MS Update failure

[cpw]

Good morning everybody,

 

Has anyone else had trouble installing the KB898461 patch in the latest batch of MS critical updates? Each time I try to install the update, the progress bar hits about 98% before the Installation failed! box comes up. The Update History shows it as cancelled rather than failed though. I've not had any problems installing any other MS updates.

 

2002 i-Media P4 PC, 20Gb free HDD space, 750Mb RAM.

XP Home+SP3, Zone Alarm v8.0.298.000, AVG Free v8.5.425

 

Thanks for any help.

 

Regards,

Colin.

[RandyL]

Hi cpw.

 

You cannot install software update 898461 in Windows XP from Microsoft suggests renaming the Spupdsvc.exe file.

[cpw]

Hi Randy,

 

Thanks very much for pointing me in the right direction. I've renamed the file as suggested and will now try it again. I'll come back and let you know what happens.

 

Colin.

[cpw]

Not quite.

 

Hi cpw.

 

You cannot install software update 898461 in Windows XP from Microsoft suggests renaming the Spupdsvc.exe file.

 

Hi Randy,

Hmmm. Oh that things were that simple... :rolleyes:

 

Followed your direction and renamed the file as suggested in the MS article above then tried again to install the patch. No change, exactly the same thing happened as before. It may be pure coincidence, but just after doing this my Outlook 2000 announced an error and shut itself down. Oh well... Lol :)

[RandyL]

Try shutting down your firewall and antivirus. And Windows Defender.

[cpw]

Another refusal

 

Try shutting down your firewall and antivirus. And Windows Defender.

 

Hi everybody,

 

Sorry RandyL, that didn't work either. FreeAVG Antivirus doesn't include any facility for turning it off so I had to uninstall it altogether, then I turned of the ZoneAlarm firewall. I don't have Windows Defender installed anyway. The KB898461 patch still refuses to install itself. Usual thing, as described in the MS fix (that doesn't work, at least not in this case) and my original post. I really don't know what to try next. :confused2:

 

Regards,

Col.

[RandyL]

cpw this is a really old update that was released on June 28, 2005.

Software update 898461 installs a permanent copy of the Package Installer for Windows version 6.1.22.4

 

Also it is for XP SP1 and SP2. Does this mean that you never installed SP3 yet?

 

Try downloading it from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=50C334E1-9A67-4B99-A65A-069B79267856&displaylang=en

[cpw]

Very odd

 

cpw this is a really old update that was released on June 28, 2005.

Software update 898461 installs a permanent copy of the Package Installer for Windows version 6.1.22.4

 

Also it is for XP SP1 and SP2. Does this mean that you never installed SP3 yet?

 

Try downloading it from Download details: Update for Windows XP (KB898461)

 

Hi Randy,

 

Yes I do have SP3 installed, as stated in my original post. However, your comments about the age of the patch got me rummaging around in my update history to check if I'd already got 898461. I have. This raises the two questions of why was a 4 year old update that I'd already installed once included in the latest batch of updates and how do I stop my PC trying to install it again?

 

Col

[RandyL]

Have you tried downloading it and save it from the link I provided above?

 

I'd be interested to see the results of that.

 

Then try installing it from the saved file.

[cpw]

Brought it in from the MS download site as requested, then ran it. The Install Wizard got so far then came up with this:

[cpw]

Lets try that again

 

Sorry Randy, I tried to insert a screenshot but it didn't work.

 

Downloaded the patch using your link to the MS download site and ran it. The installation wizard got so far before come up with this error dialog box:

 

“Setup cannot copy the file updspapi.dll.ref. Ensure the location specified below is correct, or change it and insert ‘Windows XP System Files’ in the drive you specify.

Copy files from: C:\windows\system32\preinstall\winse\wxp_x86_0409_v1.”

[danzil]

hi

have you tried botting into safe mode,,, tapping f8 at startup...then choose top option "safe mode" then log in as administrator.

browse to c:\windows locate the folder called "softwaredistribution" right click it then click on rename....add .old to the end of the name.

should appear as softwaredistribution.old.

restart and log on as normal...see if this removes the need for installing the update.

 

may not work but surely is worth a try, this will not effect any other updates previous or in the future.

regards

danzil

[RandyL]

danzil is right. Often times that will fix the problem. Give it a try. It won't hurt.

 

Thanks danzil.

[cpw]

hi

have you tried botting into safe mode,,, tapping f8 at startup...then choose top option "safe mode" then log in as administrator.

browse to c:\windows locate the folder called "softwaredistribution" right click it then click on rename....add .old to the end of the name.

should appear as softwaredistribution.old.

restart and log on as normal...see if this removes the need for installing the update.

 

may not work but surely is worth a try, this will not effect any other updates previous or in the future.

regards

danzil

 

Hi guys,

 

Thanks Danzil, I'll do that and see what happens. Don't have much time to try it right now, but I'll give it a go asap and report back.

 

Colin.

