I have a client with a strange problem. XP will download the updates,
but cannot install them. They always fail. If I do them manually, they
will install fine.

This machine was recently restarted from the ground up. I installed XP
Pro SP2, then updated to SP3 using a CD created with the ISO from
Microsoft.

As far as I can tell, this machine has never installed an update on it's
own. When I did the initial call, every update that was released from
the end of May had failed. The system is set to update automatically.

I got a call this morning from her stating that another update
(KB951376) had failed to install.

Any ideas out there?

Thanks,

- Tim -

Re: XP Pro SP3 Will Not Automatically Install Updates by Shenan

Shenan
Mon Jun 23 06:56:08 PDT 2008

Tim wrote:
> I have a client with a strange problem. XP will download the
> updates, but cannot install them. They always fail. If I do them
> manually, they will install fine.
>
> This machine was recently restarted from the ground up. I installed
> XP Pro SP2, then updated to SP3 using a CD created with the ISO from
> Microsoft.
>
> As far as I can tell, this machine has never installed an update on
> it's own. When I did the initial call, every update that was
> released from the end of May had failed. The system is set to
> update automatically.
>
> I got a call this morning from her stating that another update
> (KB951376) had failed to install.
>
> Any ideas out there?


http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
Try method 1 and try to update*.
If fails - try method 2 and try to update*.

*try to update:
- Visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
- If it asks you to install anything before you see a selection of "Custom"
or "Express" - do so.
- Once you see the "Custom" or "Express" selection, choose "Custom".
- Scan for updates.
- When it lists what it finds - install the critical ones.
- You are generally safe doing the Optional Software Updates. I suggest
avoiding the Optional Hardware Updates completely.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html



Re: XP Pro SP3 Will Not Automatically Install Updates by Tim

Tim
Mon Jun 23 07:15:02 PDT 2008

In article <OcrckjT1IHA.5472@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl>, newshelper@gmail.com
says...
> Tim wrote:
> > I have a client with a strange problem. XP will download the
> > updates, but cannot install them. They always fail. If I do them
> > manually, they will install fine.
> >
> > This machine was recently restarted from the ground up. I installed
> > XP Pro SP2, then updated to SP3 using a CD created with the ISO from
> > Microsoft.
> >
> > As far as I can tell, this machine has never installed an update on
> > it's own. When I did the initial call, every update that was
> > released from the end of May had failed. The system is set to
> > update automatically.
> >
> > I got a call this morning from her stating that another update
> > (KB951376) had failed to install.
> >
> > Any ideas out there?
>
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
> Try method 1 and try to update*.
> If fails - try method 2 and try to update*.
>
> *try to update:
> - Visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
> - If it asks you to install anything before you see a selection of "Custom"
> or "Express" - do so.
> - Once you see the "Custom" or "Express" selection, choose "Custom".
> - Scan for updates.
> - When it lists what it finds - install the critical ones.
> - You are generally safe doing the Optional Software Updates. I suggest
> avoiding the Optional Hardware Updates completely.
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
>
OK Thanks. I will go out and try this immediately. I searched MS support
site, but never came across this article. It's all in what you put into
the search critia I guess.

- Tim -

Re: XP Pro SP3 Will Not Automatically Install Updates by Tim

Tim
Mon Jun 23 18:36:27 PDT 2008

In article <OcrckjT1IHA.5472@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl>, newshelper@gmail.com
says...
> Tim wrote:
> > I have a client with a strange problem. XP will download the
> > updates, but cannot install them. They always fail. If I do them
> > manually, they will install fine.
> >
> > This machine was recently restarted from the ground up. I installed
> > XP Pro SP2, then updated to SP3 using a CD created with the ISO from
> > Microsoft.
> >
> > As far as I can tell, this machine has never installed an update on
> > it's own. When I did the initial call, every update that was
> > released from the end of May had failed. The system is set to
> > update automatically.
> >
> > I got a call this morning from her stating that another update
> > (KB951376) had failed to install.
> >
> > Any ideas out there?
>
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
> Try method 1 and try to update*.
> If fails - try method 2 and try to update*.
>
> *try to update:
> - Visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
> - If it asks you to install anything before you see a selection of "Custom"
> or "Express" - do so.
> - Once you see the "Custom" or "Express" selection, choose "Custom".
> - Scan for updates.
> - When it lists what it finds - install the critical ones.
> - You are generally safe doing the Optional Software Updates. I suggest
> avoiding the Optional Hardware Updates completely.
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
>

I did the first method and it did solve the update problem. The computer
did 3 updates by itself while I was onsite. Hopefully this system will
continue to update automatically now.

Thanks for the info, it is greatly appreciated.

- Tim -