windows updates fail after sp2 installed

I have windows XP Pro SP2. After downloading SP2 I found that on
v5.windowsupdate.microsoft.com, there are 3 critical updates available for
me. They are KB886185, KB885884 & KB834707.
But I can't install them - either through the internet or by using the
Microsoft automatic method - the screen menu just hangs during the
'installation'.
I can open the Windows Update.log, which has only 'success' columns, and no
'error' columns. I think that this is a file related to SP1 only. It is
only 3 KB and dated 31/12/2004.
There is a file WindowsUpdate.log, size 537KB dated 02/01/2005, which I
can't open. When I try to open it, it responds with a message "the document
C:\Windows\Window~2.LOG is in use by another application and cannot be
accessed." This made me think that I should turn off applications that
appear on my Start>All Programs>Startup. These are: Adobe Reader Speed
Launch, GhostSurt Proxy and Microsoft SQL Server Service Manager.
After stopping the MSSQL Server Manager, the file WindowsUpdate.log still
wouldn't open. On GhostSurf there is an option 'Special Sites'. Here I
have given - download. windowsupdates.com, v5.windowsupdate.microsoft.com and
windowsupdate.microsoft.com - special privileges - which is 'normal'
access. That is, cookies are not blocked and data is not routed through
ananymous web sites. I did nothing with respect to the Adobe Reader Speed
Launch.

Other software that I have:
Ad-Aware reports no bugs
Spyware Begone reports no bugs
GhostSurf no problems were found while
downloading SP1 updates, so I assume there's no
problem associated with GhostSurf for SP2 updates.
Norton Anti-virus no virus reported
( I have Norton Internet Security 2005 and Norton SystemWorks
2005 ).

Further, about my Norton Internet Security. I have read the Symantec
Article Id 2003120510272036 and configured a special firewall rule for
Microsoft's svchost.exe file. Svchost.exe file is located in
C:\Windows\System32. The
custom firewall rule:
Permits communications
To and From Other computers, for
windowsupdates.com, v5.windowsupdate.microsoft.com and
windowsupdate.microsoft.com
TCP and UDP
remote ports 80 and 443
I named the rule 'Firewall Rule for Windows Updates'.
I catagorized the rule as a 'file transfer' type.
I moved the rule to the top of the rule list.
( After creating the rule, I restarted the computer to verify that the
rule still existed. The rule was still there after restarting.)
But after this firewall rule was created, the installation of the windows
critical updates still froze.


I have been reading this column of Windows Updates in the Microsoft forum
and have tried other suggestions. None of them have worked. They are:

1. Set Automatic Update Service to Automatic and verify
the status is started and verify the BITS to Manual.
One thing to note here, is that every time I start
my computer, the BITS service status is always
'stopped'. I have to start it every time I start
my computer.

2. Start>run>regedit and delete the following Key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\wuauserv
do a reboot
run this command line to install the AutoUpdate
service
%SystemRoot%\System32\rundll32.exe setupapi,InstallHinfSection
DefaultInstall 132 %SystemRoot%\inf\au.inf

point to the folder C:\Windows\System32 when
requested

Then run the following commands:
regsvr32.exe wuaueng.dll
regsvr32.exe wuapi.dll
regsvr32.exe wups.dll
regsvr32.exe wucltui.dll
regsvr32.exe atl.dll

do a reboot, and using services.msc, check the
status of Automatic Updates and that Bits is
'started'.

Ralph,

Thanks for the detailed information. That's the good news ...

" the document C:\Windows\Window~2.LOG is in use by another application
and cannot be accessed." is the BAD news. Have AU up and running on this
system and can still open the WindowsUpdate.log.

Either the install process is still going on or malware is involved.
Have seen cases of an infected wuaulct.exe in malware forums recently,
but don't think that would prevent the installation of updates.

Have you downloaded the files, saved them, then closed IE, and attempted
to install them or just attempted to install them via Automatic Update
or from the WU site ?

Not sure if you've tried opening the .log by navigating to it by using
Windows Explorer. You can also open it from Start, Run, and typing in

%windir%\windowsupdate.log

Then press Enter.


