WinXP and Restore question?

  • Thread starter Thread starter ICU
  • Start date Start date
I

ICU

Another question has arisen in my quest for a solution to the removal of a
downloaded but "not" installed WinXP update file.
One of the suggested solutions to a previous question was to use a restore
point that was earlier than the update download.
My question is(long winded aren't I (G)) what happens to any other software
that might have been installed and stills remains on the harddrive after
the rescue point I wish to use, will it cause problems for that particular
software or worse still cause me other computer problems with the operating
system?
Inquiring minds want to know.

ICU
 
Hi,

Open My Computer and on the Tools menu click Folder Options.

On the View tab, make these changes.

Enable (check) "Display the contents of system folders"
Enable (check) "Show hidden files and folders"
Disable (uncheck) "Hide protected operating system files (recommended)"
Disable (uncheck) "hide extensions for known file types".

Click OK.

Look for the uninstalled updates in the following folder

C:\Program Files\WindowsUpdate

What happens is, System Restore only removes the monitored files for the
installed applications and the remaining files are left behind. Any
registry entries made by the installation of the application will also
be gone. This will cause the application not to function. And in some
cases, cause the uninstall and reinstall process of the partially
removed application to fail. This is why it is recommended to uninstall
any applications installed after the restore point you will be restoring
to.
 
Hi,

Open My Computer and on the Tools menu click Folder Options.

On the View tab, make these changes.

Enable (check) "Display the contents of system folders"
Enable (check) "Show hidden files and folders"
Disable (uncheck) "Hide protected operating system files (recommended)"
Disable (uncheck) "hide extensions for known file types".

Click OK.

Look for the uninstalled updates in the following folder

C:\Program Files\WindowsUpdate

What happens is, System Restore only removes the monitored files for the
installed applications and the remaining files are left behind. Any
registry entries made by the installation of the application will also
be gone. This will cause the application not to function. And in some
cases, cause the uninstall and reinstall process of the partially
removed application to fail. This is why it is recommended to uninstall
any applications installed after the restore point you will be restoring
to.
Click to expand...

Thanks Bert, that's the info I needed to know.
Much appreciated.

ICU
 
Take a look in Control Panel - add/remove programs. Make sure 'Show updates'
is checked. If the update appears, remove it. Then run System Restore and
restore the system to just before the update was installed.
 
Take a look in Control Panel - add/remove programs. Make sure 'Show
updates' is checked. If the update appears, remove it. Then run System
Restore and restore the system to just before the update was
installed.
Click to expand...

That's the first place I looked and no it's not listed there.
It's the MS Update site that tells me it's been download, it says 0
bytes available and it is available/waiting to be installed.
This happened more than a month ago(about May 27) when I think MS
changed the Windows XP update page, it now doesn't give any non critical
updates etc., just the message about the "Genuine Advantage Validation
Tool" being ready to install, I think there might have been another
update to that tool since, but nothing else shows up when I check the MS
WinXP Update page which I prefer to do manual and custom mode.Hope to
hell that I don't have to install this just to get any future updates.

ICU
 
See if any of these articles apply.

Search The Knowledge Base
http://support.microsoft.com/search/default.aspx?catalog=LCID=1033& 10
&query=Genuine+Advantage+Validation&pwt=false&title=f
alse&kt=ALL&mdt=0&res=20&ast=1&ast=2&ast=3&ast=4&mode=a&adv=1
Click to expand...

Nope , doesn't apply to my situation.
I had downloaded the update by mistake, I stopped it from installing.
Every time I go to the MS WinXP update page it tells me the file has
been downloaded and is ready to be installed.
If it's waiting to be installed I assume it is one my harddrive, so I
want to remove it from the harddrive, but can't find where it is located
, doesn't seem to be in the windows/update folder.

Thanks for your suggestions, much appreciated.'

ICU
 
It's my understanding that you will not be able to access the Windows Update
site unless you install the WGA Validation Tool, although updates should
still be available via Automatic Update.

There's a possibility it's hiding in the TIF. Right click on the IE icon on
the desktop and select properties and click on Delete Files under "Temporary
Internet Files" and again with a check mark on "Delete all offline
contents".

Do a search for kb914548.cat and let me know if you find it.
 
It's my understanding that you will not be able to access the Windows
Update site unless you install the WGA Validation Tool, although
updates should still be available via Automatic Update.

There's a possibility it's hiding in the TIF. Right click on the IE
icon on the desktop and select properties and click on Delete Files
under "Temporary Internet Files" and again with a check mark on
"Delete all offline contents".

