Windows Update WMSR Tool Fails to Install

Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool Nov 2005 (KB890830) downloads but
installation freezes half way thru.
Update History shows "failed to install" - When I click on "x?" to find out
how to solve the problem, nothing happens.
(If I check again for new updates, I'm advised that none are available.)
I have Norton Security/Anti-Virus Protection - working OK.

Download/install it manually: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=890830
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE, Shell/User, Security), AH-VSOP

Russel wrote:
> Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool Nov 2005 (KB890830) downloads but
> installation freezes half way thru.
> Update History shows "failed to install" - When I click on "x?" to find
> out how to solve the problem, nothing happens.
> (If I check again for new updates, I'm advised that none are available.)
> I have Norton Security/Anti-Virus Protection - working OK.

Russel,

The issue may stem from Norton's script blocking component not allowing
the MSRT to install. Try temporarily disabling it or follow PABear's advice.

MowGreen [MVP 2003-2006]
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============

Russel wrote:

> Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool Nov 2005 (KB890830) downloads but
> installation freezes half way thru.
> Update History shows "failed to install" - When I click on "x?" to find out
> how to solve the problem, nothing happens.
> (If I check again for new updates, I'm advised that none are available.)
> I have Norton Security/Anti-Virus Protection - working OK.

I have had the same problem. The WMSR tool failed to install from Windows
Update.
The progress indicator completed one pass and started again and froze at
about 40%. I cancelled after waiting for something to happen and manually
downloaded the file. Several hours later, I ran the file with exactly the
same result. I got the same result every time I tried it... The CPU usage
by the tool hovers around 50%. I have updated our other two computers
without a problem. There has never been a problem with previous versions of
the tool. Any further thoughts would be appreciated!

"Russel" wrote:

> Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool Nov 2005 (KB890830) downloads but
> installation freezes half way thru.
> Update History shows "failed to install" - When I click on "x?" to find out
> how to solve the problem, nothing happens.
> (If I check again for new updates, I'm advised that none are available.)
> I have Norton Security/Anti-Virus Protection - working OK.

Got exactly the same. I lost my internet connection midway thru installing
Tuesday's patch, updater tells me that the WMSR tool didnt install (2 of 2)
but the patch (1 of 2) did. Have rebooted many times, manually run WMSR
several times both from .exe and directly from web browser. Everytime I get
one pass of progress indicator then 40% of a second pass. CPU goes 100% and
no disk activity. Task Man shows MRT.exe grabbing 97% CPU. Have to kill it or
cancel.

The log at %windir%\debug\mrt.log has incomplete entries
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool v1.10, November 2005
Started On Wed Nov 09 09:47:31 2005

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To further confuse, I ran McAfee virus scan and it hangs, when reading
wsusscan.cab !!


"Neil Royes" wrote:

> I have had the same problem. The WMSR tool failed to install from Windows
> Update.
> The progress indicator completed one pass and started again and froze at
> about 40%. I cancelled after waiting for something to happen and manually
> downloaded the file. Several hours later, I ran the file with exactly the
> same result. I got the same result every time I tried it... The CPU usage
> by the tool hovers around 50%. I have updated our other two computers
> without a problem. There has never been a problem with previous versions of
> the tool. Any further thoughts would be appreciated!
>
> "Russel" wrote:
>
> > Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool Nov 2005 (KB890830) downloads but
> > installation freezes half way thru.
> > Update History shows "failed to install" - When I click on "x?" to find out
> > how to solve the problem, nothing happens.
> > (If I check again for new updates, I'm advised that none are available.)
> > I have Norton Security/Anti-Virus Protection - working OK.

I also had issues with the MRT install last night. When I logged on this
morning, the PC (XP-Pro) said it couldn't access the profile (local), and
that it was going to create a temp profile for me. It did that, and it marked
my old profile as "Backup". When I discovered the MRT.EXE still running
(after 6 hrs or so), I first tried to restart the system. It didn't want to
restart because it was "Installing Update (2 of 2)". After about 30 minutes
of that, I power cycled, and amazingly, everything fixed itself. I could log
on using my previous profiles, and it had cleaned up the temporary profiles.

From another PC (that was not running last night), I ran Microsoft update,
and selected the MRT. It downloaded, got about half-way through installing,
and just sat there, pegging the CPU. After a couple of hours, I killed that
process. At that time, the Microsoft Update dialog completed, and it appears
that all is well.

I've warned others at work about this. I actually called Microsoft, and got
a case number, but after about 40 min on hold, I gave up. (I was told there
was a zero wait time. Maybe I misunderstood what they meant by zero.)

"Russel" wrote:

> Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool Nov 2005 (KB890830) downloads but
> installation freezes half way thru.
> Update History shows "failed to install" - When I click on "x?" to find out
> how to solve the problem, nothing happens.
> (If I check again for new updates, I'm advised that none are available.)
> I have Norton Security/Anti-Virus Protection - working OK.