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



Ralph wrote:
> I have windows XP Pro SP2. After downloading SP2 I found that on
> v5.windowsupdate.microsoft.com, there are 3 critical updates available for
> me. They are KB886185, KB885884 & KB834707.
> But I can't install them - either through the internet or by using the
> Microsoft automatic method - the screen menu just hangs during the
> 'installation'.
> I can open the Windows Update.log, which has only 'success' columns, and no
> 'error' columns. I think that this is a file related to SP1 only. It is
> only 3 KB and dated 31/12/2004.
> There is a file WindowsUpdate.log, size 537KB dated 02/01/2005, which I
> can't open. When I try to open it, it responds with a message "the document
> C:\Windows\Window~2.LOG is in use by another application and cannot be
> accessed." This made me think that I should turn off applications that
> appear on my Start>All Programs>Startup. These are: Adobe Reader Speed
> Launch, GhostSurt Proxy and Microsoft SQL Server Service Manager.
> After stopping the MSSQL Server Manager, the file WindowsUpdate.log still
> wouldn't open. On GhostSurf there is an option 'Special Sites'. Here I
> have given - download. windowsupdates.com, v5.windowsupdate.microsoft.com and
> windowsupdate.microsoft.com - special privileges - which is 'normal'
> access. That is, cookies are not blocked and data is not routed through
> ananymous web sites. I did nothing with respect to the Adobe Reader Speed
> Launch.
>
> Other software that I have:
> Ad-Aware reports no bugs
> Spyware Begone reports no bugs
> GhostSurf no problems were found while
> downloading SP1 updates, so I assume there's no
> problem associated with GhostSurf for SP2 updates.
> Norton Anti-virus no virus reported
> ( I have Norton Internet Security 2005 and Norton SystemWorks
> 2005 ).
>
> Further, about my Norton Internet Security. I have read the Symantec
> Article Id 2003120510272036 and configured a special firewall rule for
> Microsoft's svchost.exe file. Svchost.exe file is located in
> C:\Windows\System32. The
> custom firewall rule:
> Permits communications
> To and From Other computers, for
> windowsupdates.com, v5.windowsupdate.microsoft.com and
> windowsupdate.microsoft.com
> TCP and UDP
> remote ports 80 and 443
> I named the rule 'Firewall Rule for Windows Updates'.
> I catagorized the rule as a 'file transfer' type.
> I moved the rule to the top of the rule list.
> ( After creating the rule, I restarted the computer to verify that the
> rule still existed. The rule was still there after restarting.)
> But after this firewall rule was created, the installation of the windows
> critical updates still froze.
>
>
> I have been reading this column of Windows Updates in the Microsoft forum
> and have tried other suggestions. None of them have worked. They are:
>
> 1. Set Automatic Update Service to Automatic and verify
> the status is started and verify the BITS to Manual.
> One thing to note here, is that every time I start
> my computer, the BITS service status is always
> 'stopped'. I have to start it every time I start
> my computer.
>
> 2. Start>run>regedit and delete the following Key
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
> Services\wuauserv
> do a reboot
> run this command line to install the AutoUpdate
> service
> %SystemRoot%\System32\rundll32.exe setupapi,InstallHinfSection
> DefaultInstall 132 %SystemRoot%\inf\au.inf
>
> point to the folder C:\Windows\System32 when
> requested
>
> Then run the following commands:
> regsvr32.exe wuaueng.dll
> regsvr32.exe wuapi.dll
> regsvr32.exe wups.dll
> regsvr32.exe wucltui.dll
> regsvr32.exe atl.dll
>
> do a reboot, and using services.msc, check the
> status of Automatic Updates and that Bits is
> 'started'.
>
>
>

After my first posting - I reformatted and was able to get SP2 and all the
SP2 updates
with no problem.
The file WindowsUpdate.log is accessible.
Thanks for your suggestion of simply going to the specific article ID# and
downloading
from there. I'll remember that if I need it in the future.
Still, every time I start my computer I have to go to services.msc and
'start' the 'stopped'
BITS service.
This time around I didn't manually modify any registries.