Do a search for kb914548.cat and let me know if you find it.
Click to expand...

That is the picture I am getting from all I read about this WGA thing.
I don't like automatic updates with any software and refuse it every chance
I get, it's one of the reasons I'm going to change my antivirus protection,
the compnay I have been with for many years is making manual updates so
difficult and forcing automatic updates down your throat wether you are
capable of making the decision to update or not.
I have made it a practice to keep Temp Internet files cleaned out as well
as the offline stuff, so nothing is in there , I've done that many times
since I made the error of starting and canceling the WGA download and
install.
No sign of kb914548 cat.on my harddrive either.
I guess I'm going to have to wait till the 11th of this month to see what
happens with any updates from MS, it's totally wrong what they are doing,
if they wanted to impliment this type of piracy protection they should do
it when a new version of Windows comes out, not change in midstream so to
speak.
The whole thing is I just don't trust them and I don't want them poking
around on my personal computer checking what's on there, if they don't
trust me I don't trust them, it's as simple as that.

Thanks for the reply, much appreciated.

ICU
..
 
That is the picture I am getting from all I read about this WGA thing.
I don't like automatic updates with any software and refuse it every
chance
I get, it's one of the reasons I'm going to change my antivirus
protection,
the compnay I have been with for many years is making manual updates so
difficult and forcing automatic updates down your throat wether you are
capable of making the decision to update or not.
I have made it a practice to keep Temp Internet files cleaned out as well
as the offline stuff, so nothing is in there , I've done that many times
since I made the error of starting and canceling the WGA download and
install.
No sign of kb914548 cat.on my harddrive either.
I guess I'm going to have to wait till the 11th of this month to see what
happens with any updates from MS, it's totally wrong what they are doing,
if they wanted to impliment this type of piracy protection they should do
it when a new version of Windows comes out, not change in midstream so to
speak.
The whole thing is I just don't trust them and I don't want them poking
around on my personal computer checking what's on there, if they don't
trust me I don't trust them, it's as simple as that.

Thanks for the reply, much appreciated.
Click to expand...

The kb914548 was the wrong update. My mistake.

On further research, I have found that WGA Validation Tool is kb892130 can't
be uninstalled via add/remove programs. Do you see this in Add/remove
programs? I found that files downloaded via Windows Update, and not
installed are only held for a few days, then are deleted. So if you don't
see kb892130 in add/remove programs you should be safe.
 
I don't know where the information is that files downloaded are only saved
for a period of a couple days, I have had files waiting to be installed
sitting in the download folder for weeks.

All files INITIALLY are downloaded to
C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Downloads.

Sometimes there is a .bin file, GUID named file, or a long filename. They
are always at the root Download folder.

When the install part starts, these files are expanded into sub-folders,
created with a unique name. In this sub-folder are subsequent folders/files
incorporating the package.

Sometimes, the initial file is not created, but the subsequent sub-folder
is. The download is placed there.

If the entire download has been downloaded, you can go into these folders
and run the update.exe file. This will install the patch/update. However,
it will not remove the folder or sub-folder, unless information to placed in
the registry for the folder(s) to be removed on next boot.

The safest bet is to execute the update.exe from outside the
C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder, so that files/folders can be
removed. This does not always occur though.

You can look at the contents of the folder if there is an update.inf file or
any other file containing installation information. Normally, moving the
mouse over some files, causes the information to be "Balloon ToolTip'd" to
the user.
 
Thanks for the info, much appreciated.

ICU

I don't know where the information is that files downloaded are only
saved for a period of a couple days, I have had files waiting to be
installed sitting in the download folder for weeks.

All files INITIALLY are downloaded to
C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Downloads.

Sometimes there is a .bin file, GUID named file, or a long filename.
They are always at the root Download folder.

When the install part starts, these files are expanded into
sub-folders, created with a unique name. In this sub-folder are
subsequent folders/files incorporating the package.

Sometimes, the initial file is not created, but the subsequent
sub-folder is. The download is placed there.

If the entire download has been downloaded, you can go into these
folders and run the update.exe file. This will install the
patch/update. However, it will not remove the folder or sub-folder,
unless information to placed in the registry for the folder(s) to be
removed on next boot.

The safest bet is to execute the update.exe from outside the
C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder, so that files/folders can be
removed. This does not always occur though.

You can look at the contents of the folder if there is an update.inf
file or any other file containing installation information. Normally,
moving the mouse over some files, causes the information to be
"Balloon ToolTip'd" to the user.
Click to expand...
 
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