Why do updates not install?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mervyn Sher
  • Start date Start date
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Mervyn Sher

Guest
I'm one of the unhappy lot that have recently found that no matter what we
try the updates which we download (automatically or otherwise) are not
installing onto the PC.
I've read all the comments in the forum relevant to this issue, and although
there seems to be some people out there that appear to have positive results
in fixing the issue, I am still unable to do so.
Therefore, could someone please explain to me ( preferably in simple terms )
why all of a sudden this issue has manifested itself ?
Many thanks in anticipation.
 
Mervyn Sher wrote:
> I'm one of the unhappy lot that have recently found that no matter
> what we try the updates which we download (automatically or
> otherwise) are not installing onto the PC.
> I've read all the comments in the forum relevant to this issue, and
> although there seems to be some people out there that appear to
> have positive results in fixing the issue, I am still unable to do
> so.
> Therefore, could someone please explain to me ( preferably in
> simple terms ) why all of a sudden this issue has manifested itself
> ?


If all you are asking is "why this issue manifested itself" for you - that's
a hard one (and actually somewhat abstract) to answer accurately given what
we now know about you, your system, your installations, your habits, your
event log entries, your windows update logs, you in general...

I'm guessing, however, what you really want is a working solution.

I realize this issue seems to becoming more common (or perhaps the same
people end up reposting in some cases) - so let's go through what you see,
what you have tried and if what you see is different after each thing you
tried...

In other words - "Dial-a-Fix" <- tried that one?
Re-registering the DLLs and clearing software distribution and catroot2
folders <- tried that one?
Manually downloading the full executable for a given failed update, running
it and recording the results <- tried that one?

When did this problem occur/start?
Did you perform a repair install and then this became a problem?
Did you just try to get last month's updates and realized you couldn't?
(This month's come out Tuesday.)
What did you install/change between things working and things not working
correctly - no matter how insignificant it seemed at the time...?

When you say "automatically or otherwise" <- what does that entail?
- http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ ?
- Automatic updates - turned off/turned on (Automatically download/install
and/or automatically download/notify?)
- http://support.microsoft.com/kb/###### followed by sometimes choosing IT
Professional and then downloading the executable and manually installing it?

What is in your event log after an attempt?

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
 
HI, WELL LIKE EVERYONE ELSE ON HERE I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, HOWEVER I
HAVE FOUND NO SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. WHY CAN'T MICROSOFT JUST HELP US FIX
THE PROBLEM. WITH THE NUMEROUS AMOUNT OF PEOPLE AFFECTED YOU WOULD THINK THEY
WOULD POST SOLUTION, THIS IS REDICULOUS. WHAT GOOD IS READING THE PROBLEM WE
NEED THE SOLUTION....
--
JJ


"Mervyn Sher" wrote:

> I'm one of the unhappy lot that have recently found that no matter what we
> try the updates which we download (automatically or otherwise) are not
> installing onto the PC.
> I've read all the comments in the forum relevant to this issue, and although
> there seems to be some people out there that appear to have positive results
> in fixing the issue, I am still unable to do so.
> Therefore, could someone please explain to me ( preferably in simple terms )
> why all of a sudden this issue has manifested itself ?
> Many thanks in anticipation.
 
Mervyn Sher wrote:
> I'm one of the unhappy lot that have recently found that no matter
> what we try the updates which we download (automatically or
> otherwise) are not installing onto the PC.
> I've read all the comments in the forum relevant to this issue, and
> although there seems to be some people out there that appear to
> have positive results in fixing the issue, I am still unable to do
> so.
> Therefore, could someone please explain to me ( preferably in
> simple terms ) why all of a sudden this issue has manifested itself
> ?


