Windows Update error "failed to install catalog files"

Hi
I'm running XP proff, sp2, and am trying to install windows security updates
(KB905749,KB900725,KB899589,KB901017,KB905414,KB90 4706) and the computer
takes ages creating a restore point, then gives an error "failed to install
catalog files". I have tried to download and install seperately, but the same
error occurs. I have renamed the C:\WINDOWS\system32\CatRoot folder, deleted
catalog files, re-registered the windows update .dll's (see post
registerit.cmd), and nothing is working.. i have been through this forum
trying all recommended options and i still have no joy.
I am able to install non-security updates, such as the Windows Malicious
Software Removal Tool - October 2005 (KB890830), but not security updates.
Can anyone please help? I mean, I could just forget about updates and wait
for Sp3 when it comes out (if? when?), but i think it prudent to be secure..
Many thanks in advance
Pete

Hi, I'm having the exact same problem but no solution.....????

Hi,

See if running the fixdb.bat that I have created fixes the problem:

Go to
http://www.michna.com/kb/WxSP2.htm#C...Service_Pack_2

Look for fixdb.bat under "Error 0x800710D9 Unable to read from
or write to the database". Download and run it.

Regards,
Torgeir


Peter Finch wrote:

> Hi
> I'm running XP proff, sp2, and am trying to install windows security updates
> (KB905749,KB900725,KB899589,KB901017,KB905414,KB90 4706) and the computer
> takes ages creating a restore point, then gives an error "failed to install
> catalog files". I have tried to download and install seperately, but the same
> error occurs. I have renamed the C:\WINDOWS\system32\CatRoot folder, deleted
> catalog files, re-registered the windows update .dll's (see post
> registerit.cmd), and nothing is working.. i have been through this forum
> trying all recommended options and i still have no joy.
> I am able to install non-security updates, such as the Windows Malicious
> Software Removal Tool - October 2005 (KB890830), but not security updates.
> Can anyone please help? I mean, I could just forget about updates and wait
> for Sp3 when it comes out (if? when?), but i think it prudent to be secure..
> Many thanks in advance
> Pete


--
torgeir, Microsoft MVP Scripting, Porsgrunn Norway
Administration scripting examples and an ONLINE version of
the 1328 page Scripting Guide:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scr...r/default.mspx

Have you tried to uninstall the Windows Installer program and reinstall it,
possibly with a newer version? If you uninstall Windows Installer, it will
pop back up on the Windows Update page.

"Peter Finch" wrote:

> Hi
> I'm running XP proff, sp2, and am trying to install windows security updates
> (KB905749,KB900725,KB899589,KB901017,KB905414,KB90 4706) and the computer
> takes ages creating a restore point, then gives an error "failed to install
> catalog files". I have tried to download and install seperately, but the same
> error occurs. I have renamed the C:\WINDOWS\system32\CatRoot folder, deleted
> catalog files, re-registered the windows update .dll's (see post
> registerit.cmd), and nothing is working.. i have been through this forum
> trying all recommended options and i still have no joy.
> I am able to install non-security updates, such as the Windows Malicious
> Software Removal Tool - October 2005 (KB890830), but not security updates.
> Can anyone please help? I mean, I could just forget about updates and wait
> for Sp3 when it comes out (if? when?), but i think it prudent to be secure..
> Many thanks in advance
> Pete

Hi Torgeir
Yes, I have tried this .bat too and it did not work either..
I shall try uninstalling the windows installer as Jon Martin suggests, and
see if that works, but it will take a little time as i'll have to work out
how to do it!
any other suggestions?
No, UT, no solution yet!
Thanks in advance
Peter


"Torgeir Bakken (MVP)" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> See if running the fixdb.bat that I have created fixes the problem:
>
> Go to
> http://www.michna.com/kb/WxSP2.htm#C...Service_Pack_2
>
> Look for fixdb.bat under "Error 0x800710D9 Unable to read from
> or write to the database". Download and run it.
>
> Regards,
> Torgeir
>
>
> Peter Finch wrote:
>
> > Hi
> > I'm running XP proff, sp2, and am trying to install windows security updates
> > (KB905749,KB900725,KB899589,KB901017,KB905414,KB90 4706) and the computer
> > takes ages creating a restore point, then gives an error "failed to install
> > catalog files". I have tried to download and install seperately, but the same
> > error occurs. I have renamed the C:\WINDOWS\system32\CatRoot folder, deleted
> > catalog files, re-registered the windows update .dll's (see post
> > registerit.cmd), and nothing is working.. i have been through this forum
> > trying all recommended options and i still have no joy.
> > I am able to install non-security updates, such as the Windows Malicious
> > Software Removal Tool - October 2005 (KB890830), but not security updates.
> > Can anyone please help? I mean, I could just forget about updates and wait
> > for Sp3 when it comes out (if? when?), but i think it prudent to be secure..
> > Many thanks in advance
> > Pete
>
>
> --
> torgeir, Microsoft MVP Scripting, Porsgrunn Norway
> Administration scripting examples and an ONLINE version of
> the 1328 page Scripting Guide:
> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scr...r/default.mspx
>

ok, have tried to uninstall Windows Installer using the command line:
msiexec -uninstall
and i get this error:
"The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed. This can occur if you
are running Windows in safe mode, or if the Windows Installer is not
correctly installed. Contact your support personnel for assistance."
hmmm...
Definatley NOT in Safe Mode!!
so i checked the current version and it is Windows ® Installer. V
3.01.4000.1823
which is the latest i believe..
so i went ahead and downloaded it anyway, and ran the install, and it
appeared to install correctly.. however, i then ran a single update,
KB899589, and it failed with the same error "failed to install catalog
files"..
at least i think i am in the correct area now (thanks Jon!)
so, how do i forcibly remove the Windows Installer so i can re-install???
Thanks in advance..
Peter Finch

