Windows update not working

[calvin_hobbes]

I've had Windows XP SP2 on my Dell Latitude for quite a long time now, and
regular windows updates were working till today. I tried to install the
following security updates, and installation failed (w/o any error code)

Microsoft Office 2002/XP
Office XP Service Pack 3

Microsoft Windows XP
Security Update for Internet Explorer 7 for Windows XP (KB929969)
Windows Genuine Advantage Notification (KB905474)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB925902)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB931784)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB930178)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB931261)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB932168)
Update for Windows XP (KB930916)
Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer 7 for Windows XP (KB931768)

Microsoft CAPICOM
Security Update for CAPICOM (KB931906)

When i click on the link to look for update-history, i do not see anything
http://www.update.microsoft.com/micr....aspx?ln=en-us
http://www.update.windows.com/window....aspx?ln=en-us

Even manual updates do not seem to be working. Can anyone help me find the
problem?

[Engligh teacher]

I've got a similar problem. I found that the updates you list installed
themselves when I chose to shutdown my machine. However, I've been unable to
obtain the same result with some hardware and non-essential software updates.
I get the list of failed installations, but no error message. I installed the
patches described by Robin Walker with no effect.

Did you ever find out what the problem was? I am having the same issue now on my laptop, with what looks to be the same updates. Also, I am unable to install Windows Live programs... failed install with no reason given. Is this perhaps a OS verification lockout? or a SP3 issue? It seems to only be Microsoft stuff.

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

Do Method 1. If no joy, install the latest Version of the Windows Update
Agent [WUA] as described in Method 2.

hey did you get it fixed. cos i have the exact same problem as you on my laptop and desktop and i can't instal windows live stuff on my laptop. please get back to me

did you get it fixed?

[Shenan Stanley]

Seriously? More web forum responses to really old web forum posts?

Did you try anything from it?

If so (or if not) try this:

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

MalwareBytes

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.

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

Reboot.

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

Reboot and ...

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
(even after doing the above) of the keys in order to make the change.

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

Reboot.

and..

Log on as an user with administrative rights (assuming you are in this case
- given your problem) 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.

The Optional Software updates are generally safe - although I recommend
against the "Windows Search" one and any of the "Office 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.

Come back - let us know if that worked.
.... Really - come back and let everyone know if that worked.

You may want to run a second scan with SuperAntiSpyware and MalwareBytes
after everything is updated.

[JeffR]

I had a similar problem. The fix described here worked perfectly!