Windows updates fail after install of SP2

Hi,

After much frustration I finally got SP2 to install on this computer,
running Windows XP Home. My initial problem with SP2 was that it would
install just fine, but as soon as I right clicked anything my computer would
lock up, or Explorer.exe would "have a problem and have to close." I tried
installing it several times after disabling all the context menus that came
up when right clicking and uninstalling Dvix, solutions that seemed to have
worked for others. At any rate it never worked for me so I just did without
SP2.

About two weeks ago I decided I would try it again. I wanted to install IE7
and Windows Defender so SP2 was a requirement I needed to have installed.
So, even though I have a SP2 disc I thought I would just go to the Windows
Update site and get it. I downloaded it and when it was seemingly done
installing I got a message saying that it had failed. Well, since I had the
disc I rebooted and tried to install using the disc. Same thing,
installation failed. No other information or code. Grrr...

Next I thought I would boot into safe mode and try to install SP2, but when
the computer was booting up I noticed that on the top of the screen it read
that I had Windows XP SP2 installed! So I rebooted again and went into
system properties and sure enough, it said I had SP2 installed. Hmmm...
Naturally my first thought was to right click something and see what
happened. Everything worked as it should. I'm thinking, cool! But of
course another problem soon became apparent. When clicking My Computer or
Windows Explorer I noticed I had no drives listed. Nothing, notta, zilch.
So, before I tried to uninstall SP2 I thought I would go into a newsgroup
and ask what could be done. ( Microsoft.public.windowsxp.general) I soon
received a reply (which was way cool) saying that I should go to
run>msconfig>services and uncheck "Windows Image Acquisition" to see if that
would help. Sure enough my drives showed up! Most excellent.

Next I downloaded and installed IE7 and Windows Defender. All of that went
smoothly. I then went back to Windows Update and noticed I had a ton of new
updates since I installed SP2, like 71 of them! I downloaded all of them
and let them install. Everything seemed to be going fine but just after the
last one was done a window popped up that said they had all failed! I then
tried to install just one of them, but that doesn't work either. I have
Windows Update configured to let me know when updates are available, but to
let me download and install them manually. I didn't get any notification
that these updates are available which I thought was a little strange also.
Anyway, that's where I am right now. Unable to get any updates to install.
I don't get any error codes to go by, just a notification that the updates
have failed to install.

I was hoping someone here could point me in the right direction to go next.
I'm really hoping I don't have to uninstall SP2 and start over, but if
that's what it takes then so be it.

Sorry for making this such a long winded post but I thought I should give
some background to what I've done so far. Any help would be greatly
appreciated!

~ Doug

Doug,

Actually, your post is quite good since you've provided the whole
episode instead of just a cut from the movie
The issue of updates not being offered after the application of SP2 is a
new twist on an old theme ...
Automatic Updates stops working after a repair install of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555615

SP2 is a major reworking of XP and many issues can arise if proper
preparation is not done prior. Instead of uninstalling SP2, let's try
this ... uninstall both IE7 and Windows Defender, rebooting between each
uninstall.
Stop the Automatic Update service by going to Start > Run >
type in

net stop wuauserv
Click OK

Navigate to the WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution folder and delete it's
CONTENTS, not the folder itself

Go back to Start > Run > type in

net start wuauserv
Click OK

Automatic Updates should then notify you of updates needed now.
Suggest not installing more than 5 updates at a time to see if any are
causing an issue.
When all the updates are installed, install Windows Defender again.
Do all the reboots required for all the updates, please.

Then read this prior to installing IE7 -
http://msmvps.com/blogs/spywaresucks...18/182724.aspx
Scroll all the way down to the 'Before installing IE7' heading.


MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============


Doug wrote:

> Hi,
>
> After much frustration I finally got SP2 to install on this computer,
> running Windows XP Home. My initial problem with SP2 was that it would
> install just fine, but as soon as I right clicked anything my computer would
> lock up, or Explorer.exe would "have a problem and have to close." I tried
> installing it several times after disabling all the context menus that came
> up when right clicking and uninstalling Dvix, solutions that seemed to have
> worked for others. At any rate it never worked for me so I just did without
> SP2.
>
> About two weeks ago I decided I would try it again. I wanted to install IE7
> and Windows Defender so SP2 was a requirement I needed to have installed.
> So, even though I have a SP2 disc I thought I would just go to the Windows
> Update site and get it. I downloaded it and when it was seemingly done
> installing I got a message saying that it had failed. Well, since I had the
> disc I rebooted and tried to install using the disc. Same thing,
> installation failed. No other information or code. Grrr...
>
> Next I thought I would boot into safe mode and try to install SP2, but when
> the computer was booting up I noticed that on the top of the screen it read
> that I had Windows XP SP2 installed! So I rebooted again and went into
> system properties and sure enough, it said I had SP2 installed. Hmmm...
> Naturally my first thought was to right click something and see what
> happened. Everything worked as it should. I'm thinking, cool! But of
> course another problem soon became apparent. When clicking My Computer or
> Windows Explorer I noticed I had no drives listed. Nothing, notta, zilch.
> So, before I tried to uninstall SP2 I thought I would go into a newsgroup
> and ask what could be done. ( Microsoft.public.windowsxp.general) I soon
> received a reply (which was way cool) saying that I should go to
> run>msconfig>services and uncheck "Windows Image Acquisition" to see if that
> would help. Sure enough my drives showed up! Most excellent.
>
> Next I downloaded and installed IE7 and Windows Defender. All of that went
> smoothly. I then went back to Windows Update and noticed I had a ton of new
> updates since I installed SP2, like 71 of them! I downloaded all of them
> and let them install. Everything seemed to be going fine but just after the
> last one was done a window popped up that said they had all failed! I then
> tried to install just one of them, but that doesn't work either. I have
> Windows Update configured to let me know when updates are available, but to
> let me download and install them manually. I didn't get any notification
> that these updates are available which I thought was a little strange also.
> Anyway, that's where I am right now. Unable to get any updates to install.
> I don't get any error codes to go by, just a notification that the updates
> have failed to install.
>
> I was hoping someone here could point me in the right direction to go next.
> I'm really hoping I don't have to uninstall SP2 and start over, but if
> that's what it takes then so be it.
>
> Sorry for making this such a long winded post but I thought I should give
> some background to what I've done so far. Any help would be greatly
> appreciated!
>
> ~ Doug
>
>

First of all, thanks for your help MowGreen!

I did everything you said to the letter. It was interesting, I'll say
that:-) Here's the outcome and where I'm at right now...

I uninstalled IE7 rebooted, then uninstalled Windows Defender and rebooted
again. That all went well. Did the net stop wuauserv, deleted everything
in the Software Distribution folder and then did the net start wuauserv.
That all worked well also.

Waited for awhile thinking I may get some notification that updates are
available, but nothing happened so I rebooted again. Then I went to Windows
Update and saw that there were 59 updates (not counting the software
updates) available. I unchecked everything and then rechecked the first 5.
While downloaded I noticed that one of them was IE7 so I cancelled and
picked a different one. Anyway, they all downloaded and looked as if they
were going to install but unfortunately they all failed. So I'm like crap,
now what?

Well, I thought I would turn automatic updates on so that it would
automatically download and install updates but that didn't seem to do
anything either. Went back to Windows Update and tried one more time to
download one update but that failed to install also. I went ahead and
turned automatic updates back where I had it which is to notify me when
updates are ready but not to download or install until I let it.

OK, now I decided to reboot again and when I went to restart I noticed
something I've never seen before and that is to "Install updates and shut
down the computer." (A little icon which I've never seen before was on top
of the "Turn Off" button.) Well, I'm thinking there can only be like 5
updates maybe so I thought I would give that a try. When I did that a
notification on the desktop (shut down screen) said it was installing 1of 58
updates! I'm like whoa! So I let it do it's thing. Took like 30 minutes
to shut down as I watched the update number rise. 2 of 58, 3 of 58, 4 of 58
and on and on and on.

Once I restarted the computer I went to the Windows Defender page and
downloaded / installed the program without a hitch. Then I went to Windows
Update again and noticed that the only one left was IE7. So I turned off
all my anti-malware and anti-virus protection and tried to download/install
IE7. Downloaded fine but again failed to install.

So that's where I am now. I suppose I could go directly to the Microsoft's
Internet Explorer update page and get IE7 and it would probably install
fine, but I suspect I will be in the exact same place as when I started. I
guess my biggest question is why would the 58 updates install prior to a
shut down and not while windows was running? And of course I'm still not
getting any notification that there are updates, at least not yet. I'm
thinking I should probably get one since IE7 is still out there. I just
can't imagine what has happened to break my Windows Update functionality.



