Windows XP SP 2 failure to install updates

Hi there,

I have a desktop and a laptop both running Window XP SP2. On 23/01/07 I ran
Windows Update on the desktop, and on 24/01/07 on the laptop. Both times
Windows XP updates were downloaded and installed successfully.

Then yesterday (14/02/07) I ran Windows Update on the desktop, and 10
Windows XP updates were downloaded and installed successfully. When today
(15/02/07) today I ran Windows Update on the laptop *11* updates were
downloaded but 'were unable to be installed'. On examination of the
updates, I noticed that they included the update:

Security Update for Windows (KB923723)

that had not been downloaded the day before on the desktop.

Windows Update rports: ' Problem: A problem on your computer is preventing
updates from being downloaded or installed'.

To investigate the problem I searched the hard drive for a file by the name
of the update and found one called KB923723.cat. Is this blocking the
installation of the updates?

Can anyone suggest a solution to the problem?

Thanks in advance,

Enquiring Mind

Hi,

To anyone that might have experienced a similar problem, and to any
Microsoft developers that might be monitoring these newgroups for ideas for
improvements to the Windows operating system:

The problem was not to do with the additional update, but with the settings
of the computer. The default DCOM settings for Authentication and
Impersonation levels must be set to at least 'Connect' and 'Identify'. After
making these changes I was able to install the Windows updates.

How did I discover this? With great difficulty, and after considerable
expenditure of time. I had to learn that a) there's a WindowsUpdate log file
in the Windows folder; b) that if the log reports a 'failed to spawn a COM
server' error, then one must check the DCOM settings for the computer, and
modify them as described above.

The conclusion is that the Windows Update error reports are almost next to
useless for the user who is not a trained System Administrator. And yet
Windows XP is touted as being user-friendly. The ways of trying to deal with
the problem suggested by Windows Update were also next to useless. I
followed the Troubleshooter link, entered some of the words in the error
message into the Troubleshooter search box that is offered, and drew 0 hits.
Subsequent research in the newsgroups revealed that this wasn't the first
time that the problem has occurred.

Some gentle suggestions to Microsoft developers and usability researchers:
1. Rather than just reporting 'Problem: A problem on your computer is
preventing
updates from being downloaded or installed' why not also suggest that the
problem may be investigated by inspecting the WindowsUpdate log file (since
most non-administrative users will not be aware of its existence).
2. If the error occurred internally due to a DCOM error, why not report
something like: 'DCOM default settings error - check with system
administrator'?

Regards,

Enquiring Mind



"Enquiring Mind" <> wrote in message
news:%...
> Hi there,
>
> I have a desktop and a laptop both running Window XP SP2. On 23/01/07 I
> ran Windows Update on the desktop, and on 24/01/07 on the laptop. Both
> times Windows XP updates were downloaded and installed successfully.
>
> Then yesterday (14/02/07) I ran Windows Update on the desktop, and 10
> Windows XP updates were downloaded and installed successfully. When today
> (15/02/07) today I ran Windows Update on the laptop *11* updates were
> downloaded but 'were unable to be installed'. On examination of the
> updates, I noticed that they included the update:
>
> Security Update for Windows (KB923723)
>
> that had not been downloaded the day before on the desktop.
>
> Windows Update rports: ' Problem: A problem on your computer is preventing
> updates from being downloaded or installed'.
>
> To investigate the problem I searched the hard drive for a file by the
> name of the update and found one called KB923723.cat. Is this blocking the
> installation of the updates?
>
> Can anyone suggest a solution to the problem?
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Enquiring Mind
>
>

Hi
I''m new to this and I have the same problem.
You quoted "The default DCOM settings for Authentication and Impersonation
levels must be set to at least 'Connect' and 'Identify'"
Where do I set these levels?????
Thanks
GRD

