Windows XP, unable to install automatic updates.

Hi, for some reason my computer will not let me install the automatic
updates. Sometimes it will download them and then when it goes to install
after each one it says that it failed to install. I just downloaded the
Service Pack 3 for Windows XP today, but it has been doing this for a while
now. I have the home edition of windows xp. I have also disabled my AVG and
ZoneAlarm and then tried to install the updates, and it still didn't work.
If anyone knows what I should do to fix this problem that would be wonderful,
because I am out of ideas.

This is what it says when I tried to install the updates:

Downloading Update for Outlook 2003 (KB943649) (update 1 of 14)... done!
Downloading Security Update for Office 2003 (KB945185) (update 2 of 14)...
done!
Downloading Security Update for Microsoft Works Suite 2005 (KB943973)
(update 3 of 14)... done!
Downloading Security Update for Microsoft Office 2003 (KB947355) (update 4
of 14)... done!
Downloading Security Update for Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 (KB945432)
(update 5 of 14)... done!
Downloading OneNote 2003 Service Pack 3 (SP3) (update 6 of 14)... done!
Downloading Office 2003 Service Pack 3 (SP3) (update 7 of 14)... done!
Downloading Update for Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 (KB953432) (update 8 of
14)... done!
Downloading Update for Windows XP (KB951978) (update 9 of 14)... done!
Downloading Security Update for Microsoft Office Excel 2003 (KB951548)
(update 10 of 14)... done!
Downloading Security Update for Microsoft Office 2003 (KB921598) (update 11
of 14)... done!
Downloading Update for Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 Junk Email Filter
(KB955434) (update 12 of 14)... done!
Downloading Security Update for Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003 (KB948988)
(update 13 of 14)... done!
Downloading Security Update for Microsoft Office Word 2003 (KB954464)
(update 14 of 14)... done!
Initializing installation... done!
Installing Update for Outlook 2003 (KB943649) (update 1 of 14)... failed!
Installing Security Update for Office 2003 (KB945185) (update 2 of 14)...
failed!
Installing Security Update for Microsoft Works Suite 2005 (KB943973) (update
3 of 14)... failed!
Installing Security Update for Microsoft Office 2003 (KB947355) (update 4 of
14)...

I am also having the same problem. Anyones help would be appreciated!

"June_08" wrote:

> Hi, for some reason my computer will not let me install the automatic
> updates. Sometimes it will download them and then when it goes to install
> after each one it says that it failed to install. I just downloaded the
> Service Pack 3 for Windows XP today, but it has been doing this for a while
> now. I have the home edition of windows xp. I have also disabled my AVG and
> ZoneAlarm and then tried to install the updates, and it still didn't work.
> If anyone knows what I should do to fix this problem that would be wonderful,
> because I am out of ideas.
>
> This is what it says when I tried to install the updates:
>
> Downloading Update for Outlook 2003 (KB943649) (update 1 of 14)... done!
> Downloading Security Update for Office 2003 (KB945185) (update 2 of 14)...
> done!
> Downloading Security Update for Microsoft Works Suite 2005 (KB943973)
> (update 3 of 14)... done!
> Downloading Security Update for Microsoft Office 2003 (KB947355) (update 4
> of 14)... done!
> Downloading Security Update for Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 (KB945432)
> (update 5 of 14)... done!
> Downloading OneNote 2003 Service Pack 3 (SP3) (update 6 of 14)... done!
> Downloading Office 2003 Service Pack 3 (SP3) (update 7 of 14)... done!
> Downloading Update for Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 (KB953432) (update 8 of
> 14)... done!
> Downloading Update for Windows XP (KB951978) (update 9 of 14)... done!
> Downloading Security Update for Microsoft Office Excel 2003 (KB951548)
> (update 10 of 14)... done!
> Downloading Security Update for Microsoft Office 2003 (KB921598) (update 11
> of 14)... done!
> Downloading Update for Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 Junk Email Filter
> (KB955434) (update 12 of 14)... done!
> Downloading Security Update for Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003 (KB948988)
> (update 13 of 14)... done!
> Downloading Security Update for Microsoft Office Word 2003 (KB954464)
> (update 14 of 14)... done!
> Initializing installation... done!
> Installing Update for Outlook 2003 (KB943649) (update 1 of 14)... failed!
> Installing Security Update for Office 2003 (KB945185) (update 2 of 14)...
> failed!
> Installing Security Update for Microsoft Works Suite 2005 (KB943973) (update
> 3 of 14)... failed!
> Installing Security Update for Microsoft Office 2003 (KB947355) (update 4 of
> 14)...

