Windows 2000 updates download but will NOT install

I'm on my other computer in hopes of finding out why the computer running
Windows 2000 will download critical updates but will NOT install them. The
update icon remains in the Systray, insisting on updates, and so I keep
downloading in hopes of finally installing. All I get is "Updates were UNable
to install." No reason as to why not is displayed.

I've also tried manually downloading a single update from MS's download
pages. When I tried that, I was routed to a blank page--see below.

When I look for help from that computer, the following happens:

Clicking on MS (free) support for update problems on that computer leads to:
"This page cannot be displayed, try again later, etc." At the bottom of that
page is the standard DNS error message, though this is only happening at MS's
website. This has gone on for days. When I try to sign into a newsgroup from
the WIN 2000 computer, I'm routed to a page stating that cookie settings are
a problem. I've reset both Security and Privacy settings in IE to defaults. I
continue to be sent in circles, however.

Any attempt whatsoever to contact MS (even via MS's contact link at the
bottom of their home page) from that computer is met with the same page
displaying: "This page cannot be displayed, etc., DNS, etc."

Six critical updates await installation, and it is impossible to make any
kind of contact with anyone or group at Microsoft's website from the WIN 2000
computer.

The computer from which I'm currently writing (running XP) and the WIN 2000
computer are both connected via a firewalled router to the internet, though
there is no formal network (between the two computers). Obviously, I'm able
to sign in and write here from this computer, but not from the WIN 2000
computer.

Anyone have any idea as to what could be the problem? Has MS simply
"disconnected" from WIN 2000, leaving links to blank pages? Why then the
update notification icon that never goes away?

Thanks for any thoughts and/or help,
--
Frank88

You've done a manual update, Start>Winupdate?
If that fails you've checked update history on the update page?
The ? icon on a failed update will lead you to various failure msgs

"Frank88" <> wrote in message
news:870376EC-827E-44CE-B8FE-...
> I'm on my other computer in hopes of finding out why the computer running
> Windows 2000 will download critical updates but will NOT install them. The
> update icon remains in the Systray, insisting on updates, and so I keep
> downloading in hopes of finally installing. All I get is "Updates were
UNable
> to install." No reason as to why not is displayed.
>
> I've also tried manually downloading a single update from MS's download
> pages. When I tried that, I was routed to a blank page--see below.
>
> When I look for help from that computer, the following happens:
>
> Clicking on MS (free) support for update problems on that computer leads
to:
> "This page cannot be displayed, try again later, etc." At the bottom of
that
> page is the standard DNS error message, though this is only happening at
MS's
> website. This has gone on for days. When I try to sign into a newsgroup
from
> the WIN 2000 computer, I'm routed to a page stating that cookie settings
are
> a problem. I've reset both Security and Privacy settings in IE to
defaults. I
> continue to be sent in circles, however.
>
> Any attempt whatsoever to contact MS (even via MS's contact link at the
> bottom of their home page) from that computer is met with the same page
> displaying: "This page cannot be displayed, etc., DNS, etc."
>
> Six critical updates await installation, and it is impossible to make any
> kind of contact with anyone or group at Microsoft's website from the WIN
2000
> computer.
>
> The computer from which I'm currently writing (running XP) and the WIN
2000
> computer are both connected via a firewalled router to the internet,
though
> there is no formal network (between the two computers). Obviously, I'm
able
> to sign in and write here from this computer, but not from the WIN 2000
> computer.
>
> Anyone have any idea as to what could be the problem? Has MS simply
> "disconnected" from WIN 2000, leaving links to blank pages? Why then the
> update notification icon that never goes away?
>
> Thanks for any thoughts and/or help,
> --
> Frank88

Have you done any of the resync cleaning up dealing with Windows Update,
e.g.,

1. Cleaning Temporary Internet Files
2. Cleaning C:\Winnt\SoftwareDistribution folder
3. Cleaning C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application
Data\Microsoft\Network\Downloader *.dat files

Drop to DOS cmd (Start | Run | cmd)
Enter: net stop wuauaserv
net stop bits
DEL c:\Winnt\WindowsUpdate.log

Before 1-3 above

Enter: net start wuauserv

If this fails, then some DLLs may need to be re-registered.