"Jon Martin" wrote:

> Have you tried to uninstall the Windows Installer program and reinstall it,
> possibly with a newer version? If you uninstall Windows Installer, it will
> pop back up on the Windows Update page.
>
> "Peter Finch" wrote:
>
> > Hi
> > I'm running XP proff, sp2, and am trying to install windows security updates
> > (KB905749,KB900725,KB899589,KB901017,KB905414,KB90 4706) and the computer
> > takes ages creating a restore point, then gives an error "failed to install
> > catalog files". I have tried to download and install seperately, but the same
> > error occurs. I have renamed the C:\WINDOWS\system32\CatRoot folder, deleted
> > catalog files, re-registered the windows update .dll's (see post
> > registerit.cmd), and nothing is working.. i have been through this forum
> > trying all recommended options and i still have no joy.
> > I am able to install non-security updates, such as the Windows Malicious
> > Software Removal Tool - October 2005 (KB890830), but not security updates.
> > Can anyone please help? I mean, I could just forget about updates and wait
> > for Sp3 when it comes out (if? when?), but i think it prudent to be secure..
> > Many thanks in advance
> > Pete

I have tried some new stuff, and it is still not working.. here is what i
have done:
as I said before i tried to uninstall/reinstall the Windows Installer, and
got no joy there.. so i checked the error on the ms kb site:
http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;Q315346
and followed the instructions for the removal of the Installer
ren msi.dll msi.old
ren msiexec.exe msiexec.old
ren msihnd.dll msihnd.old
I renamed the files, rebooted, and re-installed Installer, and then checked
for the new files and they were not there! i rebooted and got errors saying
that the msi.dll could not be found.. how can this be if i re-installed the
package??
I renamed the .old files again and everything is 'normal', though still not
working, so no system damage, but why, oh why, is this not working.. it is
really weird
what else can i do? this is not normal!!
thanks in advance
Peter


"Peter Finch" wrote:

> Hi
> I'm running XP proff, sp2, and am trying to install windows security updates
> (KB905749,KB900725,KB899589,KB901017,KB905414,KB90 4706) and the computer
> takes ages creating a restore point, then gives an error "failed to install
> catalog files". I have tried to download and install seperately, but the same
> error occurs. I have renamed the C:\WINDOWS\system32\CatRoot folder, deleted
> catalog files, re-registered the windows update .dll's (see post
> registerit.cmd), and nothing is working.. i have been through this forum
> trying all recommended options and i still have no joy.
> I am able to install non-security updates, such as the Windows Malicious
> Software Removal Tool - October 2005 (KB890830), but not security updates.
> Can anyone please help? I mean, I could just forget about updates and wait
> for Sp3 when it comes out (if? when?), but i think it prudent to be secure..
> Many thanks in advance
> Pete

Hi Peter,

I am getting the same error with KB922819 and could not solve it (see my
previous post on this). Did you find a solution for your problem by now?

Thanks,

Paul

"Peter Finch" wrote:

> I have tried some new stuff, and it is still not working.. here is what i
> have done:
> as I said before i tried to uninstall/reinstall the Windows Installer, and
> got no joy there.. so i checked the error on the ms kb site:
> http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;Q315346
> and followed the instructions for the removal of the Installer
> ren msi.dll msi.old
> ren msiexec.exe msiexec.old
> ren msihnd.dll msihnd.old
> I renamed the files, rebooted, and re-installed Installer, and then checked
> for the new files and they were not there! i rebooted and got errors saying
> that the msi.dll could not be found.. how can this be if i re-installed the
> package??
> I renamed the .old files again and everything is 'normal', though still not
> working, so no system damage, but why, oh why, is this not working.. it is
> really weird
> what else can i do? this is not normal!!
> thanks in advance
> Peter
>
>
> "Peter Finch" wrote:
>
> > Hi
> > I'm running XP proff, sp2, and am trying to install windows security updates
> > (KB905749,KB900725,KB899589,KB901017,KB905414,KB90 4706) and the computer
> > takes ages creating a restore point, then gives an error "failed to install
> > catalog files". I have tried to download and install seperately, but the same
> > error occurs. I have renamed the C:\WINDOWS\system32\CatRoot folder, deleted
> > catalog files, re-registered the windows update .dll's (see post
> > registerit.cmd), and nothing is working.. i have been through this forum
> > trying all recommended options and i still have no joy.
> > I am able to install non-security updates, such as the Windows Malicious
> > Software Removal Tool - October 2005 (KB890830), but not security updates.
> > Can anyone please help? I mean, I could just forget about updates and wait
> > for Sp3 when it comes out (if? when?), but i think it prudent to be secure..
> > Many thanks in advance
> > Pete