Update files missing

Dell Dimension 2400 with Windows XP Pro.
When I try to use Microsoft Update and select either express or custom
install, I get the following message: "Files required to use Microsoft Update
are no longer registered or installed on your computer. To continue:
-Register or reinstall the files for me now (Recommended)
-Let me read about more steps that might be required to solve the problem"
When I select register or re-install it says "downloading...100%", then
"installing" then "registering", then it goes back to the express or custom
install screen. No mater what I select the same thing happens again.
Happened for the first time 2 days ago. Prior to that MS Update always worked
flawlessly. Microsoft support website want $ or sends me to Dell and Dell
sends me back to Microsoft.

The same thing happened to my Dell Dimension Desktop 8250 with Windows XP
with Service Pack 2. Automatic updates had been working just fine until a
few months ago. After much corresopondence with MS, they referred me to
Dell. I haven't contacted them yet, but apparently they aren't much help
either. I am afraid to attempt a reinstall of XP with the Dell supplied
CD's. I'm afraid I'll be back where the computer was when I purchased it.

"LARRY SCHREIBER" wrote:

> Dell Dimension 2400 with Windows XP Pro.
> When I try to use Microsoft Update and select either express or custom
> install, I get the following message: "Files required to use Microsoft Update
> are no longer registered or installed on your computer. To continue:
> -Register or reinstall the files for me now (Recommended)
> -Let me read about more steps that might be required to solve the problem"
> When I select register or re-install it says "downloading...100%", then
> "installing" then "registering", then it goes back to the express or custom
> install screen. No mater what I select the same thing happens again.
> Happened for the first time 2 days ago. Prior to that MS Update always worked
> flawlessly. Microsoft support website want $ or sends me to Dell and Dell
> sends me back to Microsoft.
>

The same thing happened to my Dell Dimension 8250 with Windows XP and SP2.
Automatic Updates were working flawlessly until one day they didn't. I get
the same messages as you and attempted to fix it by corresponding to MS tech,
but they eventually referred me to Dell. I haven't contacted them yet, and
am afraid to attempt to reinstall XP using the Dell CDs supplied with the
computer.

"LARRY SCHREIBER" wrote:

> Dell Dimension 2400 with Windows XP Pro.
> When I try to use Microsoft Update and select either express or custom
> install, I get the following message: "Files required to use Microsoft Update
> are no longer registered or installed on your computer. To continue:
> -Register or reinstall the files for me now (Recommended)
> -Let me read about more steps that might be required to solve the problem"
> When I select register or re-install it says "downloading...100%", then
> "installing" then "registering", then it goes back to the express or custom
> install screen. No mater what I select the same thing happens again.
> Happened for the first time 2 days ago. Prior to that MS Update always worked
> flawlessly. Microsoft support website want $ or sends me to Dell and Dell
> sends me back to Microsoft.
>