclt.exe going at 99 percent CPU. The last go around I let it spin for
half an hour and no go. I see so many others with windows update issues.
What's the final fix?

"Shenan Stanley" wrote:

> shelbelle wrote:
> > A couple of days ago, I had to do a system recovery from the
> > recovery CD on my computer (XP Home Edition). I then upgraded it to
> > XP Professional and then installed XP Office 2003.
> >
> > The problem I'm having is that automatic updates, and manual
> > updates from Microsoft's website, are not installing at all. I've
> > tried the suggestion offered at
> > http://support.microsoft.com/default...b/943144/en-us to no
> > avail. Trying to install the x-64 based systems file returns a
> > "wusetup.exe is not a valid win32 application".
> > I've reviewed the WindowsUpdate file in C:\WINDOWS but have not had
> > any luck locating an error code.
> >
> > Fortunately, I did not lose everything in the recovery. I have a
> > backup folder located on the hard drive so I've got the old folders
> > and files from C:\WINDOWS that was there before the recovery. (I'm
> > not sure if that makes a difference, but just in case it does,
> > those files are there.)
>
> Shenan Stanley wrote:
> > It's too bad you don't have the actual Windows XP Home Edition
> > media - so you could clean install Windows Xp Professional (unless
> > you actually need other installs from the 'recovery' media.)
> >
> > As for the 'old stuff being there' - it makes no difference and you
> > would have probably been better off with a TRUE clean install and
> > restoring your own personal stuff (files/folders, email, contacts,
> > etc) from your periodic and consistent backup system (to whatever
> > external media you utilize to do that.) Those old files are just
> > taking up space.
> > You say you have had no luck with:
> >
> > 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
> >
> > Have you tried this?
> >
> > 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. Go to a
> > command prompt where you saved it, type in the executables
> > name followed by a space and /wuforce.)
> >
> > - Download/Install the 927891 patch.
> > http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...9-404327772E5A
> >
> > - Reboot.
> >
> > - Visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and scan for/install
> > updates.
>
> Also, it is *highly* unlikely you need anything 64-bit. You must have
> Windows XP 32 bit.
>
> Windows XP Home only comes in it and you cannot 'upgrade' (an actual
> upgrade - not a clean install after wiping out an older OS) to Windows XP
> x64 that I know of.
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
>
>