Updates failing

My laptop was having problems with spyware recently so I ended up
reformatting it. Windows Update managed to install most of the necessary
updates, including Windows Service Pack 3. A day later or so, some new
updates showed up that I can't install, they just keep failing. I have
Windows XP Home.

Security Update for Windows XP (KB938464)
Update for Windows XP (KB951978)
Windows Internet Explorer 7 for Windows XP
Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool - September 2008 (KB890830)

There's no error number or anything so I can't search for it in the
Troubleshooting database. Please help!

Do Method 1 here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
If the updates still fail to install, do Method 2 BUT, download the
Windows Update Agent [WUA] from the links on *this* page:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949104

KB943144 *still* points to the previous version of the WUA for some
*odd* reason.

MowGreen [MVP 2003-2008]
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============



sungieality wrote:

> My laptop was having problems with spyware recently so I ended up
> reformatting it. Windows Update managed to install most of the necessary
> updates, including Windows Service Pack 3. A day later or so, some new
> updates showed up that I can't install, they just keep failing. I have
> Windows XP Home.
>
> Security Update for Windows XP (KB938464)
> Update for Windows XP (KB951978)
> Windows Internet Explorer 7 for Windows XP
> Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool - September 2008 (KB890830)
>
> There's no error number or anything so I can't search for it in the
> Troubleshooting database. Please help!

sungieality wrote:
> My laptop was having problems with spyware recently so I ended up
> reformatting it. Windows Update managed to install most of the
> necessary updates, including Windows Service Pack 3. A day later or
> so, some new updates showed up that I can't install, they just keep
> failing. I have Windows XP Home.
>
> Security Update for Windows XP (KB938464)
> Update for Windows XP (KB951978)
> Windows Internet Explorer 7 for Windows XP
> Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool - September 2008 (KB890830)
>
> There's no error number or anything so I can't search for it in the
> Troubleshooting database. Please help!

As many will tell you - ignore the title and symptoms listed in the article
referred to. Do method 1 and 2 and see if it fixes your issue whether or
not you repaired anything.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
Try method 1 and 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