June_08 wrote:
> For some reason my computer will not let me install the
> automatic updates. Sometimes it will download them and then when
> it goes to install after each one it says that it failed to
> install. I just downloaded the Service Pack 3 for Windows XP
> today, but it has been doing this for a while now. I have the home
> edition of windows xp. I have also disabled my AVG and ZoneAlarm
> and then tried to install the updates, and it still didn't work. If
> anyone knows what I should do to fix this problem that would be
> wonderful, because I am out of ideas.
>
> This is what it says when I tried to install the updates:
<snipped>

When you searched the newsgroups and/or used Google - did you happen across
this solution given to many different people for the issue of "Windows XP
updates download but do not install" or some similar wording?

As many will tell you - ignore the title and symptoms listed in the article
referred to. Do method 1 and 2 and see if it fixes your issue whether or
not you repaired anything.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
Try method 1 and try to update*.
If fails - try method 2 and try to update*.

*try to update:
- Visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
- If it asks you to install anything before you see a selection of "Custom"
or "Express" - do so.
- Once you see the "Custom" or "Express" selection, choose "Custom".
- Scan for updates.
- When it lists what it finds - install the critical ones.
- You are generally safe doing the Optional Software Updates. I suggest
avoiding the Optional Hardware Updates completely.


** Second thing to try:
http://www.codeplex.com/aureset
** Temporarily down (??) for internal audit. Skip this fix for now. I will
leave the link in case it comes back up.


Third thing to try:
Get Dial-a-Fix:
http://wiki.djlizard.net/Dial-a-fix

Use its options to fix:
- Windows Installer
- Windows Update
- All the Registration Center options.

Turn off the "Empty System32\Catroot 2"
Do NOT do "Flush SoftwareDistribution".

Then click "GO" and wait until it is done... Reboot will be needed.

- Download/Install Windows Update v3.
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=91237
(You *may* need to install it using the command line switch "/wuforce"
right after the reboot - immediately after logging in.)

- Reboot.
- Visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and scan for/install updates.


Usually - method one from the first suggestion fixes the issue.
Sometimes they have to proceed to method two from the first suggestion.

Less seldom - but it does happen - only the tool from the second suggestion
will work - although the first suggestion is contained within the second in
many ways (as well as some of the third.)

And the third suggestion is there because before there was a suggestion (1)
and a suggestion (2) - the third was the best bet and worked in most cases.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

June_08 wrote:
> For some reason my computer will not let me install the
> automatic updates. Sometimes it will download them and then when
> it goes to install after each one it says that it failed to
> install. I just downloaded the Service Pack 3 for Windows XP
> today, but it has been doing this for a while now. I have the home
> edition of windows xp. I have also disabled my AVG and ZoneAlarm
> and then tried to install the updates, and it still didn't work. If
> anyone knows what I should do to fix this problem that would be
> wonderful, because I am out of ideas.
>
> This is what it says when I tried to install the updates:
<snipped>

HafDoc wrote:
> I am also having the same problem. Anyones help would be
> appreciated!

When you searched the newsgroups and/or used Google - did you happen across
this solution given to many different people for the issue of "Windows XP
updates download but do not install" or some similar wording?

As many will tell you - ignore the title and symptoms listed in the article
referred to. Do method 1 and 2 and see if it fixes your issue whether or
not you repaired anything.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
Try method 1 and try to update*.
If fails - try method 2 and try to update*.