"Frank88" <> wrote in message
news:870376EC-827E-44CE-B8FE-...
> I'm on my other computer in hopes of finding out why the computer running
> Windows 2000 will download critical updates but will NOT install them. The
> update icon remains in the Systray, insisting on updates, and so I keep
> downloading in hopes of finally installing. All I get is "Updates were
> UNable
> to install." No reason as to why not is displayed.
>
> I've also tried manually downloading a single update from MS's download
> pages. When I tried that, I was routed to a blank page--see below.
>
> When I look for help from that computer, the following happens:
>
> Clicking on MS (free) support for update problems on that computer leads
> to:
> "This page cannot be displayed, try again later, etc." At the bottom of
> that
> page is the standard DNS error message, though this is only happening at
> MS's
> website. This has gone on for days. When I try to sign into a newsgroup
> from
> the WIN 2000 computer, I'm routed to a page stating that cookie settings
> are
> a problem. I've reset both Security and Privacy settings in IE to
> defaults. I
> continue to be sent in circles, however.
>
> Any attempt whatsoever to contact MS (even via MS's contact link at the
> bottom of their home page) from that computer is met with the same page
> displaying: "This page cannot be displayed, etc., DNS, etc."
>
> Six critical updates await installation, and it is impossible to make any
> kind of contact with anyone or group at Microsoft's website from the WIN
> 2000
> computer.
>
> The computer from which I'm currently writing (running XP) and the WIN
> 2000
> computer are both connected via a firewalled router to the internet,
> though
> there is no formal network (between the two computers). Obviously, I'm
> able
> to sign in and write here from this computer, but not from the WIN 2000
> computer.
>
> Anyone have any idea as to what could be the problem? Has MS simply
> "disconnected" from WIN 2000, leaving links to blank pages? Why then the
> update notification icon that never goes away?
>
> Thanks for any thoughts and/or help,
> --
> Frank88

You may also want to post in: microsoft.public.win2000.windows_update

By the way, each attempted installation has an installation log file in
C:\Winnt\KB*.log

"Frank88" <> wrote in message
news:870376EC-827E-44CE-B8FE-...
> I'm on my other computer in hopes of finding out why the computer running
> Windows 2000 will download critical updates but will NOT install them. The
> update icon remains in the Systray, insisting on updates, and so I keep
> downloading in hopes of finally installing. All I get is "Updates were
> UNable
> to install." No reason as to why not is displayed.
>
> I've also tried manually downloading a single update from MS's download
> pages. When I tried that, I was routed to a blank page--see below.
>
> When I look for help from that computer, the following happens:
>
> Clicking on MS (free) support for update problems on that computer leads
> to:
> "This page cannot be displayed, try again later, etc." At the bottom of
> that
> page is the standard DNS error message, though this is only happening at
> MS's
> website. This has gone on for days. When I try to sign into a newsgroup
> from
> the WIN 2000 computer, I'm routed to a page stating that cookie settings
> are
> a problem. I've reset both Security and Privacy settings in IE to
> defaults. I
> continue to be sent in circles, however.
>
> Any attempt whatsoever to contact MS (even via MS's contact link at the
> bottom of their home page) from that computer is met with the same page
> displaying: "This page cannot be displayed, etc., DNS, etc."
>
> Six critical updates await installation, and it is impossible to make any
> kind of contact with anyone or group at Microsoft's website from the WIN
> 2000
> computer.
>
> The computer from which I'm currently writing (running XP) and the WIN
> 2000
> computer are both connected via a firewalled router to the internet,
> though
> there is no formal network (between the two computers). Obviously, I'm
> able
> to sign in and write here from this computer, but not from the WIN 2000
> computer.
>
> Anyone have any idea as to what could be the problem? Has MS simply
> "disconnected" from WIN 2000, leaving links to blank pages? Why then the
> update notification icon that never goes away?
>
> Thanks for any thoughts and/or help,
> --
> Frank88

Thanks to both responders. I've not been able to get back here until just now
(problems too with Verizon too--oy vey, when it rains, it pours!). I will
attempt all suggestions, in hopes one will work. Thanks again,

--
Frank88


"NewScience" wrote:

