Windows 7 - can not download updates

Asked By Phil

20-Nov-09 11:02 PM

Recently had a crash. I used the restore disks to put back to factory
settings. I can not do any updates. The computer kept restarting. It is an
AMD 2500. 1 gig memory. I went to HP.com and downloaded some updated drives
and tried again. This time it runs to the compag desktop screen and the mouse
moves but nothing on desktop. I just restored again and will wait till I get
some expert help. Any thought please let me know.
Thank you, Phil

21-Nov-09 10:46 AM

Hello Phil,

Whenever you ask about Windows, it is important to state what version
you have, including the service pack.

If you can do the following procedure in Safe Mode it will be easier.

In Safe Mode or in 'normal' mode: Control Panel > System > Advanced tab
check mark from 'Automatically restart.'

Now restart your computer. When your computer freezes at a blue screen,
read the message. At the bottom of the message, copy the number (it
begins with 0x000...) and the name of the error (LOOKS_LIKE_THIS.)

Post again with your complete version of Windows, any clues you might
have to explain your problem, and the number and name of the error you saw.
-=-

Maybe others can suggest ways to help with that.

21-Nov-09 09:31 PM

I have win xp home and ibelieve service pack 1. It is the restore disk from
hp that came with the laptop. As far as the error code, it happens so fast
that i do not have time to read it.It just recycles thru start up. Further
things I tried today. After restoring with the HP disks I then took a win xp
with sp2 and put on as an upgrade. All seamed to be well until it told me I
had 56 updates. I downloaded them and the same thing happened. Sorry but i
can not read the error,

Phil

21-Nov-09 09:32 PM

sooory, forgot to mention that the same thing happens when I try going in
safe mode.

21-Nov-09 10:09 PM

Hi Phil,

Do a manual visit to Windows Update with Internet Explorer.

[ Start > Windows Update or open IE, click Tools, Windows Update ]

When the installations fail, close IE.


Now go to Start > Run > type in

%windir%\windowsupdate.log

Click OK or press Enter

In  windowsupdate.log  scroll to the very end of this log file, and then
work back to the beginning of that last update attempt.

Cut and paste just that tail end of the log file to a response in this
thread.

Let's see if we can tell what is h??ppening.

Please post the last 50 or so lines of the WindowsUpdate.log
-=-

21-Nov-09 10:21 PM

i can not get to internet explorer, the machine will not start...

21-Nov-09 10:25 PM

Is there something I can do i recovery council ? I never used it but I know I
can get there.

22-Nov-09 02:34 AM

Did you format the HDD before using the restore disks? [yes/no]
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002
www.banthecheck.com

22-Nov-09 10:24 AM

no, did not format. I assumed ( and i should not have) That using the restore
disk would put everything back to factory. I could not find any info on hard
drive used in system either so i have no other disks but the restore disks.
I took a movie using a camera so i could pause for error meesage. It was not
very clear but what i could see is
Fata system error
process system (process) terminated.
0x00000000

thank you, phil

22-Nov-09 05:11 PM

Had you installed IE7 and/or IE8 before doing the Repair Install?

Was this pre-Repair Install "crash" in any way related to a "hijackware"
infection or other security-related problems (e.g., Automatic Updates had
stopped working; misdirected search results; "scareware" pop-ups)?

What anti-virus application or security suite was installed and was your
subscription current when this pre-Repair Install "crash" happened?

Did a Norton or McAfee free-trial come preinstalled on the computer when you
bought it?

22-Nov-09 07:23 PM

I will answer the best I can It is my father in-laws computer. It was
purchased in 2004. It came with nortons 30 day trial. It was running IE7 or
possibly IE8, I do not know if he updated that. It was running a current
mcafee up to date antivirus. After the crash and when I restored I ran panda
2010 on it to check it. It did remove 3 objects listed as spyware. Since then
I have run the restore a few tmes because of trouble with the updates and not
being able to start computer.
After reading your post today. Using the recovery console I formatted the
drive. I installed win xp with sp2. I did not use the recovery disks. I have
to this point updated all the drivers and the bios through HP updates on
there isite. I updated the software through Microsoft site.  It now says that
I have 129 critical updates. I am very gun shy as to what to download at this
point. I will wait until I get further advise.
Thank you again. Phil

23-Nov-09 06:29 PM

Reference:

How to perform a repair installation of Windows XP if a later version of
Internet Explorer is installed:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/917964

Doing the Repair Install without having first uninstalled IE7 and/or IE8
caused the problem.  The clean install you just did was the ONLY way to
correct it after doing so.

If the clean install left you with WinXP SP1, you could have skipped SP2 and
gone straight to SP3.

Now that you have SP2 installed, get the computer fully patched per these
instructions, Phil:
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/a066ae41add7dd2b

Do NOT install IE7 or IE8 just yet!

24-Nov-09 08:14 PM

Followed the steps, when i double clicked the winxp sp3 on desktop it failed,
it said file corupt. should i re-download?

25-Nov-09 03:21 AM

Try the whole shebang again.

Back-up any personal data (none of which should be considered 100%
trustworthy at this point) then do a format & clean install of Windows.
Please note that a Repair Install (AKA in-place upgrade) will NOT fix this!

cf. http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html#steps

NB: After the clean install, you will have the equivalent of a "new computer"
so take care of everything on the following page before otherwise connecting
the machine to the internet (IMPORTANT) or a network (EVEN MORE IMPORTANT)
and before using a USB key that is not brand-new or has not been freshly
formatted (MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL):

5 steps to help protect your new computer before you go online
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/advanced/xppc.mspx

Other helpful references include:

HOW TO get a computer running WinXP Gold (no Service Packs) fully patched
(after a clean install)
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsupdate/msg/3f5afa8ed33e121c

HOW TO get a computer running WinXP SP1(a) or SP2 fully patched (after a
clean install)
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/a066ae41add7dd2b

29-Nov-09 10:17 AM

back to the drawing board after the holidays. I formatted the HD, Installed
the HP restore disks, deleted nortons 2003 using add/remove programs.
Purchased a new thumb drive. downloaded the sp3 using a known good computer.
On extraction it said file corupt. Connected to internet on laptop i'm
working on and downloaded to desktop. When extracting it said file corupt.
That is where i stand at this point.
Thanks again, Phil

29-Nov-09 11:32 AM

i should also note the restore disks are win xp sp1

29-Nov-09 03:25 PM

Did you or did you not also download/run the Norton Removal Tool AFTER you


How did you determine it was a "known good computer"?  Are both computers on
the same home network and visible/accessibile to each other?


From where did you download this "sp3" and why did you have to "extract"
anything?  The proper download would have been an EXE file (i.e.,
WindowsXP-KB936929-SP3-x86-ENU.exe), not a compressed (or ZIP) file.

29-Nov-09 04:30 PM

used add remove programs to remove the nortons trial version and the live
update. by good computer i mean no viruses, just scanned. The spe download I
got from your link on here.

29-Nov-09 04:42 PM

in fact i tried to download jave 6.17 and that also says corrupt.

29-Nov-09 10:55 PM

Start all over again all over again.

After you uninstall the Norton free-trial this time around, download/run the
Norton Removal Tool & reboot BEFORE installing a replacement anti-virus
application:

1. Download the Norton Removal Tool, saving it to your desktop:
ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/removal_tools/Norton_Removal_Tool.exe

2. Close all open applications (i.e., anything with an icon on the taskbar).

3. Double-click on the file you saved in #1 above to run the utility. Don't
TOUCH your keyboard until the run completes, then reboot.