Jeego wrote:
> HI, WELL LIKE EVERYONE ELSE ON HERE I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM,
> HOWEVER I HAVE FOUND NO SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. WHY CAN'T
> MICROSOFT JUST HELP US FIX THE PROBLEM. WITH THE NUMEROUS AMOUNT OF
> PEOPLE AFFECTED YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD POST SOLUTION, THIS IS
> REDICULOUS. WHAT GOOD IS READING THE PROBLEM WE NEED THE
> SOLUTION....


All Upper Case posting...
http://www.wisegeek.com/why-should-...in-email-addresses-and-other-online-forms.htm

If all you are asking is "why this issue manifested itself" for you - that's
a hard one (and actually somewhat abstract) to answer accurately given what
we now know about you, your system, your installations, your habits, your
event log entries, your windows update logs, you in general...

You are assuming (albeit hard to read in the all-uppercase lettering) that
there is some single solution that works for everyone. That may not exist.
Your computer likely has *at least* one application installed on it that my
computer does not. The reverse is likely true. Your computer likely has
*at least* one peiece of hardware in it that does not exist in mine. The
reverse is likely true. The commonality *may be* the OS - but your patch
level and how you got those patches and over what medium you got those
patches could all be different than mine. All of those things could (and do
most of the time) affect the problem.

I'm guessing, however, what you really want is a working solution.

I realize this issue seems to becoming more common (or perhaps the same
people end up reposting in some cases) - so let's go through what you see,
what you have tried and if what you see is different after each thing you
tried...

In other words - "Dial-a-Fix" <- tried that one?
Re-registering the DLLs and clearing software distribution and catroot2
folders <- tried that one?
Manually downloading the full executable for a given failed update, running
it and recording the results <- tried that one?

When did this problem occur/start?
Did you perform a repair install and then this became a problem?
Did you just try to get last month's updates and realized you couldn't?
(This month's come out Tuesday.)
What did you install/change between things working and things not working
correctly - no matter how insignificant it seemed at the time...?

When you say "automatically or otherwise" <- what does that entail?
- http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ ?
- Automatic updates - turned off/turned on (Automatically download/install
and/or automatically download/notify?)
- http://support.microsoft.com/kb/###### followed by sometimes choosing IT
Professional and then downloading the executable and manually installing it?

What is in your event log after an attempt?

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

>> HI, WELL LIKE EVERYONE ELSE ON HERE I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM


People who don't have issues updating their systems do NOT post here.
There are millions and millions of those folks. Really. There is.

>> HOWEVER I HAVE FOUND NO SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.


That's because the only thing anyone who helps out in this newsgroup can
go on with your 'problem' is " Why do updates not install ? " that comes
from the Subject someone else's previous post.
If you need assistance then describe the issue:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

>> WHY CAN'T MICROSOFT JUST HELP US FIX THE PROBLEM.


Support for issues installing Security updates is FREE. Why not call them :

> Customers in the U.S. and Canada can receive technical support from Microsoft Product
> Support Services at 1-866-PCSAFETY. There is no charge for support calls that are
> associated with security updates.


>> WITH THE NUMEROUS AMOUNT OF PEOPLE AFFECTED YOU WOULD THINK THEY
>> WOULD POST SOLUTION, THIS IS REDICULOUS. WHAT GOOD IS READING THE PROBLEM WE
>> NEED THE SOLUTION....


Rediculous ? ... not Bluediculous or Orangediculous ?

How would MS post the solution when they have a *very* small presence in
this newsgroup ?
The only folks helping out here volunteer their time ... they don't work
for MS.

BTW, is your CAP KEY BROKEN ? Or are you just angry and frustrated ?


MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============
 
Good Day. Thank you for the time and courtesy of your reply.
I must admit that I am totally confused at the contents of your first
paragraph, particularly the part "what we now know about..........". However,
as this is not meant to be a philosophical debate but rather an plaintive cry
for help literally from the wilderness I shall continue in this vein.
Starting from the beginning.....:
I run XP SP2 Professional. My PC was set to receive and install updates
automatically at a set time each day, which until recently it did.
About two weeks ago I started to receive a Sub Spooler System warning. At
first this did not impact on anything, however about 5 days ago I lost all my
printers and despite several attempts to reinstall them I was unsuccessful.
I then deceided to clean my system by formatting the hard drive and
reinstalling XP.
This is when the issues at hand manifested themselves. I was successful in
formatting and installing XP. Everything set up correctly as before, etc.
When I went to the Windows Update link and keyed Express, the system chose
for itself the ActiveX downloaders etc, which I accepted and which initially
loaded.
Back to Windows Update, back to Express, which then chose about 80 critical
updates. I accepted them and the system downloaded them. Little icon on
bottom right taskbar notified me of pending updates, clicked and system
attempted to install said updates. Installation of these updates failed.
This is what has been happening to me for the last 5 days.
At this juncture I must point out that I am not very computer savvy,
particularly where it relates to the operating system, and what may seem to
you to be simple and logical computing task is to me way beyond my
understanding. I can find my way around MS Office programs, and even manage
to conquer Flight Simulator at times, but when it comes to the workings of
Windows I admit I'm lost.
What concerns me greatly is that this issue is manifesting itself into a new
system (fresh format and install), not an existing one (or am I wrong?).
Please, all I want to do is install my XP2 Professional and get it up and
running properly. I would have thought that this was as simple as inserting
the CD and following the prompts.....
If you would like to access my PC via the internet and see for yourself the
"whats, wherefores and habits....." that you referred to earlier, then please
email me on merv@bbnet.com.au and I am more than ameniable to accommodate
this.
Once again thank you for your time and courtesy of reply.
Thanking you in anticipation.


"Shenan Stanley" wrote:

> Mervyn Sher wrote:
> > I'm one of the unhappy lot that have recently found that no matter
> > what we try the updates which we download (automatically or
> > otherwise) are not installing onto the PC.
> > I've read all the comments in the forum relevant to this issue, and
> > although there seems to be some people out there that appear to
> > have positive results in fixing the issue, I am still unable to do
> > so.
> > Therefore, could someone please explain to me ( preferably in
> > simple terms ) why all of a sudden this issue has manifested itself
> > ?

>
> If all you are asking is "why this issue manifested itself" for you - that's
> a hard one (and actually somewhat abstract) to answer accurately given what
> we now know about you, your system, your installations, your habits, your
> event log entries, your windows update logs, you in general...
>
> I'm guessing, however, what you really want is a working solution.
>
> I realize this issue seems to becoming more common (or perhaps the same
> people end up reposting in some cases) - so let's go through what you see,
> what you have tried and if what you see is different after each thing you
> tried...
>
> In other words - "Dial-a-Fix" <- tried that one?
> Re-registering the DLLs and clearing software distribution and catroot2
> folders <- tried that one?
> Manually downloading the full executable for a given failed update, running
> it and recording the results <- tried that one?
>
> When did this problem occur/start?
> Did you perform a repair install and then this became a problem?
> Did you just try to get last month's updates and realized you couldn't?
> (This month's come out Tuesday.)
> What did you install/change between things working and things not working
> correctly - no matter how insignificant it seemed at the time...?
>
> When you say "automatically or otherwise" <- what does that entail?
> - http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ ?
> - Automatic updates - turned off/turned on (Automatically download/install
> and/or automatically download/notify?)
> - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/###### followed by sometimes choosing IT
> Professional and then downloading the executable and manually installing it?
>
> What is in your event log after an attempt?
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
>
>
 
Mervyn Sher wrote:
> I'm one of the unhappy lot that have recently found that no matter
> what we try the updates which we download (automatically or
> otherwise) are not installing onto the PC.
>
> I've read all the comments in the forum relevant to this issue, and
> although there seems to be some people out there that appear to
> have positive results in fixing the issue, I am still unable to do
> so.
>
> Therefore, could someone please explain to me ( preferably in
> simple terms ) why all of a sudden this issue has manifested itself
> ?