"MowGreen [MVP]" <> wrote in message
news:O4MCOM$...
> Doug,
>
> Actually, your post is quite good since you've provided the whole episode
> instead of just a cut from the movie
> The issue of updates not being offered after the application of SP2 is a
> new twist on an old theme ...
> Automatic Updates stops working after a repair install of Windows XP
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555615
>
> SP2 is a major reworking of XP and many issues can arise if proper
> preparation is not done prior. Instead of uninstalling SP2, let's try this
> ... uninstall both IE7 and Windows Defender, rebooting between each
> uninstall.
> Stop the Automatic Update service by going to Start > Run >
> type in
>
> net stop wuauserv
> Click OK
>
> Navigate to the WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution folder and delete it's
> CONTENTS, not the folder itself
>
> Go back to Start > Run > type in
>
> net start wuauserv
> Click OK
>
> Automatic Updates should then notify you of updates needed now.
> Suggest not installing more than 5 updates at a time to see if any are
> causing an issue.
> When all the updates are installed, install Windows Defender again.
> Do all the reboots required for all the updates, please.
>
> Then read this prior to installing IE7 -
> http://msmvps.com/blogs/spywaresucks...18/182724.aspx
> Scroll all the way down to the 'Before installing IE7' heading.
>
>
> MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
> ===============
> *-343-* FDNY
> Never Forgotten
> ===============
>
>
> Doug wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> After much frustration I finally got SP2 to install on this computer,
>> running Windows XP Home. My initial problem with SP2 was that it would
>> install just fine, but as soon as I right clicked anything my computer
>> would lock up, or Explorer.exe would "have a problem and have to close."
>> I tried installing it several times after disabling all the context menus
>> that came up when right clicking and uninstalling Dvix, solutions that
>> seemed to have worked for others. At any rate it never worked for me so
>> I just did without SP2.
>>
>> About two weeks ago I decided I would try it again. I wanted to install
>> IE7 and Windows Defender so SP2 was a requirement I needed to have
>> installed. So, even though I have a SP2 disc I thought I would just go to
>> the Windows Update site and get it. I downloaded it and when it was
>> seemingly done installing I got a message saying that it had failed.
>> Well, since I had the disc I rebooted and tried to install using the
>> disc. Same thing, installation failed. No other information or code.
>> Grrr...
>>
>> Next I thought I would boot into safe mode and try to install SP2, but
>> when the computer was booting up I noticed that on the top of the screen
>> it read that I had Windows XP SP2 installed! So I rebooted again and
>> went into system properties and sure enough, it said I had SP2 installed.
>> Hmmm... Naturally my first thought was to right click something and see
>> what happened. Everything worked as it should. I'm thinking, cool! But
>> of course another problem soon became apparent. When clicking My
>> Computer or Windows Explorer I noticed I had no drives listed. Nothing,
>> notta, zilch. So, before I tried to uninstall SP2 I thought I would go
>> into a newsgroup and ask what could be done. (
>> Microsoft.public.windowsxp.general) I soon received a reply (which was
>> way cool) saying that I should go to run>msconfig>services and uncheck
>> "Windows Image Acquisition" to see if that would help. Sure enough my
>> drives showed up! Most excellent.
>>
>> Next I downloaded and installed IE7 and Windows Defender. All of that
>> went smoothly. I then went back to Windows Update and noticed I had a
>> ton of new updates since I installed SP2, like 71 of them! I downloaded
>> all of them and let them install. Everything seemed to be going fine but
>> just after the last one was done a window popped up that said they had
>> all failed! I then tried to install just one of them, but that doesn't
>> work either. I have Windows Update configured to let me know when
>> updates are available, but to let me download and install them manually.
>> I didn't get any notification that these updates are available which I
>> thought was a little strange also. Anyway, that's where I am right now.
>> Unable to get any updates to install. I don't get any error codes to go
>> by, just a notification that the updates have failed to install.
>>
>> I was hoping someone here could point me in the right direction to go
>> next. I'm really hoping I don't have to uninstall SP2 and start over, but
>> if that's what it takes then so be it.
>>
>> Sorry for making this such a long winded post but I thought I should give
>> some background to what I've done so far. Any help would be greatly
>> appreciated!
>>
>> ~ Doug
>>

Doug

Have you tried selecting History on the Update site. Start, Help and
Support,
Keep your Computer up to date with Windows Update. Error codes are
recorded there.


--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Doug" <> wrote in message
news:...
> First of all, thanks for your help MowGreen!
>
> I did everything you said to the letter. It was interesting, I'll say
> that:-) Here's the outcome and where I'm at right now...
>
> I uninstalled IE7 rebooted, then uninstalled Windows Defender and rebooted
> again. That all went well. Did the net stop wuauserv, deleted everything
> in the Software Distribution folder and then did the net start wuauserv.
> That all worked well also.
>
> Waited for awhile thinking I may get some notification that updates are
> available, but nothing happened so I rebooted again. Then I went to
> Windows Update and saw that there were 59 updates (not counting the
> software updates) available. I unchecked everything and then rechecked
> the first 5. While downloaded I noticed that one of them was IE7 so I
> cancelled and picked a different one. Anyway, they all downloaded and
> looked as if they were going to install but unfortunately they all failed.
> So I'm like crap, now what?
>
> Well, I thought I would turn automatic updates on so that it would
> automatically download and install updates but that didn't seem to do
> anything either. Went back to Windows Update and tried one more time to
> download one update but that failed to install also. I went ahead and
> turned automatic updates back where I had it which is to notify me when
> updates are ready but not to download or install until I let it.
>
> OK, now I decided to reboot again and when I went to restart I noticed
> something I've never seen before and that is to "Install updates and shut
> down the computer." (A little icon which I've never seen before was on
> top of the "Turn Off" button.) Well, I'm thinking there can only be like
> 5 updates maybe so I thought I would give that a try. When I did that a
> notification on the desktop (shut down screen) said it was installing 1of
> 58 updates! I'm like whoa! So I let it do it's thing. Took like 30
> minutes to shut down as I watched the update number rise. 2 of 58, 3 of
> 58, 4 of 58 and on and on and on.
>
> Once I restarted the computer I went to the Windows Defender page and
> downloaded / installed the program without a hitch. Then I went to
> Windows Update again and noticed that the only one left was IE7. So I
> turned off all my anti-malware and anti-virus protection and tried to
> download/install IE7. Downloaded fine but again failed to install.
>
> So that's where I am now. I suppose I could go directly to the
> Microsoft's Internet Explorer update page and get IE7 and it would
> probably install fine, but I suspect I will be in the exact same place as
> when I started. I guess my biggest question is why would the 58 updates
> install prior to a shut down and not while windows was running? And of
> course I'm still not getting any notification that there are updates, at
> least not yet. I'm thinking I should probably get one since IE7 is still
> out there. I just can't imagine what has happened to break my Windows
> Update functionality.
>
>
>
> "MowGreen [MVP]" <> wrote in message
> news:O4MCOM$...
>> Doug,
>>
>> Actually, your post is quite good since you've provided the whole episode
>> instead of just a cut from the movie
>> The issue of updates not being offered after the application of SP2 is a
>> new twist on an old theme ...
>> Automatic Updates stops working after a repair install of Windows XP
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555615
>>
>> SP2 is a major reworking of XP and many issues can arise if proper
>> preparation is not done prior. Instead of uninstalling SP2, let's try
>> this ... uninstall both IE7 and Windows Defender, rebooting between each
>> uninstall.
>> Stop the Automatic Update service by going to Start > Run >
>> type in
>>
>> net stop wuauserv
>> Click OK
>>
>> Navigate to the WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution folder and delete it's
>> CONTENTS, not the folder itself
>>
>> Go back to Start > Run > type in
>>
>> net start wuauserv
>> Click OK
>>
>> Automatic Updates should then notify you of updates needed now.
>> Suggest not installing more than 5 updates at a time to see if any are
>> causing an issue.
>> When all the updates are installed, install Windows Defender again.
>> Do all the reboots required for all the updates, please.
>>
>> Then read this prior to installing IE7 -
>> http://msmvps.com/blogs/spywaresucks...18/182724.aspx
>> Scroll all the way down to the 'Before installing IE7' heading.
>>
>>
>> MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
>> ===============
>> *-343-* FDNY
>> Never Forgotten
>> ===============
>>
>>
>> Doug wrote:
>>
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> After much frustration I finally got SP2 to install on this computer,
>>> running Windows XP Home. My initial problem with SP2 was that it would
>>> install just fine, but as soon as I right clicked anything my computer
>>> would lock up, or Explorer.exe would "have a problem and have to close."
>>> I tried installing it several times after disabling all the context
>>> menus that came up when right clicking and uninstalling Dvix, solutions
>>> that seemed to have worked for others. At any rate it never worked for
>>> me so I just did without SP2.
>>>
>>> About two weeks ago I decided I would try it again. I wanted to install
>>> IE7 and Windows Defender so SP2 was a requirement I needed to have
>>> installed. So, even though I have a SP2 disc I thought I would just go
>>> to the Windows Update site and get it. I downloaded it and when it was
>>> seemingly done installing I got a message saying that it had failed.
>>> Well, since I had the disc I rebooted and tried to install using the
>>> disc. Same thing, installation failed. No other information or code.
>>> Grrr...
>>>
>>> Next I thought I would boot into safe mode and try to install SP2, but
>>> when the computer was booting up I noticed that on the top of the screen
>>> it read that I had Windows XP SP2 installed! So I rebooted again and
>>> went into system properties and sure enough, it said I had SP2
>>> installed. Hmmm... Naturally my first thought was to right click
>>> something and see what happened. Everything worked as it should. I'm
>>> thinking, cool! But of course another problem soon became apparent.
>>> When clicking My Computer or Windows Explorer I noticed I had no drives
>>> listed. Nothing, notta, zilch. So, before I tried to uninstall SP2 I
>>> thought I would go into a newsgroup and ask what could be done. (
>>> Microsoft.public.windowsxp.general) I soon received a reply (which was
>>> way cool) saying that I should go to run>msconfig>services and uncheck
>>> "Windows Image Acquisition" to see if that would help. Sure enough my
>>> drives showed up! Most excellent.
>>>
>>> Next I downloaded and installed IE7 and Windows Defender. All of that
>>> went smoothly. I then went back to Windows Update and noticed I had a
>>> ton of new updates since I installed SP2, like 71 of them! I downloaded
>>> all of them and let them install. Everything seemed to be going fine
>>> but just after the last one was done a window popped up that said they
>>> had all failed! I then tried to install just one of them, but that
>>> doesn't work either. I have Windows Update configured to let me know
>>> when updates are available, but to let me download and install them
>>> manually. I didn't get any notification that these updates are available
>>> which I thought was a little strange also. Anyway, that's where I am
>>> right now. Unable to get any updates to install. I don't get any error
>>> codes to go by, just a notification that the updates have failed to
>>> install.
>>>
>>> I was hoping someone here could point me in the right direction to go
>>> next. I'm really hoping I don't have to uninstall SP2 and start over,
>>> but if that's what it takes then so be it.
>>>
>>> Sorry for making this such a long winded post but I thought I should
>>> give some background to what I've done so far. Any help would be
>>> greatly appreciated!
>>>
>>> ~ Doug
>>>
>

