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Jun 19, 2008

Learn how to fix Windows updates which fail to install

by windshell / General

H-Desk.com Forum Index > Articles archive > General

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Windows updates you’ve just downloaded, failed to install. You’ve tried various solutions again and again, but reformatting the computer and reinstalling Windows XP seems to be the only solution. But before performing the last step, try this first.

These steps below should help you solve this annoying problem when the Windows XP updates will download but won't install.

First, make sure Windows installer 3.1 is installed correctly. If not, download it from Microsoft Download Center
Reboot the computer and try to download Windows Updates, if they still fail to install, continue with the next step.


Stop the Automatic Update Service

  1. Click on Start, then Run
  2. Type services.msc and press Enter
  3. Right-click on the Automatic Updates option in the Name column and click Stop
  4. Close the Services window


Show Hidden Files and Folders

  1. Open My Computer
  2. Click on Tools, Folder Options
  3. Click on the View tab
  4. Under the Hidden Files and Folders section, select "Show Hidden Files and Folders"
  5. Click Ok

Delete the Previously Downloaded Windows Updates

  1. Open My Computer
  2. Double-click on Drive C (or whatever drive Windows is installed on)
  3. Double-click on the Windows folder
  4. Double-click on the SoftwareDistribution folder
  5. Double-click on the Download folder
  6. Click on Edit on the menu bar
  7. Click on Select All
  8. Click on File on the menu bar
  9. Click on Delete and delete everything in the Download folder
  10. Return to the SoftwareDistribution folder by clicking on the green up arrow on the toolbar
  11. Double-click on the EventCache folder
  12. Click on Edit on the menu bar
  13. Click on Select All
  14. Click on File on the menu bar
  15. Click on Delete and delete everything in the EventCache folder


Restart the Automatic Updates Service

  1. Click on Start, then Run
  2. Type services.msc and press Enter
  3. Double-click on the Automatic Updates option in the Name column
  4. Click on the Start button under Service Status to restart the service
  5. Select Automatic under Startup Type to start the service each time Windows starts
  6. Click Ok
  7. Close the Services window

Download the Latest Version of Windows Update Agent

Click on the following link to download the latest version of the Windows Update Agent and save it to your desktop.

http://download.windowsupdate.com/v7/windowsupdate/redist/standalone/WindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe

If you receive a message stating the Update Agent is already installed follow these extra steps:

  1. Click Start, then Run
  2. Click the Browse button
  3. Navigate to where you saved WindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe on your desktop and click it one time
  4. Click on the Open button
  5. On the Open line, go to the end of the command. After the last quotation mark type the following: /wuforce
  6. The line should look something like the following now: "C:Documents and SettingsusernameDesktopWindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe" /wuforce
  7. Click Ok and install the Update Agent


Also, you should download the KB927891 Update for Windows XP

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=7A81B0CD-A0B9-497E-8A89-404327772E5A&displaylang=en


After performing all these steps, restart your computer and try downloading and installing any Windows XP Updates again.


* Note:

A new problem has appeared after a repair install of Windows XP has been performed, since Microsoft has changed their Windows Update files. The "new" Windows Update features a file called wups2.dl that was not present in the Windows XP found on the CD used to perform the repair install. This file remains on the hard drive but the registry entries for it are missing after a repair install. This causes the Windows updates to download but fail to install properly.

If you experience this problem, follow these steps:

Stop the Windows Automatic Updates Service via the command prompt

  • Click on Start, then Run
  • Type CMD and click Ok
  • At the command prompt, type net stop wuauserv then press Enter


Re-Register the WUPS2.DLL file

  • Still at the command prompt, type regsvr32   %windir%system32wups2.dll and press Enter
  • Restart the Automatic Updates Service
  • At the command prompt, type net start wuauserv and then exit, pressing Enter after each.

Restart your computer, and run Windows Update again. This time the updates should download and install properly.

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