Shenan Stanley wrote:
> If all you are asking is "why this issue manifested itself" for you
> - that's a hard one (and actually somewhat abstract) to answer
> accurately given what we now know about you, your system, your
> installations, your habits, your event log entries, your windows
> update logs, you in general...
>
> I'm guessing, however, what you really want is a working solution.
>
> I realize this issue seems to becoming more common (or perhaps the
> same people end up reposting in some cases) - so let's go through
> what you see, what you have tried and if what you see is different
> after each thing you tried...
>
> In other words - "Dial-a-Fix" <- tried that one?
> Re-registering the DLLs and clearing software distribution and
> catroot2 folders <- tried that one?
> Manually downloading the full executable for a given failed update,
> running it and recording the results <- tried that one?
>
> When did this problem occur/start?
> Did you perform a repair install and then this became a problem?
> Did you just try to get last month's updates and realized you
> couldn't? (This month's come out Tuesday.)
> What did you install/change between things working and things not
> working correctly - no matter how insignificant it seemed at the
> time...?
>
> When you say "automatically or otherwise" <- what does that entail?
> - http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ ?
> - Automatic updates - turned off/turned on (Automatically
> download/install and/or automatically download/notify?)
> - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/###### followed by sometimes
> choosing IT Professional and then downloading the executable and
> manually installing it?
>
> What is in your event log after an attempt?


Mervyn Sher wrote:
> Good Day. Thank you for the time and courtesy of your reply.
> I must admit that I am totally confused at the contents of your
> first paragraph, particularly the part "what we now know
> about..........". However, as this is not meant to be a
> philosophical debate but rather an plaintive cry for help literally
> from the wilderness I shall continue in this vein. Starting from
> the beginning.....
>
> I run XP SP2 Professional. My PC was set to receive and install
> updates automatically at a set time each day, which until recently
> it did.
>
> About two weeks ago I started to receive a Sub Spooler System
> warning. At first this did not impact on anything, however about 5
> days ago I lost all my printers and despite several attempts to
> reinstall them I was unsuccessful. I then deceided to clean my
> system by formatting the hard drive and reinstalling XP.
>
> This is when the issues at hand manifested themselves. I was
> successful in formatting and installing XP. Everything set up
> correctly as before, etc. When I went to the Windows Update link
> and keyed Express, the system chose for itself the ActiveX
> downloaders etc, which I accepted and which initially loaded.
> Back to Windows Update, back to Express, which then chose about 80
> critical updates. I accepted them and the system downloaded them.
> Little icon on bottom right taskbar notified me of pending updates,
> clicked and system attempted to install said updates. Installation
> of these updates failed. This is what has been happening to me for
> the last 5 days.
>
> At this juncture I must point out that I am not very computer savvy,
> particularly where it relates to the operating system, and what may
> seem to you to be simple and logical computing task is to me way
> beyond my understanding. I can find my way around MS Office
> programs, and even manage to conquer Flight Simulator at times, but
> when it comes to the workings of Windows I admit I'm lost.
>
> What concerns me greatly is that this issue is manifesting itself
> into a new system (fresh format and install), not an existing one
> (or am I wrong?). Please, all I want to do is install my XP2
> Professional and get it up and running properly. I would have
> thought that this was as simple as inserting the CD and following
> the prompts.....
>
> If you would like to access my PC via the internet and see for
> yourself the "whats, wherefores and habits....." that you referred
> to earlier, then please email me on ____@______.___ and I am more
> than ameniable to accommodate this.
>
> Once again thank you for your time and courtesy of reply.
> Thanking you in anticipation.


You are welcome.

