WINDOWS UPDATE - DOWNLOADS FINE BUT DOES NOT COMPLETE INSTALLATION

Good day,

I have a problem with my notebook running XP Pro SP2 and Windows Update -
potentially Windows Installer. Windows Update downloads fine, but when I
allow the computer to start the installation it does not complete - even if I
allow the computer hours and hours to do what it must. I have installed
other programs on the computer (today I installed SpyBot) and had no problem.
Actually, that is not quite accurate: some programs install fine and others
lock up - typically at the one third mark on the progress bar. For example,
yesterday I tried to install a Web Crawler program and it froze at the one
third mark, but today SpyBot went in no problem, but I remember I could not
load SP2 without it freezing one third of the way. I finally had to load SP2
through Safe Mode after downloading the full version. Hit or miss. :-P Any
ideas why some programs can install and others not, and what can I do?

Thank you very much,
C.P.

P.S. I will also post this same notice in the Windows Installer Discussion
Group - I hope that isn't improper discussion group netiquette, but it may
help get answers from those experts. Please advise.

C.P. wrote:
> Good day,
>
> I have a problem with my notebook running XP Pro SP2 and Windows
> Update - potentially Windows Installer. Windows Update downloads
> fine, but when I allow the computer to start the installation it does
> not complete - even if I allow the computer hours and hours to do
> what it must. I have installed other programs on the computer (today
> I installed SpyBot) and had no problem. Actually, that is not quite
> accurate: some programs install fine and others lock up - typically
> at the one third mark on the progress bar. For example, yesterday I
> tried to install a Web Crawler program and it froze at the one third
> mark, but today SpyBot went in no problem, but I remember I could not
> load SP2 without it freezing one third of the way. I finally had to
> load SP2 through Safe Mode after downloading the full version. Hit
> or miss. :-P Any ideas why some programs can install and others
> not, and what can I do?
>
> Thank you very much,
> C.P.
>
> P.S. I will also post this same notice in the Windows Installer
> Discussion Group - I hope that isn't improper discussion group
> netiquette, but it may help get answers from those experts. Please
> advise.

Keep in mind some notebooks running on battery-power had problems setting up SP2. The solution was to put them on direct power source.

As to the install problem at W U, take a look at contents of your update log file.
C:\WINT\WindowsUpdate.log (yours may be at \Windows folder)

Scroll to the end to get entries for last session.
--
Maurice N
MVP Windows - Shell / User
-----

Thank you for your prompt reply.

All installations have been done on AC power.

Update log shows "failed" installations as a result of my having to
terminate the WU program after several hours.

C.P.

"Maurice N ~ MVP" wrote:

> C.P. wrote:
> > Good day,
> >
> > I have a problem with my notebook running XP Pro SP2 and Windows
> > Update - potentially Windows Installer. Windows Update downloads
> > fine, but when I allow the computer to start the installation it does
> > not complete - even if I allow the computer hours and hours to do
> > what it must. I have installed other programs on the computer (today
> > I installed SpyBot) and had no problem. Actually, that is not quite
> > accurate: some programs install fine and others lock up - typically
> > at the one third mark on the progress bar. For example, yesterday I
> > tried to install a Web Crawler program and it froze at the one third
> > mark, but today SpyBot went in no problem, but I remember I could not
> > load SP2 without it freezing one third of the way. I finally had to
> > load SP2 through Safe Mode after downloading the full version. Hit
> > or miss. :-P Any ideas why some programs can install and others
> > not, and what can I do?
> >
> > Thank you very much,
> > C.P.
> >
> > P.S. I will also post this same notice in the Windows Installer
> > Discussion Group - I hope that isn't improper discussion group
> > netiquette, but it may help get answers from those experts. Please
> > advise.
>
> Keep in mind some notebooks running on battery-power had problems setting up SP2. The solution was to put them on direct power source.
>
> As to the install problem at W U, take a look at contents of your update log file.
> C:\WINT\WindowsUpdate.log (yours may be at \Windows folder)
>
> Scroll to the end to get entries for last session.
> --
> Maurice N
> MVP Windows - Shell / User
> -----
>
>

I thought I might add one more important note - I get NO error messages
during the installation - the installation just hangs.

Thank you,
C.P.