*try to update:
- Visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
- If it asks you to install anything before you see a selection of "Custom"
or "Express" - do so.
- Once you see the "Custom" or "Express" selection, choose "Custom".
- Scan for updates.
- When it lists what it finds - install the critical ones.
- You are generally safe doing the Optional Software Updates. I suggest
avoiding the Optional Hardware Updates completely.


** Second thing to try:
http://www.codeplex.com/aureset
** Temporarily down (??) for internal audit. Skip this fix for now. I will
leave the link in case it comes back up.


Third thing to try:
Get Dial-a-Fix:
http://wiki.djlizard.net/Dial-a-fix

Use its options to fix:
- Windows Installer
- Windows Update
- All the Registration Center options.

Turn off the "Empty System32\Catroot 2"
Do NOT do "Flush SoftwareDistribution".

Then click "GO" and wait until it is done... Reboot will be needed.

- Download/Install Windows Update v3.
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=91237
(You *may* need to install it using the command line switch "/wuforce"
right after the reboot - immediately after logging in.)

- Reboot.
- Visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and scan for/install updates.


Usually - method one from the first suggestion fixes the issue.
Sometimes they have to proceed to method two from the first suggestion.

Less seldom - but it does happen - only the tool from the second suggestion
will work - although the first suggestion is contained within the second in
many ways (as well as some of the third.)

And the third suggestion is there because before there was a suggestion (1)
and a suggestion (2) - the third was the best bet and worked in most cases.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Insert your Office 2003 CD into the appropriate drive bay.

June_08 wrote:
> Hi, for some reason my computer will not let me install the automatic
> updates. Sometimes it will download them and then when it goes to install
> after each one it says that it failed to install. I just downloaded the
> Service Pack 3 for Windows XP today, but it has been doing this for a
> while
> now. I have the home edition of windows xp. I have also disabled my AVG
> and ZoneAlarm and then tried to install the updates, and it still didn't
> work. If anyone knows what I should do to fix this problem that would be
> wonderful, because I am out of ideas.
>
> This is what it says when I tried to install the updates:
>
> Downloading Update for Outlook 2003 (KB943649) (update 1 of 14)... done!
> Downloading Security Update for Office 2003 (KB945185) (update 2 of 14)...
> done!
> Downloading Security Update for Microsoft Works Suite 2005 (KB943973)
> (update 3 of 14)... done!
> Downloading Security Update for Microsoft Office 2003 (KB947355) (update 4
> of 14)... done!
> Downloading Security Update for Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 (KB945432)
> (update 5 of 14)... done!
> Downloading OneNote 2003 Service Pack 3 (SP3) (update 6 of 14)... done!
> Downloading Office 2003 Service Pack 3 (SP3) (update 7 of 14)... done!
> Downloading Update for Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 (KB953432) (update 8
> of
> 14)... done!
> Downloading Update for Windows XP (KB951978) (update 9 of 14)... done!
> Downloading Security Update for Microsoft Office Excel 2003 (KB951548)
> (update 10 of 14)... done!
> Downloading Security Update for Microsoft Office 2003 (KB921598) (update
> 11
> of 14)... done!
> Downloading Update for Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 Junk Email Filter
> (KB955434) (update 12 of 14)... done!
> Downloading Security Update for Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003
> (KB948988)
> (update 13 of 14)... done!
> Downloading Security Update for Microsoft Office Word 2003 (KB954464)
> (update 14 of 14)... done!
> Initializing installation... done!
> Installing Update for Outlook 2003 (KB943649) (update 1 of 14)... failed!
> Installing Security Update for Office 2003 (KB945185) (update 2 of 14)...
> failed!
> Installing Security Update for Microsoft Works Suite 2005 (KB943973)
> (update
> 3 of 14)... failed!
> Installing Security Update for Microsoft Office 2003 (KB947355) (update 4
> of
> 14)...