Program Update Problems

Hi. I've been successfully updating my x64 installation for over a year, but
now I have a problem. I'm pretty sure it started when I was running Visual
C# Express and clicked the Help|Updates menu. I got the "install activeX
question that pops up from time-to-time so I didn't think much about it and
proceeded.

Anyway, after I did the scan I got an error that the scan couldn't be
completed. That's when I noticed the 2004 copyright on the update program.

So, my question is how do I get the latest "updater"? I've been hesitating
doing a system restore since I've made some installs since (I didn't realize
the main windows update wasn't going to work -- I thought this only effected
the C# Express update.)

Jerry
Thu Aug 09 10:16:00 CDT 2007

Wow, I thought I would get some type of response by now. I guess this isn't
a common problems.

I checked the properties of my x64 windows update link and it is:

C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\rundl32.exe C:\WINDDOWS\SysWOW64\muweb.dll\LaunchMUSite

Can someone with a x64 system confirm that this is correct?

Thanks

Jerry
Thu Aug 09 16:22:16 CDT 2007

I created a new restore point and then went back a couple months and did a
restore. Still get the same 2004 windows update version and the scan for
updates returns an error (with no error code.)

Doesn't anyone know how to reset or update the update software?

I remember a few months back the was an update to the update software. If I
formatted and re-installed winXP x64 and did a windows update, I'm pretty
sure the newest update software would be installed. Sure wish I knew how to
avoid doing it that way.

Theo
Fri Aug 10 04:46:57 CDT 2007

You can do a Repair Install without formatting you hard
drive. Boot from the installation disc. Do not select the
1st Repair option. Go thru the setup, past pressing F8 to
accept the EULA, and select Repair the current installation
when your drives are shown.

This will put you back to the original state, but keeps you
installed program and driver information. You will need a
floppy with the appropriate drive for some SATA controllers
and RAID configuration. You press F6 early in the boot to
supply drivers needed from a floppy disc.


Jerry wrote:
> I created a new restore point and then went back a couple months and did a
> restore. Still get the same 2004 windows update version and the scan for
> updates returns an error (with no error code.)
>
> Doesn't anyone know how to reset or update the update software?
>
> I remember a few months back the was an update to the update software. If I
> formatted and re-installed winXP x64 and did a windows update, I'm pretty
> sure the newest update software would be installed. Sure wish I knew how to
> avoid doing it that way.

R
Fri Aug 10 09:17:33 CDT 2007

Hi, Jerry.

As Theo said, a "repair install", also known as an "in-place upgrade" is
probably the way to go at this point. I'd just like to add about 3 comments
to what he said.

1. The official instructions are in this KB article:
How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;q315341

Many users prefer MVP Michael Stevens' version:
How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

2. This is not a quickie operation. It will take about as long as a new
installation - and you will need to find, download and install all the
service packs and hotfixes that were issued after the version on the CD-ROM
that you use for the repair install.

3. Your new installation will be unsecure until you re-install your
antivirus and other protections following the repair install.

But, often, this lengthy procedure is the only good way to cure what ails a
sick Windows. I did the repair install several times with 32-bit WinXP, but
I don't recall having done it with WinXP x64. The main reason to do this
rather than a complete format and clean install is to preserve your
already-installed applications and drivers. If you have the installation
media and updates for all your applications and drivers, the clean install
may turn out to be the better way to go, after all.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
rc@grandecom.net
Microsoft Windows MVP
(Running Windows Live Mail beta in Vista Ultimate x64)


"Jerry" <Jerry@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:1236A225-B68B-4D47-B3E5-D3B22E0E9FE5@microsoft.com...
>I created a new restore point and then went back a couple months and did a
> restore. Still get the same 2004 windows update version and the scan for
> updates returns an error (with no error code.)
>
> Doesn't anyone know how to reset or update the update software?
>
> I remember a few months back the was an update to the update software. If
> I
> formatted and re-installed winXP x64 and did a windows update, I'm pretty
> sure the newest update software would be installed. Sure wish I knew how
> to
> avoid doing it that way.

Jerry
Fri Aug 10 10:12:08 CDT 2007

Theo and R. C.

Thanks for the replies. I do have everything backed up or on CD's so I'm
thinking of doing the fresh install. My windows installation is 1.5 years
old so I would probably benefit from that. Plus there's probably a few
programs I wouldn't reinstall and then there's the debris left in the
registry.

I think I'll do a couple experiments first though. I am going to try and
delete a file at a time that I think is involved in the win update process
and maybe that will kick off a new update software download.

Also, I wonder how many other MS programs have that internal search for
updates via the help menu? A lot of users would probably do what I did (if
that's what really caused my problem, and I strongly suspect it was.)

Tony
Fri Aug 10 18:43:40 CDT 2007

If anyone know the actual filename that drives the updating, you could try
and remove/rename it and create a situation were Windows determines that it
is damaged and re-installs everything it needs???


Tony. . .


"Jerry" <Jerry@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:BFF2BD9B-DB4B-4406-8745-909A14E98DFF@microsoft.com...
> Theo and R. C.
>
> Thanks for the replies. I do have everything backed up or on CD's so I'm
> thinking of doing the fresh install. My windows installation is 1.5 years
> old so I would probably benefit from that. Plus there's probably a few
> programs I wouldn't reinstall and then there's the debris left in the
> registry.
>
> I think I'll do a couple experiments first though. I am going to try and
> delete a file at a time that I think is involved in the win update process
> and maybe that will kick off a new update software download.
>
> Also, I wonder how many other MS programs have that internal search for
> updates via the help menu? A lot of users would probably do what I did
(if
> that's what really caused my problem, and I strongly suspect it was.)