"Enquiring Mind" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> To anyone that might have experienced a similar problem, and to any
> Microsoft developers that might be monitoring these newgroups for ideas for
> improvements to the Windows operating system:
>
> The problem was not to do with the additional update, but with the settings
> of the computer. The default DCOM settings for Authentication and
> Impersonation levels must be set to at least 'Connect' and 'Identify'. After
> making these changes I was able to install the Windows updates.
>
> How did I discover this? With great difficulty, and after considerable
> expenditure of time. I had to learn that a) there's a WindowsUpdate log file
> in the Windows folder; b) that if the log reports a 'failed to spawn a COM
> server' error, then one must check the DCOM settings for the computer, and
> modify them as described above.
>
> The conclusion is that the Windows Update error reports are almost next to
> useless for the user who is not a trained System Administrator. And yet
> Windows XP is touted as being user-friendly. The ways of trying to deal with
> the problem suggested by Windows Update were also next to useless. I
> followed the Troubleshooter link, entered some of the words in the error
> message into the Troubleshooter search box that is offered, and drew 0 hits.
> Subsequent research in the newsgroups revealed that this wasn't the first
> time that the problem has occurred.
>
> Some gentle suggestions to Microsoft developers and usability researchers:
> 1. Rather than just reporting 'Problem: A problem on your computer is
> preventing
> updates from being downloaded or installed' why not also suggest that the
> problem may be investigated by inspecting the WindowsUpdate log file (since
> most non-administrative users will not be aware of its existence).
> 2. If the error occurred internally due to a DCOM error, why not report
> something like: 'DCOM default settings error - check with system
> administrator'?
>
> Regards,
>
> Enquiring Mind
>
>
>
> "Enquiring Mind" <> wrote in message
> news:%...
> > Hi there,
> >
> > I have a desktop and a laptop both running Window XP SP2. On 23/01/07 I
> > ran Windows Update on the desktop, and on 24/01/07 on the laptop. Both
> > times Windows XP updates were downloaded and installed successfully.
> >
> > Then yesterday (14/02/07) I ran Windows Update on the desktop, and 10
> > Windows XP updates were downloaded and installed successfully. When today
> > (15/02/07) today I ran Windows Update on the laptop *11* updates were
> > downloaded but 'were unable to be installed'. On examination of the
> > updates, I noticed that they included the update:
> >
> > Security Update for Windows (KB923723)
> >
> > that had not been downloaded the day before on the desktop.
> >
> > Windows Update rports: ' Problem: A problem on your computer is preventing
> > updates from being downloaded or installed'.
> >
> > To investigate the problem I searched the hard drive for a file by the
> > name of the update and found one called KB923723.cat. Is this blocking the
> > installation of the updates?
> >
> > Can anyone suggest a solution to the problem?
> >
> > Thanks in advance,
> >
> > Enquiring Mind
> >
> >
>
>
>

Hello there

I am having exactly the same problem as you did and I am not experienced
system administrator. I was wondering if you could point me in the correct
direction as to where the DCOM settings are for the computer so that I can
modify them?

Many thanks

Kim

"Enquiring Mind" wrote:

> Hi there,
>
> I have a desktop and a laptop both running Window XP SP2. On 23/01/07 I ran
> Windows Update on the desktop, and on 24/01/07 on the laptop. Both times
> Windows XP updates were downloaded and installed successfully.
>
> Then yesterday (14/02/07) I ran Windows Update on the desktop, and 10
> Windows XP updates were downloaded and installed successfully. When today
> (15/02/07) today I ran Windows Update on the laptop *11* updates were
> downloaded but 'were unable to be installed'. On examination of the
> updates, I noticed that they included the update:
>
> Security Update for Windows (KB923723)
>
> that had not been downloaded the day before on the desktop.
>
> Windows Update rports: ' Problem: A problem on your computer is preventing
> updates from being downloaded or installed'.
>
> To investigate the problem I searched the hard drive for a file by the name
> of the update and found one called KB923723.cat. Is this blocking the
> installation of the updates?
>
> Can anyone suggest a solution to the problem?
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Enquiring Mind
>
>
>