Doug,

Please post the last 40 - 50 lines of the WindowsUpdate.log located in
the WINDOWS directory (folder).
Are the updates now showing in Add/Remove Programs in the Control
Panel ? (Check the box that says 'Show updates' up at the top)


MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============

Doug wrote:

> First of all, thanks for your help MowGreen!
>
> I did everything you said to the letter. It was interesting, I'll say
> that:-) Here's the outcome and where I'm at right now...
>
> I uninstalled IE7 rebooted, then uninstalled Windows Defender and rebooted
> again. That all went well. Did the net stop wuauserv, deleted everything
> in the Software Distribution folder and then did the net start wuauserv.
> That all worked well also.
>
> Waited for awhile thinking I may get some notification that updates are
> available, but nothing happened so I rebooted again. Then I went to Windows
> Update and saw that there were 59 updates (not counting the software
> updates) available. I unchecked everything and then rechecked the first 5.
> While downloaded I noticed that one of them was IE7 so I cancelled and
> picked a different one. Anyway, they all downloaded and looked as if they
> were going to install but unfortunately they all failed. So I'm like crap,
> now what?
>
> Well, I thought I would turn automatic updates on so that it would
> automatically download and install updates but that didn't seem to do
> anything either. Went back to Windows Update and tried one more time to
> download one update but that failed to install also. I went ahead and
> turned automatic updates back where I had it which is to notify me when
> updates are ready but not to download or install until I let it.
>
> OK, now I decided to reboot again and when I went to restart I noticed
> something I've never seen before and that is to "Install updates and shut
> down the computer." (A little icon which I've never seen before was on top
> of the "Turn Off" button.) Well, I'm thinking there can only be like 5
> updates maybe so I thought I would give that a try. When I did that a
> notification on the desktop (shut down screen) said it was installing 1of 58
> updates! I'm like whoa! So I let it do it's thing. Took like 30 minutes
> to shut down as I watched the update number rise. 2 of 58, 3 of 58, 4 of 58
> and on and on and on.
>
> Once I restarted the computer I went to the Windows Defender page and
> downloaded / installed the program without a hitch. Then I went to Windows
> Update again and noticed that the only one left was IE7. So I turned off
> all my anti-malware and anti-virus protection and tried to download/install
> IE7. Downloaded fine but again failed to install.
>
> So that's where I am now. I suppose I could go directly to the Microsoft's
> Internet Explorer update page and get IE7 and it would probably install
> fine, but I suspect I will be in the exact same place as when I started. I
> guess my biggest question is why would the 58 updates install prior to a
> shut down and not while windows was running? And of course I'm still not
> getting any notification that there are updates, at least not yet. I'm
> thinking I should probably get one since IE7 is still out there. I just
> can't imagine what has happened to break my Windows Update functionality.
>
>
>
> "MowGreen [MVP]" <> wrote in message
> news:O4MCOM$...
>
>>Doug,
>>
>>Actually, your post is quite good since you've provided the whole episode
>>instead of just a cut from the movie
>>The issue of updates not being offered after the application of SP2 is a
>>new twist on an old theme ...
>>Automatic Updates stops working after a repair install of Windows XP
>>http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555615
>>
>>SP2 is a major reworking of XP and many issues can arise if proper
>>preparation is not done prior. Instead of uninstalling SP2, let's try this
>>... uninstall both IE7 and Windows Defender, rebooting between each
>>uninstall.
>>Stop the Automatic Update service by going to Start > Run >
>>type in
>>
>>net stop wuauserv
>>Click OK
>>
>>Navigate to the WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution folder and delete it's
>>CONTENTS, not the folder itself
>>
>>Go back to Start > Run > type in
>>
>>net start wuauserv
>>Click OK
>>
>>Automatic Updates should then notify you of updates needed now.
>>Suggest not installing more than 5 updates at a time to see if any are
>>causing an issue.
>>When all the updates are installed, install Windows Defender again.
>>Do all the reboots required for all the updates, please.
>>
>>Then read this prior to installing IE7 -
>>http://msmvps.com/blogs/spywaresucks...18/182724.aspx
>>Scroll all the way down to the 'Before installing IE7' heading.
>>
>>
>>MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
>>===============
>> *-343-* FDNY
>>Never Forgotten
>>===============
>>
>>
>>Doug wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Hi,
>>>
>>>After much frustration I finally got SP2 to install on this computer,
>>>running Windows XP Home. My initial problem with SP2 was that it would
>>>install just fine, but as soon as I right clicked anything my computer
>>>would lock up, or Explorer.exe would "have a problem and have to close."
>>>I tried installing it several times after disabling all the context menus
>>>that came up when right clicking and uninstalling Dvix, solutions that
>>>seemed to have worked for others. At any rate it never worked for me so
>>>I just did without SP2.
>>>
>>>About two weeks ago I decided I would try it again. I wanted to install
>>>IE7 and Windows Defender so SP2 was a requirement I needed to have
>>>installed. So, even though I have a SP2 disc I thought I would just go to
>>>the Windows Update site and get it. I downloaded it and when it was
>>>seemingly done installing I got a message saying that it had failed.
>>>Well, since I had the disc I rebooted and tried to install using the
>>>disc. Same thing, installation failed. No other information or code.
>>>Grrr...
>>>
>>>Next I thought I would boot into safe mode and try to install SP2, but
>>>when the computer was booting up I noticed that on the top of the screen
>>>it read that I had Windows XP SP2 installed! So I rebooted again and
>>>went into system properties and sure enough, it said I had SP2 installed.
>>>Hmmm... Naturally my first thought was to right click something and see
>>>what happened. Everything worked as it should. I'm thinking, cool! But
>>>of course another problem soon became apparent. When clicking My
>>>Computer or Windows Explorer I noticed I had no drives listed. Nothing,
>>>notta, zilch. So, before I tried to uninstall SP2 I thought I would go
>>>into a newsgroup and ask what could be done. (
>>>Microsoft.public.windowsxp.general) I soon received a reply (which was
>>>way cool) saying that I should go to run>msconfig>services and uncheck
>>>"Windows Image Acquisition" to see if that would help. Sure enough my
>>>drives showed up! Most excellent.
>>>
>>>Next I downloaded and installed IE7 and Windows Defender. All of that
>>>went smoothly. I then went back to Windows Update and noticed I had a
>>>ton of new updates since I installed SP2, like 71 of them! I downloaded
>>>all of them and let them install. Everything seemed to be going fine but
>>>just after the last one was done a window popped up that said they had
>>>all failed! I then tried to install just one of them, but that doesn't
>>>work either. I have Windows Update configured to let me know when
>>>updates are available, but to let me download and install them manually.
>>>I didn't get any notification that these updates are available which I
>>>thought was a little strange also. Anyway, that's where I am right now.
>>>Unable to get any updates to install. I don't get any error codes to go
>>>by, just a notification that the updates have failed to install.
>>>
>>>I was hoping someone here could point me in the right direction to go
>>>next. I'm really hoping I don't have to uninstall SP2 and start over, but
>>>if that's what it takes then so be it.
>>>
>>>Sorry for making this such a long winded post but I thought I should give
>>>some background to what I've done so far. Any help would be greatly
>>>appreciated!
>>>
>>>~ Doug
>>>
>
>

I went to Windows Update and selected the Update History. I doesn't show
any of the updates that have failed. I even tried to download and install
and update which failed, then went into "View Your Update History" and it
didn't show the failed update there.

