Windows could not upgrade the file %1 from %2 %1:%2

I go to the windows update page, I download critical
updages. When I restart the computer, I get error Windows
could not upgrade the file %1 from %2 %1:%2. Windows could
not upgrade one or more system files before starting.
Windows may not start or run properly. I am able to
reboot, but when I go back to windows update site, it says
I still need the critical updates. I try again and again,
but am never able to get them... I am able to update my
antivirus software and other programs, just not Me
critical updates. I found the Microsoft web page that says
the solution is to find the Wininit.ini and rename to
Wininit.old and restart.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-
us;283069
I do not have Wininit.ini. I have told my computer to show
hidden files, Wininit.ini is still not found.

Mike
Tue Jul 22 08:18:29 CDT 2003

Since you have no wininit.ini file the error message is being generated for
different reasons, most likely because the _RESTORE\TEMP folder is full
possibly as a result of having Norton's LiveUpdate installed on your system.

Boot into Win Me, then check the size of the _RESTORE\TEMP folder using
Explorer. To see the contents of this folder you will have to enable the
viewing of hidden system files and folders as follows: In Explorer click
Tools | Folder Options | View and check "Show hidden files and folders" and
UNcheck "Hide protected operating system files". How big is the _RESTORE\TEMP
folder and how many files does it contain?

If the _RESTORE\TEMP folder has >32K files and perhaps 64K then that is the
problem. The easiest way to deal with this is to follow this script noting
however that it will remove any system restore checkpoints you might have.

a) Use MSConfig, go to the Startup tab and uncheck the entry *StateMgr
b) Reboot your PC
c) Open Explorer and delete the entire C:\_RESTORE folder
d) Open MSConfig, go to the Startup tab and CHECK the *StateMgr entry
e) Reboot your PC
f) Check that an automatic system restore checkpoint was created. If not
please post back.
g) Finally adjust the space allocated to the restore folder,
System | Performance | File System | Hard Disk and adjust the restore slider
to your preferred setting. A figure of 200MB is normally more than adequate
for day to day use allowing perhaps a week of checkpoints to be available
although increasing this to perhaps 400MB for a few days during periods of
large installs such Microsoft Office is advisable.

Please let us know how you get on.
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP
mcmaltby@hotmail.com


Cathy Barnes <bbarnes@cswnet.com> wrote:

> I go to the windows update page, I download critical
> updages. When I restart the computer, I get error Windows
> could not upgrade the file %1 from %2 %1:%2. Windows could
> not upgrade one or more system files before starting.
> Windows may not start or run properly. I am able to
> reboot, but when I go back to windows update site, it says
> I still need the critical updates. I try again and again,
> but am never able to get them... I am able to update my
> antivirus software and other programs, just not Me
> critical updates. I found the Microsoft web page that says
> the solution is to find the Wininit.ini and rename to
> Wininit.old and restart.
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-
> us;283069
> I do not have Wininit.ini. I have told my computer to show
> hidden files, Wininit.ini is still not found.

Mike
Tue Jul 22 17:38:23 CDT 2003

Cathy,

My apologies for my earlier post. Disabling the *StateMgr entry in MSConfig
whilst stopping both system and restore and system file protection is not
enough to allow you to delete the _RESTORE folder with Win Me running which
instead requires a small edit in the registry.

So instead may I suggest the following:

If the _RESTORE\TEMP folder has >32K files and perhaps 64K then that is the
problem. The way to deal with this is to follow this script noting however
that it will remove any system restore checkpoints you might have and requires
you to boot to DOS using a floppy.

a) Boot to DOS using a floppy
b) At the DOS prompt, type:

A:\> SMARTDRV
A:\> deltree C:\_RESTORE

Note that this will take some considerable time
c) Remove the floppy
d) Reboot your PC
e) Check that an automatic system restore checkpoint was created. If not
please post back.
f) Finally adjust the space allocated to the restore folder:
System | Performance | File System | Hard Disk and adjust the restore slider
to your preferred setting. A figure of 200MB is normally more than adequate
for day to day use allowing perhaps a week of checkpoints to be available
although increasing this to perhaps 400MB for a few days during periods of
large installs such Microsoft Office is advisable.

Please let us know how you get on.
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP
mcmaltby@hotmail.com


Cathy Barnes <bbarnes@cswnet.com> wrote:

> I go to the windows update page, I download critical
> updages. When I restart the computer, I get error Windows
> could not upgrade the file %1 from %2 %1:%2. Windows could
> not upgrade one or more system files before starting.
> Windows may not start or run properly. I am able to
> reboot, but when I go back to windows update site, it says
> I still need the critical updates. I try again and again,
> but am never able to get them... I am able to update my
> antivirus software and other programs, just not Me
> critical updates. I found the Microsoft web page that says
> the solution is to find the Wininit.ini and rename to
> Wininit.old and restart.
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-
> us;283069
> I do not have Wininit.ini. I have told my computer to show
> hidden files, Wininit.ini is still not found.

Mike
Thu Jul 24 15:09:14 CDT 2003

Cathy Barnes <bbarnes@cswnet.com> wrote:

> The RESTORE\TEMP folder was empty...

Now that's unusual since it normally contains a few A*.cpy files but if it's
empty then that isn't what is causing your "Could not upgrade the file %1 from
%2" error message on booting and since you've already checked for a
wininit.ini file I have nothing further to suggest as a full _RESTORE\TEMP
folder and KB283069 are the only reasons I'm aware of for this error message.

> Why am I able to update other programs, but can not get
> windows updates? If the folder was full, wouldn't it stop
> all updates for all programs?

This rather depends on whether those updates use the wininit mechanism for
replacing or updating files that are normally in use when Win Me is running.
--
Mike Maltby
mcmaltby@hotmail.com