"Enquiring Mind" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> To anyone that might have experienced a similar problem, and to any
> Microsoft developers that might be monitoring these newgroups for ideas for
> improvements to the Windows operating system:
>
> The problem was not to do with the additional update, but with the settings
> of the computer. The default DCOM settings for Authentication and
> Impersonation levels must be set to at least 'Connect' and 'Identify'. After
> making these changes I was able to install the Windows updates.
>
> How did I discover this? With great difficulty, and after considerable
> expenditure of time. I had to learn that a) there's a WindowsUpdate log file
> in the Windows folder; b) that if the log reports a 'failed to spawn a COM
> server' error, then one must check the DCOM settings for the computer, and
> modify them as described above.
>
> The conclusion is that the Windows Update error reports are almost next to
> useless for the user who is not a trained System Administrator. And yet
> Windows XP is touted as being user-friendly. The ways of trying to deal with
> the problem suggested by Windows Update were also next to useless. I
> followed the Troubleshooter link, entered some of the words in the error
> message into the Troubleshooter search box that is offered, and drew 0 hits.
> Subsequent research in the newsgroups revealed that this wasn't the first
> time that the problem has occurred.
>
> Some gentle suggestions to Microsoft developers and usability researchers:
> 1. Rather than just reporting 'Problem: A problem on your computer is
> preventing
> updates from being downloaded or installed' why not also suggest that the
> problem may be investigated by inspecting the WindowsUpdate log file (since
> most non-administrative users will not be aware of its existence).
> 2. If the error occurred internally due to a DCOM error, why not report
> something like: 'DCOM default settings error - check with system
> administrator'?
>
> Regards,
>
> Enquiring Mind
>
>
>
> "Enquiring Mind" <> wrote in message
> news:%...
> > Hi there,
> >
> > I have a desktop and a laptop both running Window XP SP2. On 23/01/07 I
> > ran Windows Update on the desktop, and on 24/01/07 on the laptop. Both
> > times Windows XP updates were downloaded and installed successfully.
> >
> > Then yesterday (14/02/07) I ran Windows Update on the desktop, and 10
> > Windows XP updates were downloaded and installed successfully. When today
> > (15/02/07) today I ran Windows Update on the laptop *11* updates were
> > downloaded but 'were unable to be installed'. On examination of the
> > updates, I noticed that they included the update:
> >
> > Security Update for Windows (KB923723)
> >
> > that had not been downloaded the day before on the desktop.
> >
> > Windows Update rports: ' Problem: A problem on your computer is preventing
> > updates from being downloaded or installed'.
> >
> > To investigate the problem I searched the hard drive for a file by the
> > name of the update and found one called KB923723.cat. Is this blocking the
> > installation of the updates?
> >
> > Can anyone suggest a solution to the problem?
> >
> > Thanks in advance,
> >
> > Enquiring Mind
> >
> >
>
>
>
Hello Enquiring Mind.
I am not as experienced as you are with microsoft settings or administrative
rights.
I also have the dreaded "A problem on your computer is preventing updates
from being downloaded or installed" message that prevents me from installing
updates. My awkward method is to manually download the updates. I would
greatly appreciate if you could elaborate on how to change the DCOM settings
so as to be able to update the windows system? I don't even know what DCOM
stands for, or where these settings are located.
Regards,
Dorin

dorinc29 wrote:

> "Enquiring Mind" wrote:
>
>> The problem was not to do with the additional update, but with the settings
>> of the computer. The default DCOM settings for Authentication and
>> Impersonation levels must be set to at least 'Connect' and 'Identify'. After
>> making these changes I was able to install the Windows updates.

Had you originally changed these settings from the default values?

>> How did I discover this? With great difficulty, and after considerable
>> expenditure of time. I had to learn that a) there's a WindowsUpdate log file
>> in the Windows folder; b) that if the log reports a 'failed to spawn a COM
>> server' error, then one must check the DCOM settings for the computer, and
>> modify them as described above.

This isn't the most common cause for that error code. See below.

> I also have the dreaded "A problem on your computer is preventing updates
> from being downloaded or installed" message that prevents me from installing
> updates. My awkward method is to manually download the updates. I would
> greatly appreciate if you could elaborate on how to change the DCOM settings
> so as to be able to update the windows system? I don't even know what DCOM
> stands for, or where these settings are located.

Try this first:

<http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144>

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144

Ignore the title; the same steps fix Windows Update under a wide range of
circumstances.

Harry.