If I go back to Windows Update and let it scan my computer, it shows 2
updates already downloaded and "ready to install." If I choose to install
it fails but doesn't indicate it in the history. Weird huh?


"Gerry Cornell" <> wrote in message
news:OzM$...
> Doug
>
> Have you tried selecting History on the Update site. Start, Help and
> Support,
> Keep your Computer up to date with Windows Update. Error codes are
> recorded there.
>
>
> --
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Gerry
> ~~~~
> FCA
> Stourport, England
>
> Enquire, plan and execute
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> "Doug" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> First of all, thanks for your help MowGreen!
>>
>> I did everything you said to the letter. It was interesting, I'll say
>> that:-) Here's the outcome and where I'm at right now...
>>
>> I uninstalled IE7 rebooted, then uninstalled Windows Defender and
>> rebooted again. That all went well. Did the net stop wuauserv, deleted
>> everything in the Software Distribution folder and then did the net start
>> wuauserv. That all worked well also.
>>
>> Waited for awhile thinking I may get some notification that updates are
>> available, but nothing happened so I rebooted again. Then I went to
>> Windows Update and saw that there were 59 updates (not counting the
>> software updates) available. I unchecked everything and then rechecked
>> the first 5. While downloaded I noticed that one of them was IE7 so I
>> cancelled and picked a different one. Anyway, they all downloaded and
>> looked as if they were going to install but unfortunately they all
>> failed. So I'm like crap, now what?
>>
>> Well, I thought I would turn automatic updates on so that it would
>> automatically download and install updates but that didn't seem to do
>> anything either. Went back to Windows Update and tried one more time to
>> download one update but that failed to install also. I went ahead and
>> turned automatic updates back where I had it which is to notify me when
>> updates are ready but not to download or install until I let it.
>>
>> OK, now I decided to reboot again and when I went to restart I noticed
>> something I've never seen before and that is to "Install updates and shut
>> down the computer." (A little icon which I've never seen before was on
>> top of the "Turn Off" button.) Well, I'm thinking there can only be like
>> 5 updates maybe so I thought I would give that a try. When I did that a
>> notification on the desktop (shut down screen) said it was installing 1of
>> 58 updates! I'm like whoa! So I let it do it's thing. Took like 30
>> minutes to shut down as I watched the update number rise. 2 of 58, 3 of
>> 58, 4 of 58 and on and on and on.
>>
>> Once I restarted the computer I went to the Windows Defender page and
>> downloaded / installed the program without a hitch. Then I went to
>> Windows Update again and noticed that the only one left was IE7. So I
>> turned off all my anti-malware and anti-virus protection and tried to
>> download/install IE7. Downloaded fine but again failed to install.
>>
>> So that's where I am now. I suppose I could go directly to the
>> Microsoft's Internet Explorer update page and get IE7 and it would
>> probably install fine, but I suspect I will be in the exact same place as
>> when I started. I guess my biggest question is why would the 58 updates
>> install prior to a shut down and not while windows was running? And of
>> course I'm still not getting any notification that there are updates, at
>> least not yet. I'm thinking I should probably get one since IE7 is still
>> out there. I just can't imagine what has happened to break my Windows
>> Update functionality.
>>
>>
>>
>> "MowGreen [MVP]" <> wrote in message
>> news:O4MCOM$...
>>> Doug,
>>>
>>> Actually, your post is quite good since you've provided the whole
>>> episode instead of just a cut from the movie
>>> The issue of updates not being offered after the application of SP2 is a
>>> new twist on an old theme ...
>>> Automatic Updates stops working after a repair install of Windows XP
>>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555615
>>>
>>> SP2 is a major reworking of XP and many issues can arise if proper
>>> preparation is not done prior. Instead of uninstalling SP2, let's try
>>> this ... uninstall both IE7 and Windows Defender, rebooting between each
>>> uninstall.
>>> Stop the Automatic Update service by going to Start > Run >
>>> type in
>>>
>>> net stop wuauserv
>>> Click OK
>>>
>>> Navigate to the WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution folder and delete it's
>>> CONTENTS, not the folder itself
>>>
>>> Go back to Start > Run > type in
>>>
>>> net start wuauserv
>>> Click OK
>>>
>>> Automatic Updates should then notify you of updates needed now.
>>> Suggest not installing more than 5 updates at a time to see if any are
>>> causing an issue.
>>> When all the updates are installed, install Windows Defender again.
>>> Do all the reboots required for all the updates, please.
>>>
>>> Then read this prior to installing IE7 -
>>> http://msmvps.com/blogs/spywaresucks...18/182724.aspx
>>> Scroll all the way down to the 'Before installing IE7' heading.
>>>
>>>
>>> MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
>>> ===============
>>> *-343-* FDNY
>>> Never Forgotten
>>> ===============
>>>
>>>
>>> Doug wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi,
>>>>
>>>> After much frustration I finally got SP2 to install on this computer,
>>>> running Windows XP Home. My initial problem with SP2 was that it would
>>>> install just fine, but as soon as I right clicked anything my computer
>>>> would lock up, or Explorer.exe would "have a problem and have to
>>>> close." I tried installing it several times after disabling all the
>>>> context menus that came up when right clicking and uninstalling Dvix,
>>>> solutions that seemed to have worked for others. At any rate it never
>>>> worked for me so I just did without SP2.
>>>>
>>>> About two weeks ago I decided I would try it again. I wanted to
>>>> install IE7 and Windows Defender so SP2 was a requirement I needed to
>>>> have installed. So, even though I have a SP2 disc I thought I would
>>>> just go to the Windows Update site and get it. I downloaded it and
>>>> when it was seemingly done installing I got a message saying that it
>>>> had failed. Well, since I had the disc I rebooted and tried to install
>>>> using the disc. Same thing, installation failed. No other information
>>>> or code. Grrr...
>>>>
>>>> Next I thought I would boot into safe mode and try to install SP2, but
>>>> when the computer was booting up I noticed that on the top of the
>>>> screen it read that I had Windows XP SP2 installed! So I rebooted
>>>> again and went into system properties and sure enough, it said I had
>>>> SP2 installed. Hmmm... Naturally my first thought was to right click
>>>> something and see what happened. Everything worked as it should. I'm
>>>> thinking, cool! But of course another problem soon became apparent.
>>>> When clicking My Computer or Windows Explorer I noticed I had no drives
>>>> listed. Nothing, notta, zilch. So, before I tried to uninstall SP2 I
>>>> thought I would go into a newsgroup and ask what could be done. (
>>>> Microsoft.public.windowsxp.general) I soon received a reply (which was
>>>> way cool) saying that I should go to run>msconfig>services and uncheck
>>>> "Windows Image Acquisition" to see if that would help. Sure enough my
>>>> drives showed up! Most excellent.
>>>>
>>>> Next I downloaded and installed IE7 and Windows Defender. All of that
>>>> went smoothly. I then went back to Windows Update and noticed I had a
>>>> ton of new updates since I installed SP2, like 71 of them! I
>>>> downloaded all of them and let them install. Everything seemed to be
>>>> going fine but just after the last one was done a window popped up that
>>>> said they had all failed! I then tried to install just one of them,
>>>> but that doesn't work either. I have Windows Update configured to let
>>>> me know when updates are available, but to let me download and install
>>>> them manually. I didn't get any notification that these updates are
>>>> available which I thought was a little strange also. Anyway, that's
>>>> where I am right now. Unable to get any updates to install. I don't get
>>>> any error codes to go by, just a notification that the updates have
>>>> failed to install.
>>>>
>>>> I was hoping someone here could point me in the right direction to go
>>>> next. I'm really hoping I don't have to uninstall SP2 and start over,
>>>> but if that's what it takes then so be it.
>>>>
>>>> Sorry for making this such a long winded post but I thought I should
>>>> give some background to what I've done so far. Any help would be
>>>> greatly appreciated!
>>>>
>>>> ~ Doug
>>>>
>>
>
>

Has anyone thought of resetting the BITS download folder and clear out the
..dat files?
Clear out Catroot2 folder and/or WBEM/Repository?