I think the reason it worked today - is that prior to today, I had been
relying on a
specific spyware software - which wasn't doing a very good job. Today I
actually took
the time to investigate a different spyware that came bundled with
GhostSurf. This
seemed to find spys that the other hadn't.
So that's my story.
I did receive some error messages right after downloading SP2. But I think
that they were related to some of the software which I can't now uninstall,
because it was found to be a
spy source- and the .exe files of those spywares were disabled. But all I
had to do was use the windows task manager to 'end the task' - a few times
- and restart the computer - a few times.

So I think I'll do all this (reformat) again tomorrow , without loading the
software that
was found to be spyware.
So, thanks for your suggestions. If I get those error messages after
downloading SP2 tomorrow, I'll post them here if it's okay.

"MowGreen [MVP]" wrote:

> Ralph,
>
> Thanks for the detailed information. That's the good news ...
>
> " the document C:\Windows\Window~2.LOG is in use by another application
> and cannot be accessed." is the BAD news. Have AU up and running on this
> system and can still open the WindowsUpdate.log.
>
> Either the install process is still going on or malware is involved.
> Have seen cases of an infected wuaulct.exe in malware forums recently,
> but don't think that would prevent the installation of updates.
>
> Have you downloaded the files, saved them, then closed IE, and attempted
> to install them or just attempted to install them via Automatic Update
> or from the WU site ?
>
> Not sure if you've tried opening the .log by navigating to it by using
> Windows Explorer. You can also open it from Start, Run, and typing in
>
> %windir%\windowsupdate.log
>
> Then press Enter.
>
>
> MowGreen [MVP]
> ===============
> *-343-* FDNY
> Never Forgotten
> ===============
>
>
>
> Ralph wrote:
> > I have windows XP Pro SP2. After downloading SP2 I found that on
> > v5.windowsupdate.microsoft.com, there are 3 critical updates available for
> > me. They are KB886185, KB885884 & KB834707.
> > But I can't install them - either through the internet or by using the
> > Microsoft automatic method - the screen menu just hangs during the
> > 'installation'.
> > I can open the Windows Update.log, which has only 'success' columns, and no
> > 'error' columns. I think that this is a file related to SP1 only. It is
> > only 3 KB and dated 31/12/2004.
> > There is a file WindowsUpdate.log, size 537KB dated 02/01/2005, which I
> > can't open. When I try to open it, it responds with a message "the document
> > C:\Windows\Window~2.LOG is in use by another application and cannot be
> > accessed." This made me think that I should turn off applications that
> > appear on my Start>All Programs>Startup. These are: Adobe Reader Speed
> > Launch, GhostSurt Proxy and Microsoft SQL Server Service Manager.
> > After stopping the MSSQL Server Manager, the file WindowsUpdate.log still
> > wouldn't open. On GhostSurf there is an option 'Special Sites'. Here I
> > have given - download. windowsupdates.com, v5.windowsupdate.microsoft.com and
> > windowsupdate.microsoft.com - special privileges - which is 'normal'
> > access. That is, cookies are not blocked and data is not routed through
> > ananymous web sites. I did nothing with respect to the Adobe Reader Speed
> > Launch.
> >
> > Other software that I have:
> > Ad-Aware reports no bugs
> > Spyware Begone reports no bugs
> > GhostSurf no problems were found while
> > downloading SP1 updates, so I assume there's no
> > problem associated with GhostSurf for SP2 updates.
> > Norton Anti-virus no virus reported
> > ( I have Norton Internet Security 2005 and Norton SystemWorks
> > 2005 ).
> >
> > Further, about my Norton Internet Security. I have read the Symantec
> > Article Id 2003120510272036 and configured a special firewall rule for
> > Microsoft's svchost.exe file. Svchost.exe file is located in
> > C:\Windows\System32. The
> > custom firewall rule:
> > Permits communications
> > To and From Other computers, for
> > windowsupdates.com, v5.windowsupdate.microsoft.com and
> > windowsupdate.microsoft.com
> > TCP and UDP
> > remote ports 80 and 443
> > I named the rule 'Firewall Rule for Windows Updates'.
> > I catagorized the rule as a 'file transfer' type.
> > I moved the rule to the top of the rule list.
> > ( After creating the rule, I restarted the computer to verify that the
> > rule still existed. The rule was still there after restarting.)
> > But after this firewall rule was created, the installation of the windows
> > critical updates still froze.
> >
> >
> > I have been reading this column of Windows Updates in the Microsoft forum
> > and have tried other suggestions. None of them have worked. They are:
> >
> > 1. Set Automatic Update Service to Automatic and verify
> > the status is started and verify the BITS to Manual.
> > One thing to note here, is that every time I start
> > my computer, the BITS service status is always
> > 'stopped'. I have to start it every time I start
> > my computer.
> >
> > 2. Start>run>regedit and delete the following Key
> > HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
> > Services\wuauserv
> > do a reboot
> > run this command line to install the AutoUpdate
> > service
> > %SystemRoot%\System32\rundll32.exe setupapi,InstallHinfSection
> > DefaultInstall 132 %SystemRoot%\inf\au.inf
> >
> > point to the folder C:\Windows\System32 when
> > requested
> >
> > Then run the following commands:
> > regsvr32.exe wuaueng.dll
> > regsvr32.exe wuapi.dll
> > regsvr32.exe wups.dll
> > regsvr32.exe wucltui.dll
> > regsvr32.exe atl.dll
> >
> > do a reboot, and using services.msc, check the
> > status of Automatic Updates and that Bits is
> > 'started'.
> >
> >
> >
>

