Windows Update doesn't work

  • Thread starter Thread starter Terry Pinnell
  • Start date Start date
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Terry Pinnell

My wife has an XP Home PC. Last night, scared by the news about a
Microsoft security exposure, for the first time since she bought the
machine 18 months ago she decided to try to use Windows Update. I
expected trouble, and I got it. We first got a message to update
Window Update itself, by clicking 'Update Now'.

But that kept us in a loop between "WindowsUpdate is downloading &
installing the new software" followed by "We've made improvements to
our web site. To download the new version of the software and begin
using Windows Update, please click Update Now"

I had another try this morning, in case it was a congestion problem.
But I had same loop. But this time it downloaded about 1 MB then
stopped with the worrying message "Files that are required for Windows
to run properly have been replaced by unrecognized versions. To
maintain system stability Windows musr restore the original versions
of these files. Insert your Windows XP Home PC now."

Well, initially I went along with that, but bottled out when it became
clear I was about to reinstall Windows. Not something I want to
attempt without explicit approval from the owner!

But what on earth is happening here please? I've since rebooted and
all usual apps seem OK. So XP is running OK, despite that ominous
message. But I'd still like to get the OS up to date, and free of
major risks. How can I break this logjam please, and install just the
really necessary stuff? Do we *have* to go through that re-install
hassle, entering codes, etc? How about that 'repair tool I recall,
Run>SFC?
 
Use the following procedure to correct Windows XP system files.
Then revisit the Windows Update website and install SP1 first,
followed by the other "Critical Updates". You should disable
your antivirus program while visiting this website to avoid
potential update installation issues.

Go to Start > Run and type: CMD , and hit enter. In the resulting
Command Prompt window, type: SFC /SCANNOW , and hit enter.
You may be prompted to insert your Windows CD in the CD Drive.

SFC = System File Checker. SFC will scan your system and replace
missing or damaged XP system files with the correct version.

Afterward, perform the following in this order:

Description of the Disk Cleanup Tool in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310312&Product=winxp

How to Perform Disk Error Checking in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315265&Product=winxp

HOW TO: Analyze and Defragment a Disk in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;305781&Product=winxp

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| My wife has an XP Home PC. Last night, scared by the news about a
| Microsoft security exposure, for the first time since she bought the
| machine 18 months ago she decided to try to use Windows Update. I
| expected trouble, and I got it. We first got a message to update
| Window Update itself, by clicking 'Update Now'.
|
| But that kept us in a loop between "WindowsUpdate is downloading &
| installing the new software" followed by "We've made improvements to
| our web site. To download the new version of the software and begin
| using Windows Update, please click Update Now"
|
| I had another try this morning, in case it was a congestion problem.
| But I had same loop. But this time it downloaded about 1 MB then
| stopped with the worrying message "Files that are required for Windows
| to run properly have been replaced by unrecognized versions. To
| maintain system stability Windows musr restore the original versions
| of these files. Insert your Windows XP Home PC now."
|
| Well, initially I went along with that, but bottled out when it became
| clear I was about to reinstall Windows. Not something I want to
| attempt without explicit approval from the owner!
|
| But what on earth is happening here please? I've since rebooted and
| all usual apps seem OK. So XP is running OK, despite that ominous
| message. But I'd still like to get the OS up to date, and free of
| major risks. How can I break this logjam please, and install just the
| really necessary stuff? Do we *have* to go through that re-install
| hassle, entering codes, etc? How about that 'repair tool I recall,
| Run>SFC?
|
| --
| Terry, West Sussex, UK
|
 
Carey Frisch said:
Use the following procedure to correct Windows XP system files.
Then revisit the Windows Update website and install SP1 first,
followed by the other "Critical Updates". You should disable
your antivirus program while visiting this website to avoid
potential update installation issues.

Go to Start > Run and type: CMD , and hit enter. In the resulting
Command Prompt window, type: SFC /SCANNOW , and hit enter.
You may be prompted to insert your Windows CD in the CD Drive.

SFC = System File Checker. SFC will scan your system and replace
missing or damaged XP system files with the correct version.

Afterward, perform the following in this order:

Description of the Disk Cleanup Tool in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310312&Product=winxp

How to Perform Disk Error Checking in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315265&Product=winxp

HOW TO: Analyze and Defragment a Disk in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;305781&Product=winxp

Many thanks, Carey, that's the sort of clear and comprehensive answer
I was hoping for ;-)

Actually, I did the first step last night. I remembered SFC from my
own early months with my own XP Home PC. It initiated what appeared to
be a complete re-install, but it all progressed OK to an apparently
successful finish.(There were just two surprises. I wonder why it
should need the 25-character product code again? And then it couldn't
find some obscure file. After a moment of paralysis, happily I managed
to browse to \System32\Drivers and found it there.)

So tomorrow we'll retry the Windows Update - and, if successful,
reconcile ourselves to a long session!
 
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