"Doug" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Hi,
>
> After much frustration I finally got SP2 to install on this computer,
> running Windows XP Home. My initial problem with SP2 was that it would
> install just fine, but as soon as I right clicked anything my computer
> would lock up, or Explorer.exe would "have a problem and have to close."
> I tried installing it several times after disabling all the context menus
> that came up when right clicking and uninstalling Dvix, solutions that
> seemed to have worked for others. At any rate it never worked for me so I
> just did without SP2.
>
> About two weeks ago I decided I would try it again. I wanted to install
> IE7 and Windows Defender so SP2 was a requirement I needed to have
> installed. So, even though I have a SP2 disc I thought I would just go to
> the Windows Update site and get it. I downloaded it and when it was
> seemingly done installing I got a message saying that it had failed.
> Well, since I had the disc I rebooted and tried to install using the disc.
> Same thing, installation failed. No other information or code. Grrr...
>
> Next I thought I would boot into safe mode and try to install SP2, but
> when the computer was booting up I noticed that on the top of the screen
> it read that I had Windows XP SP2 installed! So I rebooted again and went
> into system properties and sure enough, it said I had SP2 installed.
> Hmmm... Naturally my first thought was to right click something and see
> what happened. Everything worked as it should. I'm thinking, cool! But
> of course another problem soon became apparent. When clicking My Computer
> or Windows Explorer I noticed I had no drives listed. Nothing, notta,
> zilch. So, before I tried to uninstall SP2 I thought I would go into a
> newsgroup and ask what could be done. (
> Microsoft.public.windowsxp.general) I soon received a reply (which was
> way cool) saying that I should go to run>msconfig>services and uncheck
> "Windows Image Acquisition" to see if that would help. Sure enough my
> drives showed up! Most excellent.
>
> Next I downloaded and installed IE7 and Windows Defender. All of that
> went smoothly. I then went back to Windows Update and noticed I had a ton
> of new updates since I installed SP2, like 71 of them! I downloaded all
> of them and let them install. Everything seemed to be going fine but just
> after the last one was done a window popped up that said they had all
> failed! I then tried to install just one of them, but that doesn't work
> either. I have Windows Update configured to let me know when updates are
> available, but to let me download and install them manually. I didn't get
> any notification that these updates are available which I thought was a
> little strange also. Anyway, that's where I am right now. Unable to get
> any updates to install. I don't get any error codes to go by, just a
> notification that the updates have failed to install.
>
> I was hoping someone here could point me in the right direction to go
> next. I'm really hoping I don't have to uninstall SP2 and start over, but
> if that's what it takes then so be it.
>
> Sorry for making this such a long winded post but I thought I should give
> some background to what I've done so far. Any help would be greatly
> appreciated!
>
> ~ Doug
>
>

I do have updates showing in Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel.

For some reason I don't have a WindowsUpdate.log file in the Windows
directory. I even did a search for *.log and it just wasn't there. I
wonder if I didn't inadvertently delete it. I'm sure I didn't delete any
log files since my last update though; especially anything to do with
Windows Update.


"MowGreen [MVP]" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Doug,
>
> Please post the last 40 - 50 lines of the WindowsUpdate.log located in the
> WINDOWS directory (folder).
> Are the updates now showing in Add/Remove Programs in the Control
> Panel ? (Check the box that says 'Show updates' up at the top)
>
>
> MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
> ===============
> *-343-* FDNY
> Never Forgotten
> ===============
>
> Doug wrote:
>
>> First of all, thanks for your help MowGreen!
>>
>> I did everything you said to the letter. It was interesting, I'll say
>> that:-) Here's the outcome and where I'm at right now...
>>
>> I uninstalled IE7 rebooted, then uninstalled Windows Defender and
>> rebooted again. That all went well. Did the net stop wuauserv, deleted
>> everything in the Software Distribution folder and then did the net start
>> wuauserv. That all worked well also.
>>
>> Waited for awhile thinking I may get some notification that updates are
>> available, but nothing happened so I rebooted again. Then I went to
>> Windows Update and saw that there were 59 updates (not counting the
>> software updates) available. I unchecked everything and then rechecked
>> the first 5. While downloaded I noticed that one of them was IE7 so I
>> cancelled and picked a different one. Anyway, they all downloaded and
>> looked as if they were going to install but unfortunately they all
>> failed. So I'm like crap, now what?
>>
>> Well, I thought I would turn automatic updates on so that it would
>> automatically download and install updates but that didn't seem to do
>> anything either. Went back to Windows Update and tried one more time to
>> download one update but that failed to install also. I went ahead and
>> turned automatic updates back where I had it which is to notify me when
>> updates are ready but not to download or install until I let it.
>>
>> OK, now I decided to reboot again and when I went to restart I noticed
>> something I've never seen before and that is to "Install updates and shut
>> down the computer." (A little icon which I've never seen before was on
>> top of the "Turn Off" button.) Well, I'm thinking there can only be like
>> 5 updates maybe so I thought I would give that a try. When I did that a
>> notification on the desktop (shut down screen) said it was installing 1of
>> 58 updates! I'm like whoa! So I let it do it's thing. Took like 30
>> minutes to shut down as I watched the update number rise. 2 of 58, 3 of
>> 58, 4 of 58 and on and on and on.
>>
>> Once I restarted the computer I went to the Windows Defender page and
>> downloaded / installed the program without a hitch. Then I went to
>> Windows Update again and noticed that the only one left was IE7. So I
>> turned off all my anti-malware and anti-virus protection and tried to
>> download/install IE7. Downloaded fine but again failed to install.
>>
>> So that's where I am now. I suppose I could go directly to the
>> Microsoft's Internet Explorer update page and get IE7 and it would
>> probably install fine, but I suspect I will be in the exact same place as
>> when I started. I guess my biggest question is why would the 58 updates
>> install prior to a shut down and not while windows was running? And of
>> course I'm still not getting any notification that there are updates, at
>> least not yet. I'm thinking I should probably get one since IE7 is still
>> out there. I just can't imagine what has happened to break my Windows
>> Update functionality.
>>
>>
>>
>> "MowGreen [MVP]" <> wrote in message
>> news:O4MCOM$...
>>
>>>Doug,
>>>
>>>Actually, your post is quite good since you've provided the whole episode
>>>instead of just a cut from the movie
>>>The issue of updates not being offered after the application of SP2 is a
>>>new twist on an old theme ...
>>>Automatic Updates stops working after a repair install of Windows XP
>>>http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555615
>>>
>>>SP2 is a major reworking of XP and many issues can arise if proper
>>>preparation is not done prior. Instead of uninstalling SP2, let's try
>>>this ... uninstall both IE7 and Windows Defender, rebooting between each
>>>uninstall.
>>>Stop the Automatic Update service by going to Start > Run >
>>>type in
>>>
>>>net stop wuauserv
>>>Click OK
>>>
>>>Navigate to the WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution folder and delete it's
>>>CONTENTS, not the folder itself
>>>
>>>Go back to Start > Run > type in
>>>
>>>net start wuauserv
>>>Click OK
>>>
>>>Automatic Updates should then notify you of updates needed now.
>>>Suggest not installing more than 5 updates at a time to see if any are
>>>causing an issue.
>>>When all the updates are installed, install Windows Defender again.
>>>Do all the reboots required for all the updates, please.
>>>
>>>Then read this prior to installing IE7 -
>>>http://msmvps.com/blogs/spywaresucks...18/182724.aspx
>>>Scroll all the way down to the 'Before installing IE7' heading.
>>>
>>>
>>>MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
>>>===============
>>> *-343-* FDNY
>>>Never Forgotten
>>>===============
>>>
>>>
>>>Doug wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Hi,
>>>>
>>>>After much frustration I finally got SP2 to install on this computer,
>>>>running Windows XP Home. My initial problem with SP2 was that it would
>>>>install just fine, but as soon as I right clicked anything my computer
>>>>would lock up, or Explorer.exe would "have a problem and have to close."
>>>>I tried installing it several times after disabling all the context
>>>>menus that came up when right clicking and uninstalling Dvix, solutions
>>>>that seemed to have worked for others. At any rate it never worked for
>>>>me so I just did without SP2.
>>>>
>>>>About two weeks ago I decided I would try it again. I wanted to install
>>>>IE7 and Windows Defender so SP2 was a requirement I needed to have
>>>>installed. So, even though I have a SP2 disc I thought I would just go
>>>>to the Windows Update site and get it. I downloaded it and when it was
>>>>seemingly done installing I got a message saying that it had failed.
>>>>Well, since I had the disc I rebooted and tried to install using the
>>>>disc. Same thing, installation failed. No other information or code.
>>>>Grrr...
>>>>
>>>>Next I thought I would boot into safe mode and try to install SP2, but
>>>>when the computer was booting up I noticed that on the top of the screen
>>>>it read that I had Windows XP SP2 installed! So I rebooted again and
>>>>went into system properties and sure enough, it said I had SP2
>>>>installed. Hmmm... Naturally my first thought was to right click
>>>>something and see what happened. Everything worked as it should. I'm
>>>>thinking, cool! But of course another problem soon became apparent.
>>>>When clicking My Computer or Windows Explorer I noticed I had no drives
>>>>listed. Nothing, notta, zilch. So, before I tried to uninstall SP2 I
>>>>thought I would go into a newsgroup and ask what could be done. (
>>>>Microsoft.public.windowsxp.general) I soon received a reply (which was
>>>>way cool) saying that I should go to run>msconfig>services and uncheck
>>>>"Windows Image Acquisition" to see if that would help. Sure enough my
>>>>drives showed up! Most excellent.
>>>>
>>>>Next I downloaded and installed IE7 and Windows Defender. All of that
>>>>went smoothly. I then went back to Windows Update and noticed I had a
>>>>ton of new updates since I installed SP2, like 71 of them! I downloaded
>>>>all of them and let them install. Everything seemed to be going fine
>>>>but just after the last one was done a window popped up that said they
>>>>had all failed! I then tried to install just one of them, but that
>>>>doesn't work either. I have Windows Update configured to let me know
>>>>when updates are available, but to let me download and install them
>>>>manually. I didn't get any notification that these updates are available
>>>>which I thought was a little strange also. Anyway, that's where I am
>>>>right now. Unable to get any updates to install. I don't get any error
>>>>codes to go by, just a notification that the updates have failed to
>>>>install.
>>>>
>>>>I was hoping someone here could point me in the right direction to go
>>>>next. I'm really hoping I don't have to uninstall SP2 and start over,
>>>>but if that's what it takes then so be it.
>>>>
>>>>Sorry for making this such a long winded post but I thought I should
>>>>give some background to what I've done so far. Any help would be
>>>>greatly appreciated!
>>>>
>>>>~ Doug
>>>>
>>