"Harry Johnston [MVP]" wrote:

> dorinc29 wrote:
>
> > "Enquiring Mind" wrote:
> >
> >> The problem was not to do with the additional update, but with the settings
> >> of the computer. The default DCOM settings for Authentication and
> >> Impersonation levels must be set to at least 'Connect' and 'Identify'. After
> >> making these changes I was able to install the Windows updates.
>
> Had you originally changed these settings from the default values?
>
> >> How did I discover this? With great difficulty, and after considerable
> >> expenditure of time. I had to learn that a) there's a WindowsUpdate log file
> >> in the Windows folder; b) that if the log reports a 'failed to spawn a COM
> >> server' error, then one must check the DCOM settings for the computer, and
> >> modify them as described above.
>
> This isn't the most common cause for that error code. See below.
>
> > I also have the dreaded "A problem on your computer is preventing updates
> > from being downloaded or installed" message that prevents me from installing
> > updates. My awkward method is to manually download the updates. I would
> > greatly appreciate if you could elaborate on how to change the DCOM settings
> > so as to be able to update the windows system? I don't even know what DCOM
> > stands for, or where these settings are located.
>
> Try this first:
>
> <http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144>
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
>
> Ignore the title; the same steps fix Windows Update under a wide range of
> circumstances.
>
> Harry.
>

Thanks Harry. I tried all the above posted by you.
However it did not fix my problem. I don't know what to do.. Now I receive
updates for Office 2003, (which is removed from my computer - I had a bad
copy) and actually I have Office 2007 (I bothered to go to the store for this
one). Not sure what's going on...
I still have the same message: A problem on your computer is preventing
updates from being downloaded or installed"

"Harry Johnston [MVP]" wrote:

> dorinc29 wrote:
>
> > "Enquiring Mind" wrote:
> >
> >> The problem was not to do with the additional update, but with the settings
> >> of the computer. The default DCOM settings for Authentication and
> >> Impersonation levels must be set to at least 'Connect' and 'Identify'. After
> >> making these changes I was able to install the Windows updates.
>
> Had you originally changed these settings from the default values?
>
> >> How did I discover this? With great difficulty, and after considerable
> >> expenditure of time. I had to learn that a) there's a WindowsUpdate log file
> >> in the Windows folder; b) that if the log reports a 'failed to spawn a COM
> >> server' error, then one must check the DCOM settings for the computer, and
> >> modify them as described above.
>
> This isn't the most common cause for that error code. See below.
>
> > I also have the dreaded "A problem on your computer is preventing updates
> > from being downloaded or installed" message that prevents me from installing
> > updates. My awkward method is to manually download the updates. I would
> > greatly appreciate if you could elaborate on how to change the DCOM settings
> > so as to be able to update the windows system? I don't even know what DCOM
> > stands for, or where these settings are located.
>
> Try this first:
>
> <http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144>
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
>
> Ignore the title; the same steps fix Windows Update under a wide range of
> circumstances.
>
> Harry.
>

Hello Harry.
IT WORKED!!!!! Finally. What I did after I followed your link (and did not
initially
work) was "checkdisk" utility. That and your instructions cured the problem.

Thank you again,

Dorin

Run DCOMCNFG.EXE

Under Component Services, My Computer, DCOM config I found Windows Update.

When I entered this area there was a friendly message... Do I want to solve
a particular registry problem, I answered Yes.

That did not resolve this problem.

I set the Authentification level higher.... (Action/Properties) and it did
not help. So I set them back to default.

This message does not contain enough information to help, but does make the
point that the microsoft messages are no help. They say to use the
troubleshooter and troubleshooter comes up blank, like, it has no idea why
you are there and so you just try to guess what to do with it.

Wild Goose Chase is I think what they called this when I was young.


I will go search the term
"A problem on your computer is preventing updates from being downloaded or
installed"


"Enquiring Mind" wrote:

> The problem was not to do with the additional update, but with the settings
> of the computer. The default DCOM settings for Authentication and
> Impersonation levels must be set to at least 'Connect' and 'Identify'. After
> making these changes I was able to install the Windows updates.

This solution found on www.technipages.com worked for me and according to
responses for others.

"1. Click Start > Run and type regsvr32 wuapi.dll

2. When you receive the message that the DLL has been registered, click OK
and perform the same steps for each of the following commands under Start >
Run:
regsvr32 wuaueng1.dll
regsvr32 wuaueng.dll
regsvr32 wucltui.dll
regsvr32 wups2.dll
regsvr32 wups.dll
regsvr32 wuweb.dll
"

I found this by googling
A problem on your computer is preventing updates from being downloaded

"Enquiring Mind" wrote:
> Then yesterday (14/02/07) I ran Windows Update on the desktop, and 10
> Windows XP updates were downloaded and installed successfully. When today
> (15/02/07) today I ran Windows Update on the laptop *11* updates were
> downloaded but 'were unable to be installed'.