Automatic Updates and System Restore failure after installing SP3, XP Pro

[zskiba]

1. I installed SP3 successfully, but the installation process got stuck on the “Initializing installation”.

2. I did the Method 1: Register the Wups2.dll file in Windows from http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144.

Nothing changed.

3. I did the Method 2: Download and install the Windows Update Agent.

It didn’t fix the automatic update process. When I tried to do manual update I got “Access denied” error.

The System Restore stopped working, as well as Search for files and folders. They ware marked as Not Responding in Windows Task Manager.

4. I ran WindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe /wuforce.

The “Access denied” error disappeared, but the installation still does not go beyond “Initializing installation” (both automatic and manual).

Restore and Search still do not work. Maybe other utilities don’t work either.

Does anyone know a solution to these problems? I have Windows XP Professional.

Thanks. Zofia

zskiba wrote:
> 1. I installed SP3 successfully, but the installation process got
> stuck on the “Initializing installation”.
>
> 2. I did the Method 1: Register the Wups2.dll file in Windows from
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144.
>
> Nothing changed.
>
> 3. I did the Method 2: Download and install the Windows Update
> Agent.
>
> It didn’t fix the automatic update process. When I tried to do
> manual update I got “Access denied” error.
>
> The System Restore stopped working, as well as Search for files and
> folders. They ware marked as Not Responding in Windows Task Manager.
>
> 4. I ran WindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe /wuforce.
>
> The “Access denied” error disappeared, but the installation still
> does not go beyond “Initializing installation” (both automatic and
> manual).
>
> Restore and Search still do not work. Maybe other utilities don’t
> work either.
>
> Does anyone know a solution to these problems? I have Windows XP
> Professional.


First let's ensure you installed SP3 for Windows XP and not some
beta/release candidate (it happens - trust me...)

Start button --> RUN
(no "RUN"? Press the "Windows Key" + R on your keyboard)
--> type in:
winver
--> Click OK.

The picture at the top of the window that opens will give you the general
(Operating System name) while the line starting with the word "version" will
give you the rest of the story. Post _both_ in response to this message
verbatim. No paraphrasing - instead - ensure character-for-character
copying.
;-)

Then - if everything is okay - let's clear up your issue...

Do everything in the order given. Yes - you listed some of it as already
being done - do it again *as given* - pretend you have done nothing and
follow the directions step-by-step.

Fix your file/registry permissions...

Ignore the title and follow the sub-section under "Advanced Troubleshooting"
titled, "Method 1: Reset the registry and the file permissions"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949377
*will take time
** Ignore the last step in the method - you either have already installed
SP3 as you say or you can do it later - not now.

Search your registry for %fystem and replace the "f" with an "s". May be
three or four matches, may be none. You may even have to take ownership
of the keys in order to make the change.

Reboot and ...

Download/install this:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301

After installing, do the following:

Start button --> RUN --> type in:
"%ProgramFiles%\Windows Installer Clean Up\msizap.exe" g!
--> Click OK.
(The quotation marks and percentage signs and spacing should be exact.)

Download, install, run, update and perform a full scan (separately) with the
following two applications (freeware versions are the ones to use for this):

SuperAntiSpyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/

MalwareBytes
http://www.malwarebytes.com/

After performing a full scan with one and then the other and removing
whatever they both find completely, you may uninstall these products,
if you wish. You may be rebooting if they find something they cannot
get rid of otherwise.

Download and run the MSRT manually:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/ma...e/default.mspx

Reboot.

Download/Install the latest Windows Installer (for your OS):
( Windows XP 32-bit : WindowsXP-KB942288-v3-x86.exe )
http://www.microsoft.com/downloadS/d...displaylang=en

Reboot.

and...

Download the latest version of the Windows Update agent from here (x86):
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=91237
.... and save it to the root of your C:\ drive. After saving it to the root
of the C:\ drive, do the following:

Close all Internet Explorer windows and other applications.

Start button --> RUN and type in:
%SystemDrive%\windowsupdateagent30-x86.exe /WUFORCE
--> Click OK.