Start > Run > type in (or copy&paste)

%windir%\windowsupdate.log

Click OK


MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============


Doug wrote:
> I do have updates showing in Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel.
>
> For some reason I don't have a WindowsUpdate.log file in the Windows
> directory. I even did a search for *.log and it just wasn't there. I
> wonder if I didn't inadvertently delete it. I'm sure I didn't delete any
> log files since my last update though; especially anything to do with
> Windows Update.
>
>
> "MowGreen [MVP]" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>
>>Doug,
>>
>>Please post the last 40 - 50 lines of the WindowsUpdate.log located in the
>>WINDOWS directory (folder).
>>Are the updates now showing in Add/Remove Programs in the Control
>>Panel ? (Check the box that says 'Show updates' up at the top)
>>
>>
>>MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
>>===============
>> *-343-* FDNY
>>Never Forgotten
>>===============
>>
>>Doug wrote:
>>
>>
>>>First of all, thanks for your help MowGreen!
>>>
>>>I did everything you said to the letter. It was interesting, I'll say
>>>that:-) Here's the outcome and where I'm at right now...
>>>
>>>I uninstalled IE7 rebooted, then uninstalled Windows Defender and
>>>rebooted again. That all went well. Did the net stop wuauserv, deleted
>>>everything in the Software Distribution folder and then did the net start
>>>wuauserv. That all worked well also.
>>>
>>>Waited for awhile thinking I may get some notification that updates are
>>>available, but nothing happened so I rebooted again. Then I went to
>>>Windows Update and saw that there were 59 updates (not counting the
>>>software updates) available. I unchecked everything and then rechecked
>>>the first 5. While downloaded I noticed that one of them was IE7 so I
>>>cancelled and picked a different one. Anyway, they all downloaded and
>>>looked as if they were going to install but unfortunately they all
>>>failed. So I'm like crap, now what?
>>>
>>>Well, I thought I would turn automatic updates on so that it would
>>>automatically download and install updates but that didn't seem to do
>>>anything either. Went back to Windows Update and tried one more time to
>>>download one update but that failed to install also. I went ahead and
>>>turned automatic updates back where I had it which is to notify me when
>>>updates are ready but not to download or install until I let it.
>>>
>>>OK, now I decided to reboot again and when I went to restart I noticed
>>>something I've never seen before and that is to "Install updates and shut
>>>down the computer." (A little icon which I've never seen before was on
>>>top of the "Turn Off" button.) Well, I'm thinking there can only be like
>>>5 updates maybe so I thought I would give that a try. When I did that a
>>>notification on the desktop (shut down screen) said it was installing 1of
>>>58 updates! I'm like whoa! So I let it do it's thing. Took like 30
>>>minutes to shut down as I watched the update number rise. 2 of 58, 3 of
>>>58, 4 of 58 and on and on and on.
>>>
>>>Once I restarted the computer I went to the Windows Defender page and
>>>downloaded / installed the program without a hitch. Then I went to
>>>Windows Update again and noticed that the only one left was IE7. So I
>>>turned off all my anti-malware and anti-virus protection and tried to
>>>download/install IE7. Downloaded fine but again failed to install.
>>>
>>>So that's where I am now. I suppose I could go directly to the
>>>Microsoft's Internet Explorer update page and get IE7 and it would
>>>probably install fine, but I suspect I will be in the exact same place as
>>>when I started. I guess my biggest question is why would the 58 updates
>>>install prior to a shut down and not while windows was running? And of
>>>course I'm still not getting any notification that there are updates, at
>>>least not yet. I'm thinking I should probably get one since IE7 is still
>>>out there. I just can't imagine what has happened to break my Windows
>>>Update functionality.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>"MowGreen [MVP]" <> wrote in message
>>>news:O4MCOM$...
>>>
>>>
>>>>Doug,
>>>>
>>>>Actually, your post is quite good since you've provided the whole episode
>>>>instead of just a cut from the movie
>>>>The issue of updates not being offered after the application of SP2 is a
>>>>new twist on an old theme ...
>>>>Automatic Updates stops working after a repair install of Windows XP
>>>>http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555615
>>>>
>>>>SP2 is a major reworking of XP and many issues can arise if proper
>>>>preparation is not done prior. Instead of uninstalling SP2, let's try
>>>>this ... uninstall both IE7 and Windows Defender, rebooting between each
>>>>uninstall.
>>>>Stop the Automatic Update service by going to Start > Run >
>>>>type in
>>>>
>>>>net stop wuauserv
>>>>Click OK
>>>>
>>>>Navigate to the WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution folder and delete it's
>>>>CONTENTS, not the folder itself
>>>>
>>>>Go back to Start > Run > type in
>>>>
>>>>net start wuauserv
>>>>Click OK
>>>>
>>>>Automatic Updates should then notify you of updates needed now.
>>>>Suggest not installing more than 5 updates at a time to see if any are
>>>>causing an issue.
>>>>When all the updates are installed, install Windows Defender again.
>>>>Do all the reboots required for all the updates, please.
>>>>
>>>>Then read this prior to installing IE7 -
>>>>http://msmvps.com/blogs/spywaresucks...18/182724.aspx
>>>>Scroll all the way down to the 'Before installing IE7' heading.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
>>>>===============
>>>>*-343-* FDNY
>>>>Never Forgotten
>>>>===============
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Doug wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Hi,
>>>>>
>>>>>After much frustration I finally got SP2 to install on this computer,
>>>>>running Windows XP Home. My initial problem with SP2 was that it would
>>>>>install just fine, but as soon as I right clicked anything my computer
>>>>>would lock up, or Explorer.exe would "have a problem and have to close."
>>>>>I tried installing it several times after disabling all the context
>>>>>menus that came up when right clicking and uninstalling Dvix, solutions
>>>>>that seemed to have worked for others. At any rate it never worked for
>>>>>me so I just did without SP2.
>>>>>
>>>>>About two weeks ago I decided I would try it again. I wanted to install
>>>>>IE7 and Windows Defender so SP2 was a requirement I needed to have
>>>>>installed. So, even though I have a SP2 disc I thought I would just go
>>>>>to the Windows Update site and get it. I downloaded it and when it was
>>>>>seemingly done installing I got a message saying that it had failed.
>>>>>Well, since I had the disc I rebooted and tried to install using the
>>>>>disc. Same thing, installation failed. No other information or code.
>>>>>Grrr...
>>>>>
>>>>>Next I thought I would boot into safe mode and try to install SP2, but
>>>>>when the computer was booting up I noticed that on the top of the screen
>>>>>it read that I had Windows XP SP2 installed! So I rebooted again and
>>>>>went into system properties and sure enough, it said I had SP2
>>>>>installed. Hmmm... Naturally my first thought was to right click
>>>>>something and see what happened. Everything worked as it should. I'm
>>>>>thinking, cool! But of course another problem soon became apparent.
>>>>>When clicking My Computer or Windows Explorer I noticed I had no drives
>>>>>listed. Nothing, notta, zilch. So, before I tried to uninstall SP2 I
>>>>>thought I would go into a newsgroup and ask what could be done. (
>>>>>Microsoft.public.windowsxp.general) I soon received a reply (which was
>>>>>way cool) saying that I should go to run>msconfig>services and uncheck
>>>>>"Windows Image Acquisition" to see if that would help. Sure enough my
>>>>>drives showed up! Most excellent.
>>>>>
>>>>>Next I downloaded and installed IE7 and Windows Defender. All of that
>>>>>went smoothly. I then went back to Windows Update and noticed I had a
>>>>>ton of new updates since I installed SP2, like 71 of them! I downloaded
>>>>>all of them and let them install. Everything seemed to be going fine
>>>>>but just after the last one was done a window popped up that said they
>>>>>had all failed! I then tried to install just one of them, but that
>>>>>doesn't work either. I have Windows Update configured to let me know
>>>>>when updates are available, but to let me download and install them
>>>>>manually. I didn't get any notification that these updates are available
>>>>>which I thought was a little strange also. Anyway, that's where I am
>>>>>right now. Unable to get any updates to install. I don't get any error
>>>>>codes to go by, just a notification that the updates have failed to
>>>>>install.
>>>>>
>>>>>I was hoping someone here could point me in the right direction to go
>>>>>next. I'm really hoping I don't have to uninstall SP2 and start over,
>>>>>but if that's what it takes then so be it.
>>>>>
>>>>>Sorry for making this such a long winded post but I thought I should
>>>>>give some background to what I've done so far. Any help would be
>>>>>greatly appreciated!
>>>>>
>>>>>~ Doug
>>>>>
>>>
>

Here it is... Hope this means something. If you need more just let me
know!