[danzil]

hi

any luck yet mate

regards

danzil

[cpw]

Hi Danzil

Really not had much chance to try it but I haven't forgotten nor am I ignoring the advice, honest! Really appreciate everyone's help, thanks loads.

Hardly been on the PC recently but I've printed out your instructions so I can give it a go asap. Don't worry, I'll definitely let you know how it goes.

Catch ya later,

Col.

[cpw]

One of those days...

 

hi

have you tried botting into safe mode,,, tapping f8 at startup...then choose top option "safe mode" then log in as administrator.

browse to c:\windows locate the folder called "softwaredistribution" right click it then click on rename....add .old to the end of the name.

should appear as softwaredistribution.old.

restart and log on as normal...see if this removes the need for installing the update.

 

may not work but surely is worth a try, this will not effect any other updates previous or in the future.

regards

danzil

 

Hi folks,

 

Er, slight technical hitch Danzil. Tapping F8 at startup doesn't do anything, it has no effect whatsoever. Any other way to boot up into safe mode? Can the folder be renamed in normal operating mode or is would that not be advisable?

 

cpw.

[danzil]

hi

at startup means when your pc is at POST, basically when you see your machine counting your ram and system drives etc.....if that is not working then the only other thing to do is:

do a normal boot into windows then go to start>run type in (without quotes)"msconfig"

now go to the "boot.ini"tab click on "/SAFEBOOT" now click ok.and click on restart.

when the pc restarts this should take you into safe mode.

rename that file as instructions above, go back into "msconfig" and remove the "SAFEBOOT" option..

restart and that will hopefully be it.

post back if not

regards

danzil

[cpw]

Bingo!

 

Hi all,

 

Success! I was hitting F8 at the right time, it just wasn't doing anything. Using msconfig to initiate a safe boot was fine though. Many thanks Danzil, I hadn't thought of that. Dohh!

Renaming the software distribution folder seem to have done the trick, the shutdown options box isn't telling me there are updates to install every time I switch the PC off now. Thanks Danzil and RandyL for sharing your knowledge, it's much appreciated.

Best regards,

cpw.

[RandyL]

That's great cpw. danzil really knows his stuff. I always listen to him.

 

Thanks for letting us know. Not only will danzil appreciate that but so will other members who have the same problem.

 

Well done.

[danzil]

Hi CPW

that is great news...please make sure you untick the SAFEBOOT option if you have not done so already..

glad you have got it sorted.

RandyL your too kind mate,lol

regards

danzil

:)

[cpw]

Aargh, it's come back to haunt me!

 

Hi all,

 

Here we go again, good job the adminstrators didn't close this thread yet! I was telling the truth, honest. After coming out of the safeboot option I restarted the PC a couple of times to make sure that renaming the folder really had cured the problem. Yep, everything was fine. Came back the next day and what happened? You guessed right, it was trying to install the same old update again. :eek:

 

Still, as it doesn't actually interfere with anything and is more of an irritation than a hardship, I reckon I'll just have to live with it for a while. The PC is due for replacement anyway, but finances don't allow it quite just yet. :)

[danzil]

hi

thats a shame, thought we squashed this.

ok i will look at the update and see what i can do.

i will post back when i can

regards

danzil

[danzil]

hi

please try the following

download Qfecheck.exe verifies the installation of Windows 2000 and Windows XP hotfixes this will let us know what hotfixes have installed and what has not.that is the start

 

reading through some items on technet, there have been others with this issue.

they have fixed this by going into add n remove programmes, and removing "Windows Installer 3.1" then running windows updates again.

also some user have fixed this by removing service pack 3 then again running windows updates.

obviously re-install sp3 afterwards

 

give them a try and post back.

 

I will sort this damn update...lol

 

regards

danzil

[cpw]

Quick questions

 

hi

please try the following

download Qfecheck.exe verifies the installation of Windows 2000 and Windows XP hotfixes this will let us know what hotfixes have installed and what has not.that is the start

 

reading through some items on technet, there have been others with this issue.

they have fixed this by going into add n remove programmes, and removing "Windows Installer 3.1" then running windows updates again.

also some user have fixed this by removing service pack 3 then again running windows updates.

obviously re-install sp3 afterwards

 

give them a try and post back.

 

I will sort this damn update...lol

 

regards

danzil

 

Hi Danzil,

Thanks for sticking with it mate. As I said, its more of a niggle than anything fatal but ok lets see what we can do. Just a couple of quick questions just so I'm clear about what I'm doing.

1. I've downloaded & installed the software from your link above. Do I run that first and report results before I try anything else? If so, do I use Start>Run>Qfecheck.exe?

2. Looking on the Add/Rem list, there is nothing actually called Windows Installer 3.1 listed. Does it have a MS reference (KB***, Q*** etc) that it might be listed under instead?

3. Removing & Reinstalling SP3 would be a biggish job which last time I installed it took forever, can we try that one last if necessary?

 

Thanks,

Col.