Ralph,

Go here prior to installing SP2.

The Quick Fix Protocol
http://www.aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm

Having it totally cleaned of malware and checking the hardware
manufacturers websites for updated drivers are the first 2 steps I'd
recommend to successfully upgrade to SP2. And, back up your important
files, just in case.


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


Ralph wrote:
> After my first posting - I reformatted and was able to get SP2 and all the
> SP2 updates
> with no problem.
> The file WindowsUpdate.log is accessible.
> Thanks for your suggestion of simply going to the specific article ID# and
> downloading
> from there. I'll remember that if I need it in the future.
> Still, every time I start my computer I have to go to services.msc and
> 'start' the 'stopped'
> BITS service.
> This time around I didn't manually modify any registries.
>
> I think the reason it worked today - is that prior to today, I had been
> relying on a
> specific spyware software - which wasn't doing a very good job. Today I
> actually took
> the time to investigate a different spyware that came bundled with
> GhostSurf. This
> seemed to find spys that the other hadn't.
> So that's my story.
> I did receive some error messages right after downloading SP2. But I think
> that they were related to some of the software which I can't now uninstall,
> because it was found to be a
> spy source- and the .exe files of those spywares were disabled. But all I
> had to do was use the windows task manager to 'end the task' - a few times
> - and restart the computer - a few times.
>
> So I think I'll do all this (reformat) again tomorrow , without loading the
> software that
> was found to be spyware.
> So, thanks for your suggestions. If I get those error messages after
> downloading SP2 tomorrow, I'll post them here if it's okay.
>
> "MowGreen [MVP]" wrote:
>
>
>>Ralph,
>>
>>Thanks for the detailed information. That's the good news ...
>>
>>" the document C:\Windows\Window~2.LOG is in use by another application
>>and cannot be accessed." is the BAD news. Have AU up and running on this
>>system and can still open the WindowsUpdate.log.
>>
>>Either the install process is still going on or malware is involved.
>>Have seen cases of an infected wuaulct.exe in malware forums recently,
>>but don't think that would prevent the installation of updates.
>>
>>Have you downloaded the files, saved them, then closed IE, and attempted
>>to install them or just attempted to install them via Automatic Update
>>or from the WU site ?
>>
>>Not sure if you've tried opening the .log by navigating to it by using
>>Windows Explorer. You can also open it from Start, Run, and typing in
>>
>>%windir%\windowsupdate.log
>>
>>Then press Enter.
>>
>>
>>MowGreen [MVP]
>>===============
>> *-343-* FDNY
>>Never Forgotten
>>===============
>>
>>
>>
>>Ralph wrote:
>>
>>> I have windows XP Pro SP2. After downloading SP2 I found that on
>>>v5.windowsupdate.microsoft.com, there are 3 critical updates available for
>>>me. They are KB886185, KB885884 & KB834707.
>>> But I can't install them - either through the internet or by using the
>>>Microsoft automatic method - the screen menu just hangs during the
>>>'installation'.
>>> I can open the Windows Update.log, which has only 'success' columns, and no
>>>'error' columns. I think that this is a file related to SP1 only. It is