~ Doug

2006-12-01 06:03:12 396 258 Misc = Process: C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
2006-12-01 06:03:12 396 258 Misc = Module:
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuaueng.dll
2006-12-01 06:03:12 396 258 Shutdwn Install at shutdown: no updates to
install
2006-12-01 06:03:21 980 a3c AU AU Restart required....
2006-12-01 06:03:22 980 1d0 AU ########### AU: Initializing Automatic
Updates ###########
2006-12-01 06:03:22 980 1d0 AU # Approval type: Pre-download notify (User
preference)
2006-12-01 06:03:22 980 1d0 AU # AU is paused, not initializing any
handlers
2006-12-01 06:03:26 980 1d0 Service *********
2006-12-01 06:03:26 980 1d0 Service ** END ** Service: Service exit
[Exit code = 0x240001]
2006-12-01 06:03:26 980 1d0 Service *************
2006-12-01 17:52:09 980 f4 Misc =========== Logging initialized (build:
5.8.0.2469, tz: -0600) ===========
2006-12-01 17:52:09 980 f4 Misc = Process:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
2006-12-01 17:52:09 980 f4 Misc = Module:
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuaueng.dll
2006-12-01 17:52:09 980 f4 Service *************
2006-12-01 17:52:09 980 f4 Service ** START ** Service: Service startup
2006-12-01 17:52:09 980 f4 Service *********
2006-12-01 17:52:09 980 f4 Agent * WU client version 5.8.0.2469
2006-12-01 17:52:09 980 f4 Agent * SusClientId =
'f830f516-6295-492d-a687-51fcd6269dd7'
2006-12-01 17:52:09 980 f4 Agent * Base directory:
C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution
2006-12-01 17:52:09 980 f4 Agent * Access type: No proxy
2006-12-01 17:52:09 980 f4 Agent * Network state: Connected
2006-12-01 17:52:54 980 f4 Agent *********** Agent: Initializing Windows
Update Agent ***********
2006-12-01 17:52:54 980 f4 Agent *********** Agent: Initializing global
settings cache ***********
2006-12-01 17:52:54 980 f4 Agent * WSUS server: <NULL>
2006-12-01 17:52:54 980 f4 Agent * WSUS status server: <NULL>
2006-12-01 17:52:54 980 f4 Agent * Target group: (Unassigned Computers)
2006-12-01 17:52:54 980 f4 Agent * Windows Update access disabled: No
2006-12-01 17:52:55 980 f4 DnldMgr Download manager restoring 0 downloads
2006-12-01 17:52:55 980 f4 AU ########### AU: Initializing Automatic
Updates ###########
2006-12-01 17:52:55 980 f4 AU AU setting next detection timeout to
2006-12-01 23:52:55
2006-12-01 17:52:55 980 f4 AU # Approval type: Pre-download notify (User
preference)
2006-12-01 17:52:55 980 f4 AU AU setting pending client directive to
'Install Approval'
2006-12-01 17:52:55 980 f4 AU #############
2006-12-01 17:52:55 980 f4 AU ## START ## AU: Search for updates
2006-12-01 17:52:55 980 f4 AU #########
2006-12-01 17:52:55 980 f4 AU <<## SUBMITTED ## AU: Search for updates
[CallId = {6E55BA38-1241-418B-BC0A-8DD75E55E08A}]
2006-12-01 17:52:55 980 3fc Agent *************
2006-12-01 17:52:55 980 3fc Agent ** START ** Agent: Finding updates
[CallerId = AutomaticUpdates]
2006-12-01 17:52:55 980 3fc Agent *********
2006-12-01 17:53:07 980 3fc Setup *********** Setup: Checking whether
self-update is required ***********
2006-12-01 17:53:07 980 3fc Setup * Inf file:
C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\SelfUpdate\Default \wusetup.inf
2006-12-01 17:53:07 980 3fc Setup Update NOT required for
C:\WINDOWS\system32\cdm.dll: target version = 5.8.0.2469, required version =
5.8.0.2469
2006-12-01 17:53:07 980 3fc Setup Update NOT required for
C:\WINDOWS\system32\iuengine.dll: target version = 5.8.0.2469, required
version = 5.8.0.2469
2006-12-01 17:53:07 980 3fc Setup Update NOT required for
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuapi.dll: target version = 5.8.0.2469, required version
= 5.8.0.2469
2006-12-01 17:53:07 980 3fc Setup Update NOT required for
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe: target version = 5.8.0.2469, required
version = 5.8.0.2469
2006-12-01 17:53:07 980 3fc Setup Update NOT required for
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt1.exe: target version = 5.8.0.2469, required
version = 5.8.0.2469
2006-12-01 17:53:07 980 3fc Setup Update NOT required for
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuaucpl.cpl: target version = 5.8.0.2469, required
version = 5.8.0.2469
2006-12-01 17:53:07 980 3fc Setup Update NOT required for
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuaueng.dll: target version = 5.8.0.2469, required
version = 5.8.0.2469
2006-12-01 17:53:07 980 3fc Setup Update NOT required for
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuaueng1.dll: target version = 5.8.0.2469, required
version = 5.8.0.2469
2006-12-01 17:53:07 980 3fc Setup Update NOT required for
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wucltui.dll: target version = 5.8.0.2469, required
version = 5.8.0.2469
2006-12-01 17:53:07 980 3fc Setup Update NOT required for
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wups.dll: target version = 5.8.0.2469, required version
= 5.8.0.2469
2006-12-01 17:53:07 980 3fc Setup Update NOT required for
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wups2.dll: target version = 5.8.0.2469, required version
= 5.8.0.2469
2006-12-01 17:53:07 980 3fc Setup Update NOT required for
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuweb.dll: target version = 5.8.0.2469, required version
= 5.8.0.2469
2006-12-01 17:53:07 980 3fc Setup * IsUpdateRequired = No
2006-12-01 17:53:09 980 3fc PT +++++++++++ PT: Synchronizing server
updates +++++++++++
2006-12-01 17:53:09 980 3fc PT + ServiceId =
{9482F4B4-E343-43B6-B170-9A65BC822C77}, Server URL =
https://update.microsoft.com/v6/Clie...ce/client.asmx
2006-12-01 17:53:09 980 f4 AU WARNING: AU found no suitable session to
launch client in
2006-12-01 17:53:21 980 3fc PT +++++++++++ PT: Synchronizing extended
update info +++++++++++
2006-12-01 17:53:21 980 3fc PT + ServiceId =
{9482F4B4-E343-43B6-B170-9A65BC822C77}, Server URL =
https://update.microsoft.com/v6/Clie...ce/client.asmx
2006-12-01 17:53:22 980 3fc Agent * Added update
{A7E3289B-B15B-4633-AA82-52A2125DEFD8}.101 to search result
2006-12-01 17:53:22 980 3fc Agent * Found 1 updates and 13 categories in
search
2006-12-01 17:53:22 980 3fc Report *********** Report: Initializing static
reporting data ***********
2006-12-01 17:53:22 980 3fc Report * OS Version = 5.1.2600.2.0.66304
2006-12-01 17:53:22 980 3fc Report * Computer Brand = Dell Computer
Corporation
2006-12-01 17:53:22 980 3fc Report * Computer Model = Dimension 8200
2006-12-01 17:53:22 980 3fc Report * Bios Revision = A09
2006-12-01 17:53:22 980 3fc Report * Bios Name = Default System BIOS
2006-12-01 17:53:22 980 3fc Report * Bios Release Date =
2002-09-13T00:00:00
2006-12-01 17:53:22 980 3fc Report * Locale ID = 1033
2006-12-01 17:53:22 980 3fc Agent *********
2006-12-01 17:53:22 980 3fc Agent ** END ** Agent: Finding updates
[CallerId = AutomaticUpdates]
2006-12-01 17:53:22 980 3fc Agent *************
2006-12-01 17:53:22 980 3fc AU >>## RESUMED ## AU: Search for updates
[CallId = {6E55BA38-1241-418B-BC0A-8DD75E55E08A}]
2006-12-01 17:53:22 980 3fc AU # 1 updates detected
2006-12-01 17:53:22 980 3fc AU #########
2006-12-01 17:53:22 980 3fc AU ## END ## AU: Search for updates [CallId
= {6E55BA38-1241-418B-BC0A-8DD75E55E08A}]
2006-12-01 17:53:22 980 3fc AU #############
2006-12-01 17:53:22 980 3fc AU AU setting next detection timeout to
2006-12-02 17:32:49
2006-12-01 17:53:27 980 3fc Report REPORT EVENT:
{19151771-237A-44D8-BB52-93ABE2875B48} 2006-12-01 17:53:22-0600 1 147 101
{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000} 0 0 AutomaticUpdates Success Software
Synchronization Agent has finished detecting items.
2006-12-01 17:54:42 980 f4 Service WARNING: GetUserTokenFromSessionId
failed with hr 0x800704dd
2006-12-01 17:54:42 980 f4 AU WARNING: AU found no suitable session to
launch client in