Neil,

Which antivirus program is installed and is it actively blocking
scripts ? That could be what's causing this issue. Try temp disabling
the installed AV or at least temp disable the script blocking component
of it and run MSRT again. Use the link that PABear provided and download
it manually if need be.

MowGreen [MVP 2003-2006]
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============

Neil Royes wrote:

> I have had the same problem. The WMSR tool failed to install from Windows
> Update.
> The progress indicator completed one pass and started again and froze at
> about 40%. I cancelled after waiting for something to happen and manually
> downloaded the file. Several hours later, I ran the file with exactly the
> same result. I got the same result every time I tried it... The CPU usage
> by the tool hovers around 50%. I have updated our other two computers
> without a problem. There has never been a problem with previous versions of
> the tool. Any further thoughts would be appreciated!
>
> "Russel" wrote:
>
>
>>Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool Nov 2005 (KB890830) downloads but
>>installation freezes half way thru.
>>Update History shows "failed to install" - When I click on "x?" to find out
>>how to solve the problem, nothing happens.
>>(If I check again for new updates, I'm advised that none are available.)
>>I have Norton Security/Anti-Virus Protection - working OK.

Rich (and others on this thread),

I'm sorry to hear you had a poor support experience when you contacted
Microsoft earlier today.

Can you please send me a mail at ? I'd like to
follow-up with you to investigate this issue ASAP.

Thanks,
Matt Braverman
Security Technology Unit
Microsoft Corporation

"Rich" <> wrote in message
news:488451CD-BE06-4DB9-A29D-...
>I also had issues with the MRT install last night. When I logged on this
> morning, the PC (XP-Pro) said it couldn't access the profile (local), and
> that it was going to create a temp profile for me. It did that, and it
> marked
> my old profile as "Backup". When I discovered the MRT.EXE still running
> (after 6 hrs or so), I first tried to restart the system. It didn't want
> to
> restart because it was "Installing Update (2 of 2)". After about 30
> minutes
> of that, I power cycled, and amazingly, everything fixed itself. I could
> log
> on using my previous profiles, and it had cleaned up the temporary
> profiles.
>
> From another PC (that was not running last night), I ran Microsoft update,
> and selected the MRT. It downloaded, got about half-way through
> installing,
> and just sat there, pegging the CPU. After a couple of hours, I killed
> that
> process. At that time, the Microsoft Update dialog completed, and it
> appears
> that all is well.
>
> I've warned others at work about this. I actually called Microsoft, and
> got
> a case number, but after about 40 min on hold, I gave up. (I was told
> there
> was a zero wait time. Maybe I misunderstood what they meant by zero.)
>
> "Russel" wrote:
>
>> Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool Nov 2005 (KB890830) downloads but
>> installation freezes half way thru.
>> Update History shows "failed to install" - When I click on "x?" to find
>> out
>> how to solve the problem, nothing happens.
>> (If I check again for new updates, I'm advised that none are available.)
>> I have Norton Security/Anti-Virus Protection - working OK.

Please keep us posted, too, Matt.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE, Shell/User, Security), AH-VSOP

Matthew Braverman [MSFT] wrote:
> Rich (and others on this thread),
>
> I'm sorry to hear you had a poor support experience when you contacted
> Microsoft earlier today.
>
> Can you please send me a mail at ? I'd like to
> follow-up with you to investigate this issue ASAP.
>
> Thanks,
> Matt Braverman
> Security Technology Unit
> Microsoft Corporation
>
> "Rich" <> wrote in message
> news:488451CD-BE06-4DB9-A29D-...
> > I also had issues with the MRT install last night. When I logged on this
> > morning, the PC (XP-Pro) said it couldn't access the profile (local),
> > and that it was going to create a temp profile for me. It did that, and
> > it marked
> > my old profile as "Backup". When I discovered the MRT.EXE still running
> > (after 6 hrs or so), I first tried to restart the system. It didn't want
> > to
> > restart because it was "Installing Update (2 of 2)". After about 30
> > minutes
> > of that, I power cycled, and amazingly, everything fixed itself. I could
> > log
> > on using my previous profiles, and it had cleaned up the temporary
> > profiles.
> >
> > From another PC (that was not running last night), I ran Microsoft
> > update, and selected the MRT. It downloaded, got about half-way through
> > installing,
> > and just sat there, pegging the CPU. After a couple of hours, I killed
> > that
> > process. At that time, the Microsoft Update dialog completed, and it
> > appears
> > that all is well.
> >
> > I've warned others at work about this. I actually called Microsoft, and
> > got
> > a case number, but after about 40 min on hold, I gave up. (I was told
> > there
> > was a zero wait time. Maybe I misunderstood what they meant by zero.)
> >
> > "Russel" wrote:
> >
> > > Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool Nov 2005 (KB890830) downloads
> > > but installation freezes half way thru.
> > > Update History shows "failed to install" - When I click on "x?" to
> > > find out
> > > how to solve the problem, nothing happens.
> > > (If I check again for new updates, I'm advised that none are
> > > available.) I have Norton Security/Anti-Virus Protection - working OK.