>>>only 3 KB and dated 31/12/2004.
>>> There is a file WindowsUpdate.log, size 537KB dated 02/01/2005, which I
>>>can't open. When I try to open it, it responds with a message "the document
>>>C:\Windows\Window~2.LOG is in use by another application and cannot be
>>>accessed." This made me think that I should turn off applications that
>>>appear on my Start>All Programs>Startup. These are: Adobe Reader Speed
>>>Launch, GhostSurt Proxy and Microsoft SQL Server Service Manager.
>>> After stopping the MSSQL Server Manager, the file WindowsUpdate.log still
>>>wouldn't open. On GhostSurf there is an option 'Special Sites'. Here I
>>>have given - download. windowsupdates.com, v5.windowsupdate.microsoft.com and
>>>windowsupdate.microsoft.com - special privileges - which is 'normal'
>>>access. That is, cookies are not blocked and data is not routed through
>>>ananymous web sites. I did nothing with respect to the Adobe Reader Speed
>>>Launch.
>>>
>>> Other software that I have:
>>> Ad-Aware reports no bugs
>>> Spyware Begone reports no bugs
>>> GhostSurf no problems were found while
>>> downloading SP1 updates, so I assume there's no
>>> problem associated with GhostSurf for SP2 updates.
>>> Norton Anti-virus no virus reported
>>> ( I have Norton Internet Security 2005 and Norton SystemWorks
>>>2005 ).
>>>
>>> Further, about my Norton Internet Security. I have read the Symantec
>>>Article Id 2003120510272036 and configured a special firewall rule for
>>>Microsoft's svchost.exe file. Svchost.exe file is located in
>>>C:\Windows\System32. The
>>>custom firewall rule:
>>> Permits communications
>>> To and From Other computers, for
>>> windowsupdates.com, v5.windowsupdate.microsoft.com and
>>> windowsupdate.microsoft.com
>>> TCP and UDP
>>> remote ports 80 and 443
>>> I named the rule 'Firewall Rule for Windows Updates'.
>>> I catagorized the rule as a 'file transfer' type.
>>> I moved the rule to the top of the rule list.
>>> ( After creating the rule, I restarted the computer to verify that the
>>>rule still existed. The rule was still there after restarting.)
>>> But after this firewall rule was created, the installation of the windows
>>>critical updates still froze.
>>>
>>>
>>> I have been reading this column of Windows Updates in the Microsoft forum
>>>and have tried other suggestions. None of them have worked. They are:
>>>
>>> 1. Set Automatic Update Service to Automatic and verify
>>> the status is started and verify the BITS to Manual.
>>> One thing to note here, is that every time I start
>>> my computer, the BITS service status is always
>>> 'stopped'. I have to start it every time I start
>>> my computer.
>>>
>>> 2. Start>run>regedit and delete the following Key
>>> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
>>> Services\wuauserv
>>> do a reboot
>>> run this command line to install the AutoUpdate
>>> service
>>>%SystemRoot%\System32\rundll32.exe setupapi,InstallHinfSection
>>>DefaultInstall 132 %SystemRoot%\inf\au.inf
>>>
>>> point to the folder C:\Windows\System32 when
>>> requested
>>>
>>> Then run the following commands:
>>> regsvr32.exe wuaueng.dll
>>> regsvr32.exe wuapi.dll
>>> regsvr32.exe wups.dll
>>> regsvr32.exe wucltui.dll
>>> regsvr32.exe atl.dll
>>>
>>> do a reboot, and using services.msc, check the
>>> status of Automatic Updates and that Bits is
>>> 'started'.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>