Windows updates won't install

I am using a Windows XP Professional computer with service pack 3.
When the update icon (yellow diamond) appeared in my systray I tried to
install the following three updates:

1) Microsoft.Net Framework 2.0 Service Pack 2 Security Update for Windows
2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (KB974417)

2) Microsoft.Net Framework 3.5 SP1 and >net Framework 2.0 Security Update
for Windows 2000. Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP x86 (KB979909)

3) Microsoft.Net Framework 3.5 SP1 Update for Windows Server 2003 and
Windows XP x86 (KB982168)

Although the updates completed, apparently they were not installed properly
because the yellow update diamond icon repeatedly keeps appearing in my
systray.

In Control Panel>Add/Remove Programs, only the first two updates (1) and 2)
above appear in that list.

From that Add/Remove Programs list, I tried uninstalling the first update
(KB974417) and then manually installing it. This did not help. That file
still keeps reappearing after I reboot the computer and then click on the
yellow update diamond icon in my systray.

I checked the web for advice on how to solve this problem. All I could find
were solutions that either didn't work or were complicated and beyond my
ability to understand them.

To avoid having to wait for the updates to attempt to install each time I
turn off my computer, I turned off the Automatic Updates feature. Of course I
would like to be able to turn this feature back on if I can solve this
problem.

What could be causing this problem of the yellow, update icon repeatedly
reappearing in my systray after the updates apparently were installed?

Is there a fairly straightforward way of correcting this problem?

I have exactly the same problem (same three KB numbers too). Went through MS
trouble shooting guide. No luck. Can't fix the problem. Is Microsoft coming
up with a solution to this problem?

Add my name to the list of people that have this same problem.
The only differences:
1) I am on SP2
2) Only #2 & #3 from the previous posts apply to me (that KB979909 &
KB982168 keep reappearing)

I can see that KB979909 appears in the installed programs list, but KB982168
never does.

Solutions by others that I have found in this forum do not help. "Turning
off update" being the only one or part of other suggestions that does
anything, which hardly addresses the issue. I've also tried uninstalling
KB979909 & the previous update, letting them reinstall, with no fix to the
problem.



That is, XP Pro SP2 vs SP3 that the previous two posters are running.

A few weeks from now, no updates will be offer or install.

Support for WinXP (x86) SP2 ends on 13 July 2010. After that date, computers
running WinXP (x86) SP2 "will no longer receive software updates from
Windows Update" (i.e., Automatic Updates will not work and Windows Update
website will not be accessible) until SP3 has been installed. Extended
Support for WinXP SP3 will continue through 08 April 2014.

• What does it mean if my version of Windows is no longer supported?
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/w...f-support-mean

Me too. EXACTLY the same problem and I've tried various ways round but to no avail. I really don't want to shut off updates but it is getting on my nerves I hope someone fins a solution soon.
Phil