> You may also want to post in: microsoft.public.win2000.windows_update
>
> By the way, each attempted installation has an installation log file in
> C:\Winnt\KB*.log
>
> "Frank88" <> wrote in message
> news:870376EC-827E-44CE-B8FE-...
> > I'm on my other computer in hopes of finding out why the computer running
> > Windows 2000 will download critical updates but will NOT install them. The
> > update icon remains in the Systray, insisting on updates, and so I keep
> > downloading in hopes of finally installing. All I get is "Updates were
> > UNable
> > to install." No reason as to why not is displayed.
> >
> > I've also tried manually downloading a single update from MS's download
> > pages. When I tried that, I was routed to a blank page--see below.
> >
> > When I look for help from that computer, the following happens:
> >
> > Clicking on MS (free) support for update problems on that computer leads
> > to:
> > "This page cannot be displayed, try again later, etc." At the bottom of
> > that
> > page is the standard DNS error message, though this is only happening at
> > MS's
> > website. This has gone on for days. When I try to sign into a newsgroup
> > from
> > the WIN 2000 computer, I'm routed to a page stating that cookie settings
> > are
> > a problem. I've reset both Security and Privacy settings in IE to
> > defaults. I
> > continue to be sent in circles, however.
> >
> > Any attempt whatsoever to contact MS (even via MS's contact link at the
> > bottom of their home page) from that computer is met with the same page
> > displaying: "This page cannot be displayed, etc., DNS, etc."
> >
> > Six critical updates await installation, and it is impossible to make any
> > kind of contact with anyone or group at Microsoft's website from the WIN
> > 2000
> > computer.
> >
> > The computer from which I'm currently writing (running XP) and the WIN
> > 2000
> > computer are both connected via a firewalled router to the internet,
> > though
> > there is no formal network (between the two computers). Obviously, I'm
> > able
> > to sign in and write here from this computer, but not from the WIN 2000
> > computer.
> >
> > Anyone have any idea as to what could be the problem? Has MS simply
> > "disconnected" from WIN 2000, leaving links to blank pages? Why then the
> > update notification icon that never goes away?
> >
> > Thanks for any thoughts and/or help,
> > --
> > Frank88
>
>
>

Try the following :

- uninstall Windows Installer 3.1 (v2)
- reboot
- reinstall Windows Installer 3.1 v2
- Reboot
- Now try to install the updates you want (via www.windowsupdate.com or
manually)

It worked for me !

Frank88 schreef:
> Thanks to both responders. I've not been able to get back here until just now
> (problems too with Verizon too--oy vey, when it rains, it pours!). I will
> attempt all suggestions, in hopes one will work. Thanks again,
>
> --
> Frank88
>
>
> "NewScience" wrote:
>
> > You may also want to post in: microsoft.public.win2000.windows_update
> >
> > By the way, each attempted installation has an installation log file in
> > C:\Winnt\KB*.log
> >
> > "Frank88" <> wrote in message
> > news:870376EC-827E-44CE-B8FE-...
> > > I'm on my other computer in hopes of finding out why the computer running
> > > Windows 2000 will download critical updates but will NOT install them. The
> > > update icon remains in the Systray, insisting on updates, and so I keep
> > > downloading in hopes of finally installing. All I get is "Updates were
> > > UNable
> > > to install." No reason as to why not is displayed.
> > >
> > > I've also tried manually downloading a single update from MS's download
> > > pages. When I tried that, I was routed to a blank page--see below.
> > >
> > > When I look for help from that computer, the following happens:
> > >
> > > Clicking on MS (free) support for update problems on that computer leads
> > > to:
> > > "This page cannot be displayed, try again later, etc." At the bottom of
> > > that
> > > page is the standard DNS error message, though this is only happening at
> > > MS's
> > > website. This has gone on for days. When I try to sign into a newsgroup
> > > from
> > > the WIN 2000 computer, I'm routed to a page stating that cookie settings
> > > are
> > > a problem. I've reset both Security and Privacy settings in IE to
> > > defaults. I
> > > continue to be sent in circles, however.
> > >
> > > Any attempt whatsoever to contact MS (even via MS's contact link at the
> > > bottom of their home page) from that computer is met with the same page
> > > displaying: "This page cannot be displayed, etc., DNS, etc."
> > >
> > > Six critical updates await installation, and it is impossible to make any
> > > kind of contact with anyone or group at Microsoft's website from the WIN
> > > 2000
> > > computer.
> > >
> > > The computer from which I'm currently writing (running XP) and the WIN
> > > 2000
> > > computer are both connected via a firewalled router to the internet,
> > > though
> > > there is no formal network (between the two computers). Obviously, I'm
> > > able
> > > to sign in and write here from this computer, but not from the WIN 2000
> > > computer.
> > >
> > > Anyone have any idea as to what could be the problem? Has MS simply
> > > "disconnected" from WIN 2000, leaving links to blank pages? Why then the
> > > update notification icon that never goes away?
> > >
> > > Thanks for any thoughts and/or help,
> > > --
> > > Frank88
> >
> >
> >