"MowGreen [MVP]" <> wrote in message
news:%...
> Start > Run > type in (or copy&paste)
>
> %windir%\windowsupdate.log
>
> Click OK
>
>
> MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
> ===============
> *-343-* FDNY
> Never Forgotten
> ===============
>
>
> Doug wrote:
>> I do have updates showing in Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel.
>>
>> For some reason I don't have a WindowsUpdate.log file in the Windows
>> directory. I even did a search for *.log and it just wasn't there. I
>> wonder if I didn't inadvertently delete it. I'm sure I didn't delete any
>> log files since my last update though; especially anything to do with
>> Windows Update.
>>
>>
>> "MowGreen [MVP]" <> wrote in message
>> news:...
>>
>>>Doug,
>>>
>>>Please post the last 40 - 50 lines of the WindowsUpdate.log located in
>>>the WINDOWS directory (folder).
>>>Are the updates now showing in Add/Remove Programs in the Control
>>>Panel ? (Check the box that says 'Show updates' up at the top)
>>>
>>>
>>>MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
>>>===============
>>> *-343-* FDNY
>>>Never Forgotten
>>>===============
>>>
>>>Doug wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>First of all, thanks for your help MowGreen!
>>>>
>>>>I did everything you said to the letter. It was interesting, I'll say
>>>>that:-) Here's the outcome and where I'm at right now...
>>>>
>>>>I uninstalled IE7 rebooted, then uninstalled Windows Defender and
>>>>rebooted again. That all went well. Did the net stop wuauserv, deleted
>>>>everything in the Software Distribution folder and then did the net
>>>>start wuauserv. That all worked well also.
>>>>
>>>>Waited for awhile thinking I may get some notification that updates are
>>>>available, but nothing happened so I rebooted again. Then I went to
>>>>Windows Update and saw that there were 59 updates (not counting the
>>>>software updates) available. I unchecked everything and then rechecked
>>>>the first 5. While downloaded I noticed that one of them was IE7 so I
>>>>cancelled and picked a different one. Anyway, they all downloaded and
>>>>looked as if they were going to install but unfortunately they all
>>>>failed. So I'm like crap, now what?
>>>>
>>>>Well, I thought I would turn automatic updates on so that it would
>>>>automatically download and install updates but that didn't seem to do
>>>>anything either. Went back to Windows Update and tried one more time to
>>>>download one update but that failed to install also. I went ahead and
>>>>turned automatic updates back where I had it which is to notify me when
>>>>updates are ready but not to download or install until I let it.
>>>>
>>>>OK, now I decided to reboot again and when I went to restart I noticed
>>>>something I've never seen before and that is to "Install updates and
>>>>shut down the computer." (A little icon which I've never seen before
>>>>was on top of the "Turn Off" button.) Well, I'm thinking there can only
>>>>be like 5 updates maybe so I thought I would give that a try. When I
>>>>did that a notification on the desktop (shut down screen) said it was
>>>>installing 1of 58 updates! I'm like whoa! So I let it do it's thing.
>>>>Took like 30 minutes to shut down as I watched the update number rise.
>>>>2 of 58, 3 of 58, 4 of 58 and on and on and on.
>>>>
>>>>Once I restarted the computer I went to the Windows Defender page and
>>>>downloaded / installed the program without a hitch. Then I went to
>>>>Windows Update again and noticed that the only one left was IE7. So I
>>>>turned off all my anti-malware and anti-virus protection and tried to
>>>>download/install IE7. Downloaded fine but again failed to install.
>>>>
>>>>So that's where I am now. I suppose I could go directly to the
>>>>Microsoft's Internet Explorer update page and get IE7 and it would
>>>>probably install fine, but I suspect I will be in the exact same place
>>>>as when I started. I guess my biggest question is why would the 58
>>>>updates install prior to a shut down and not while windows was running?
>>>>And of course I'm still not getting any notification that there are
>>>>updates, at least not yet. I'm thinking I should probably get one since
>>>>IE7 is still out there. I just can't imagine what has happened to break
>>>>my Windows Update functionality.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>"MowGreen [MVP]" <> wrote in message
>>>>news:O4MCOM$.. .
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Doug,
>>>>>
>>>>>Actually, your post is quite good since you've provided the whole
>>>>>episode instead of just a cut from the movie
>>>>>The issue of updates not being offered after the application of SP2 is
>>>>>a new twist on an old theme ...
>>>>>Automatic Updates stops working after a repair install of Windows XP
>>>>>http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555615
>>>>>
>>>>>SP2 is a major reworking of XP and many issues can arise if proper
>>>>>preparation is not done prior. Instead of uninstalling SP2, let's try
>>>>>this ... uninstall both IE7 and Windows Defender, rebooting between
>>>>>each uninstall.
>>>>>Stop the Automatic Update service by going to Start > Run >
>>>>>type in
>>>>>
>>>>>net stop wuauserv
>>>>>Click OK
>>>>>
>>>>>Navigate to the WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution folder and delete it's
>>>>>CONTENTS, not the folder itself
>>>>>
>>>>>Go back to Start > Run > type in
>>>>>
>>>>>net start wuauserv
>>>>>Click OK
>>>>>
>>>>>Automatic Updates should then notify you of updates needed now.
>>>>>Suggest not installing more than 5 updates at a time to see if any are
>>>>>causing an issue.
>>>>>When all the updates are installed, install Windows Defender again.
>>>>>Do all the reboots required for all the updates, please.
>>>>>
>>>>>Then read this prior to installing IE7 -
>>>>>http://msmvps.com/blogs/spywaresucks...18/182724.aspx
>>>>>Scroll all the way down to the 'Before installing IE7' heading.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
>>>>>===============
>>>>>*-343-* FDNY
>>>>>Never Forgotten
>>>>>===============
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Doug wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>Hi,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>After much frustration I finally got SP2 to install on this computer,
>>>>>>running Windows XP Home. My initial problem with SP2 was that it
>>>>>>would install just fine, but as soon as I right clicked anything my
>>>>>>computer would lock up, or Explorer.exe would "have a problem and have
>>>>>>to close." I tried installing it several times after disabling all the
>>>>>>context menus that came up when right clicking and uninstalling Dvix,
>>>>>>solutions that seemed to have worked for others. At any rate it never
>>>>>>worked for me so I just did without SP2.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>About two weeks ago I decided I would try it again. I wanted to
>>>>>>install IE7 and Windows Defender so SP2 was a requirement I needed to
>>>>>>have installed. So, even though I have a SP2 disc I thought I would
>>>>>>just go to the Windows Update site and get it. I downloaded it and
>>>>>>when it was seemingly done installing I got a message saying that it
>>>>>>had failed. Well, since I had the disc I rebooted and tried to install
>>>>>>using the disc. Same thing, installation failed. No other
>>>>>>information or code. Grrr...
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Next I thought I would boot into safe mode and try to install SP2, but
>>>>>>when the computer was booting up I noticed that on the top of the
>>>>>>screen it read that I had Windows XP SP2 installed! So I rebooted
>>>>>>again and went into system properties and sure enough, it said I had
>>>>>>SP2 installed. Hmmm... Naturally my first thought was to right click
>>>>>>something and see what happened. Everything worked as it should. I'm
>>>>>>thinking, cool! But of course another problem soon became apparent.
>>>>>>When clicking My Computer or Windows Explorer I noticed I had no
>>>>>>drives listed. Nothing, notta, zilch. So, before I tried to uninstall
>>>>>>SP2 I thought I would go into a newsgroup and ask what could be done.
>>>>>>( Microsoft.public.windowsxp.general) I soon received a reply (which
>>>>>>was way cool) saying that I should go to run>msconfig>services and
>>>>>>uncheck "Windows Image Acquisition" to see if that would help. Sure
>>>>>>enough my drives showed up! Most excellent.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Next I downloaded and installed IE7 and Windows Defender. All of that
>>>>>>went smoothly. I then went back to Windows Update and noticed I had a
>>>>>>ton of new updates since I installed SP2, like 71 of them! I
>>>>>>downloaded all of them and let them install. Everything seemed to be
>>>>>>going fine but just after the last one was done a window popped up
>>>>>>that said they had all failed! I then tried to install just one of
>>>>>>them, but that doesn't work either. I have Windows Update configured
>>>>>>to let me know when updates are available, but to let me download and
>>>>>>install them manually. I didn't get any notification that these
>>>>>>updates are available which I thought was a little strange also.
>>>>>>Anyway, that's where I am right now. Unable to get any updates to
>>>>>>install. I don't get any error codes to go by, just a notification
>>>>>>that the updates have failed to install.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I was hoping someone here could point me in the right direction to go
>>>>>>next. I'm really hoping I don't have to uninstall SP2 and start over,
>>>>>>but if that's what it takes then so be it.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Sorry for making this such a long winded post but I thought I should
>>>>>>give some background to what I've done so far. Any help would be
>>>>>>greatly appreciated!
>>>>>>
>>>>>>~ Doug
>>>>>>
>>>>
>>