Wxp + Office XP and automatic updates nightmare

Hello.
I have a working WinXP system and in 2008 I rebuilt it from scratch and
"cleaned the dust" of a sealed Outlook 2002 package I never had used.
Everything works okay, but some weeks ago I went into an infinite cycle:

- Automatic updates says "there are updates available for your computer,
click here to download them".
- I click the message and the typical Automatic Updates dialog opens,
showing the item is Office Genuine Advantage Notifications (KB949810) is
offered. I click download.
- Then I see: "Updates are ready for your computer. Click here to install
these updates".
- No matter I click Express Install or Custom Install, the outcome is always
the same: Installation failed. The following updates were not installed:
KB949810.
- I click Close. A few seconds afterwards, I'm again bothered by "there are
updates available for your computer, click here to download them" and so on.
The cycle is infinite. I don't pay attention anymore to the AU tray icon.

In one MS page I read that it's possible to run an executable to validate
Office. As I said, I only have Outlook XP. I ran that program (I seem to
remember it's just an ActiveX running in IE) and it says that my Office is
not registered.

Can this be related to the failure to install KB949810?
I remember that I did register Outlook successfully in 2008 and when I go to
Help | Activate Product
in Outlook, it says "This product has already been activated". This is
expected result by me, but I only want to get rid of the infinite loop with
AU and Office Genuine Advantage Notifications.

Thanks.

C.

KB949810 is and always has been an optional update. Just hide it...

1. Stop the Automatic Updates service:

Start > Run > (type in) services.msc > [OK]
Double-click Automatic Updates > Click on Stop
(Stopping the service will take a moment)

2. Delete the contents of the Download folder:

Start > Run > (type in) %windir%\SoftwareDistribution > [OK]
Open the Download folder and delete its contents
Close the window.

3. Go to Windows Update website | Select CUSTOM and allow the scan to
complete | Uncheck/deselect KB949810 and hide it ("Don't show me this update
again").

4. Start the Automatic Updates service:

Start > Run > (type in) services.msc > [OK]
Double-click Automatic Updates > Click on Start
(Starting the service will take a moment)

PS: You can Validate your install of Office XP (which is no longer
supported, BTW) here: http://www.microsoft.com/Genuine/
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002
www.banthecheck.com


Claudio wrote:
> Hello.
> I have a working WinXP system and in 2008 I rebuilt it from scratch and
> "cleaned the dust" of a sealed Outlook 2002 package I never had used.
> Everything works okay, but some weeks ago I went into an infinite cycle:
>
> - Automatic updates says "there are updates available for your computer,
> click here to download them".
> - I click the message and the typical Automatic Updates dialog opens,
> showing the item is Office Genuine Advantage Notifications (KB949810) is
> offered. I click download.
> - Then I see: "Updates are ready for your computer. Click here to install
> these updates".
> - No matter I click Express Install or Custom Install, the outcome is
> always
> the same: Installation failed. The following updates were not installed:
> KB949810.
> - I click Close. A few seconds afterwards, I'm again bothered by "there
> are
> updates available for your computer, click here to download them" and so
> on.
> The cycle is infinite. I don't pay attention anymore to the AU tray icon.
>
> In one MS page I read that it's possible to run an executable to validate
> Office. As I said, I only have Outlook XP. I ran that program (I seem to
> remember it's just an ActiveX running in IE) and it says that my Office is
> not registered.
>
> Can this be related to the failure to install KB949810?
> I remember that I did register Outlook successfully in 2008 and when I go
> to
> Help | Activate Product
> in Outlook, it says "This product has already been activated". This is
> expected result by me, but I only want to get rid of the infinite loop
> with
> AU and Office Genuine Advantage Notifications.
>
> Thanks.
>
> C.

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <> wrote in message
news:OvSpMF%...
> KB949810 is and always has been an optional update. Just hide it...

Thanks.

> PS: You can Validate your install of Office XP (which is no longer
> supported, BTW) here: http://www.microsoft.com/Genuine/

I did the steps in that page and the activeX that's loaded in IE thinks
Outlook 2002 wasn't activated, but I'm pretty sure I activated it
successfully (with the information in the box) and indeed OL2002 says it's
already activated.
:-)

C.

If you require additional assistance, post here instead:
http://social.microsoft.com/Forums/e...office/threads

Claudio wrote:
> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <> wrote in message
> news:OvSpMF%...
>> KB949810 is and always has been an optional update. Just hide it...
>
> Thanks.
>
>> PS: You can Validate your install of Office XP (which is no longer
>> supported, BTW) here: http://www.microsoft.com/Genuine/
>
> I did the steps in that page and the activeX that's loaded in IE thinks
> Outlook 2002 wasn't activated, but I'm pretty sure I activated it
> successfully (with the information in the box) and indeed OL2002 says it's
> already activated.
> :-)
>
> C.