My comment at the beginning was meant as more of a point that you had
provided little to no information about your dillema beyond inferring you
were one of many having an issue with updates where they won't install. If
you review the Google Groups archives over the years of this particular
group - you will see that is not really narrowing things down a whole lot.
*grin* And the only real question you asked was "why this issue manifested
itself"... Well, I had to point out that not knowing the particulars of
your situation - I had no idea. I manage a few thousand machines in a few
dozen places and I have not had an issue such as the one I would have to
assume you are referring to. I install machines on a weekly basis and have
not seen it there either. And at least once a month I run into a repair
install situation - and have not had it occur there either. Remember - this
is a help newsgroup for Windows Updates - few people come here to tell the
world "everything's fine - hope you are all having a great day!"... In other
words, don't walk into an emergency room and start thinking everyone is
getting shot. ;-)

As for the rest - I see you have had some pretty decent sized troubles - and
despite your acknowledging you know little about the inner workings of
Windows XP - you took on the installation of the OS - which is not something
to scoff at. Good job. I am sorry you are having trouble getting the
updates you need.

In your story line - I did not see that you had *tried* any of the fixes
that had come about...
Two that come to mind:

Try one (or both) of these:
You may even want to do solution 1 and then do *just* 3-5 of solution 2...

Solution to try (1):

Get Dial-a-Fix:
http://wiki.djlizard.net/Dial-a-fix

Use its options to fix Windows Installer, fix Windows Update, and all the
Registration Center options.
Turn off the "Empty System32\Catroot 2"
Then click "GO"

Do NOT do "Flush SoftwareDistribution".

Reboot and try again with the updates...


Solution to try (2):

1) Reboot and logon as a user with Administrative Privs...
2) Immediately run the following batch script (You will have to create it by
cutting/pasting as directed.)

- Click Start, Run, type: notepad C:\register.bat and press Enter. Choose
Yes when you are prompted.
- Copy the following commands and then paste them into the opened Notepad
window:

regsvr32 comcat.dll /s
regsvr32 shdoc401.dll /s
regsvr32 shdoc401.dll /i /s
regsvr32 asctrls.ocx /s
regsvr32 oleaut32.dll /s
regsvr32 shdocvw.dll /I /s
regsvr32 shdocvw.dll /s
regsvr32 browseui.dll /s
regsvr32 browseui.dll /I /s
regsvr32 msrating.dll /s
regsvr32 mlang.dll /s
regsvr32 hlink.dll /s
regsvr32 mshtmled.dll /s
regsvr32 urlmon.dll /s
regsvr32 plugin.ocx /s
regsvr32 sendmail.dll /s
regsvr32 scrobj.dll /s
regsvr32 mmefxe.ocx /s
regsvr32 corpol.dll /s
regsvr32 jscript.dll /s
regsvr32 msxml.dll /s
regsvr32 imgutil.dll /s
regsvr32 thumbvw.dll /s
regsvr32 cryptext.dll /s
regsvr32 rsabase.dll /s
regsvr32 inseng.dll /s
regsvr32 iesetup.dll /i /s
regsvr32 cryptdlg.dll /s
regsvr32 actxprxy.dll /s
regsvr32 dispex.dll /s
regsvr32 occache.dll /s
regsvr32 occache.dll /i /s
regsvr32 iepeers.dll /s
regsvr32 urlmon.dll /i /s
regsvr32 cdfview.dll /s
regsvr32 webcheck.dll /s
regsvr32 mobsync.dll /s
regsvr32 pngfilt.dll /s
regsvr32 licmgr10.dll /s
regsvr32 icmfilter.dll /s
regsvr32 hhctrl.ocx /s
regsvr32 inetcfg.dll /s
regsvr32 tdc.ocx /s
regsvr32 MSR2C.DLL /s
regsvr32 msident.dll /s
regsvr32 msieftp.dll /s
regsvr32 xmsconf.ocx /s
regsvr32 ils.dll /s
regsvr32 msoeacct.dll /s
regsvr32 inetcomm.dll /s
regsvr32 msdxm.ocx /s
regsvr32 dxmasf.dll /s
regsvr32 l3codecx.ax /s
regsvr32 acelpdec.ax /s
regsvr32 mpg4ds32.ax /s
regsvr32 voxmsdec.ax /s
regsvr32 danim.dll /s
regsvr32 Daxctle.ocx /s
regsvr32 lmrt.dll /s
regsvr32 datime.dll /s
regsvr32 dxtrans.dll /s
regsvr32 dxtmsft.dll /s
regsvr32 WEBPOST.DLL /s
regsvr32 WPWIZDLL.DLL /s
regsvr32 POSTWPP.DLL /s
regsvr32 CRSWPP.DLL /s
regsvr32 FTPWPP.DLL /s
regsvr32 FPWPP.DLL /s
regsvr32 WUAPI.DLL /s
regsvr32 WUAUENG.DLL /s
regsvr32 ATL.DLL /s
regsvr32 WUCLTUI.DLL /s
regsvr32 WUPS.DLL /s
regsvr32 WUWEB.DLL /s
regsvr32 wshom.ocx /s
regsvr32 wshext.dll /s
regsvr32 vbscript.dll /s
regsvr32 scrrun.dll mstinit.exe /setup /s
regsvr32 msnsspc.dll /SspcCreateSspiReg /s
regsvr32 msapsspc.dll /SspcCreateSspiReg /s
regsvr32 /s urlmon.dll
regsvr32 /s mshtml.dll
regsvr32 /s shdocvw.dll
regsvr32 /s browseui.dll
regsvr32 /s jscript.dll
regsvr32 /s vbscript.dll
regsvr32 /s scrrun.dll
regsvr32 /s msxml.dll
regsvr32 /s actxprxy.dll
regsvr32 /s softpub.dll
regsvr32 /s wintrust.dll
regsvr32 /s dssenh.dll
regsvr32 /s rsaenh.dll
regsvr32 /s gpkcsp.dll
regsvr32 /s sccbase.dll
regsvr32 /s slbcsp.dll
regsvr32 /s cryptdlg.dll
regsvr32 /s schannel.dll
regsvr32 /s oleaut32.dll
regsvr32 /s ole32.dll
regsvr32 /s shell32.dll
regsvr32 /s initpki.dll
regsvr32 /s msscript.ocx
regsvr32 /s dispex.dll
regsvr32 jscript.dll /s
del %temp% /Q /F
net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptsvc
ren %windir%\system32\catroot2 catroot2.old
cd /d %windir%\SoftwareDistribution
rd /s DataStore /Q
regsvr32 wuapi.dll /s
regsvr32 wups.dll /s
regsvr32 wuaueng.dll /s
regsvr32 wucltui.dll /s
regsvr32 wuweb.dll /s
regsvr32 msxml.dll /s
regsvr32 msxml2.dll /s
regsvr32 msxml3.dll /s
regsvr32 urlmon.dll /s
net start cryptsvc
net start wuauserv
exit

- After you paste the above commands, please close the Notepad window.
Choose Yes when you are prompted to save the file.
- Click Start, Run, type:
C:\register.bat and press Enter to run the commands I have pasted.
The Process may take sometime.

3) 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 an additional reboot - immediately after logging in.)

4) Download/Install the 927891 patch.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=7A81B0CD-A0B9-497E-8A89-404327772E5A

5) Reboot.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
 
Just go to Get Dial-a-Fix:

http://wiki.djlizard.net/Dial-a-fix

Download the exe file and run. checl all the boxes and hit go. I just ran it
on 2 PCs with different configs and it worked great.



"Mervyn Sher" wrote:

> I'm one of the unhappy lot that have recently found that no matter what we
> try the updates which we download (automatically or otherwise) are not
> installing onto the PC.
> I've read all the comments in the forum relevant to this issue, and although
> there seems to be some people out there that appear to have positive results
> in fixing the issue, I am still unable to do so.
> Therefore, could someone please explain to me ( preferably in simple terms )
> why all of a sudden this issue has manifested itself ?
> Many thanks in anticipation.
 
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