(If asked, select "Run.) --> Click on NEXT --> Select "I agree" and click on
NEXT --> When it finishes installing, click on "Finish"...

Reboot.

Then follow the instructions here:

How do I reset Windows Update components?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058
(First just run it normal, if you reboot and

Reboot.

Now for SP3:
If you had SP3 for sure, you can jump down to <if you have SP3, you can skip
to here>...

1) Download the full SP3 installation file.

Windows XP Service Pack 3 Network Installation Package for
IT Professionals and Developers (works just as well for you.)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...8-1E1555D4F3D4

You are just saving it right now - not running it yet.

2) CHKDSK
How to scan your disks for errors
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315265
* will take time and a reboot

3) Defragment
How to Defragment your hard drives
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314848
* will take time

4) Ensure your hardware drivers are up to date (from the hardware
manufacturer's respective web pages.) Never get hardware drivers
for hardware that was not created/sold by Microsoft from Microsoft.

5) Reboot right before you try to install SP3.

6) Disconnect from the internet before installing (physically disconnect -
pull the network cable or disable the router/modem.)

7) Uninstall any and all third-party firewall applications (ZoneAlarm, etc)
and utilize the built-in WIndows Firewall only.

8) Disable your antivirus and antispyware applications when you are about to
install SP3. Usually right-click on the icon in the taskbar gives you
a choice to do so.

Install SP3 by running the downloaded executable. Reboot when requested to
do so. Logon and let the machine 'settle' for about 10 minutes. Reboot.
Give it 5 minutes after logon to 'settle' - reboot.

After that - there will be more updates.

<if you have SP3, you can skip to here>

<if you skipped SP3 installation, do these two things>
CHKDSK
How to scan your disks for errors
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315265
* will take time and a reboot

Defragment
How to Defragment your hard drives
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314848
* will take time
</if you skipped SP3 installation, do the two above things>

Reboot

Log on as an user with administrative rights and open Internet Explorer
and visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and select to do a
CUSTOM scan...

Every time you are about to click on something while at these web pages -
first press and hold down the CTRL key while you click on it. You can
release the CTRL key after clicking each time.

Once the scan is done, select just _ONE_ of the high priority updates
(deselect any others) and install it.

Reboot again.

If it did work - try the web page again - selecting no more than 3-5 at a
time. Rebooting as needed.

The Optional Software updates are generally safe - although I recommend
against the "Windows Search" one and any of the "Office Live" ones or
"Windows Live" ones for now. I would completely avoid the
Optional Hardware updates. Also - I do not see any urgent need to install
Internet Explorer 8 at this time.

Seriously - do all that. This is like antibiotics - don't skip a single
step, don't quit because you think things will be okay now - go through
until the end, until you have done everything given in the order given. If
you have a problem with a step come ask and let someone here get you
through that step. If you don't understand how to do a step, come back and
ask here about that step and let someone walk you through it.

Then - when done - let everyone here know if it worked for you - or if you
have more issues.

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

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and *is your
subscription current*? What anti-spyware applications (other than
Defender)? What third-party firewall (if any)? Were any of these
applications running in the background when you installed SP3?

Has a(another) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on this
machine (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you bought
it)?


zskiba wrote:
> 1. I installed SP3 successfully, but the installation process got stuck
> on the “Initializing installation”.
>
> 2. I did the Method 1: Register the Wups2.dll file in Windows from
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144.
>
> Nothing changed.
>
> 3. I did the Method 2: Download and install the Windows Update Agent.
>
> It didn’t fix the automatic update process. When I tried to do manual
> update I got “Access denied” error.
>
> The System Restore stopped working, as well as Search for files and
> folders. They ware marked as Not Responding in Windows Task Manager.
>
> 4. I ran WindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe /wuforce.
>
> The “Access denied” error disappeared, but the installation still does
> not go beyond “Initializing installation” (both automatic and manual).
>
> Restore and Search still do not work. Maybe other utilities don’t work
> either.
>
> Does anyone know a solution to these problems? I have Windows XP
> Professional.
>
> Thanks. Zofia