Even after installing SP3, there is a download or two necessary to get Windows Update itself up to speed, but I've never had a problem updating a machine "on demand"; I've never had to wait for Automatic Updates to boot strap the machine.
BTW: One of these "preparatory" updates is the current version of Windows Installer. If you want to make your life a little simpler, download the current version of installer and load it on the machine right after SP3 and before you even try Windows Update
xp Upate
tj243025@... 29th Aug I haven't had a problem until recently. They now state you have to have a minimum of SP3. I did download a local copy of SP3 and installed it. It it happens again I will check about windows installer. It did happen on more than one system.
This is what Microsoft told me to do, but by the time they responded the auto update already updated the system:
Step 1: Reinstall Windows Update Agent 3.0
=====================================
1. Please download the file from the following link:
http://download.windowsupdate.com/w...one/7.4.7600.226/windowsupdateagent30-x86.exe
2. Save the file to "C: drive".
3. Click "Start", "Run", type: "C:\WindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe /wuforce" (without quotations) and then press "Enter" to install the Windows Update engine.
There is a space between "C:\WindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe" and "/wuforce".
Now try Windows Update to see if the issue has been resolved. Please let us know if this step has resolved it. If not, please proceed to the next step.
Step 2: Delete a Incorrect Registry Key
=================================
1. Click Start, click Run, type REGEDIT, and click OK.
2. Go to the following Registry batch by clicking the PLUS (+) sign
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\5.0\User Agent
3. Right click on the Registry and delete it.
4. Go to the following Registry batch by clicking the PLUS (+) sign
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows \CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\5.0\User Agent
5. Right click on the Registry and delete it.
6. Restart the computer.
Now try Windows Update to see if the issue has been resolved. Please let us know if this step has resolved it. If not, please proceed to the next step.
Step 3: Load Internet Explorer Default Settings
======================================
1. Please close Internet Explorer.
2. Click "Start" and click "Run", input "INETCPL.CPL" (without quotation marks) and press Enter.
3. Switch to the "Advanced" tab, select "Reset Internet Explorer Settings" under "Restore advanced Settings" button.
2. Select "Delete Personal Settings" option and click the "Reset" button.
Then click "Close" and "OK" to quit.
Now try Windows Update to see if the issue has been resolved. If the above steps do not help, please provide me with the following information for further research.
How to capture a Screenshot
===================
1. When the error appears, please press the "Print Screen" key (PrtScn) on your keyboard.
2. Click "Start", click "Run", type MSPAINT, and click "OK".
3. In Paint, click "Paste" under the "Edit" Menu, click "Save" under the "File" menu, type a file name for the screenshot, choose JPEG as "Save as type", click "Desktop" on the left pane, and click "Save".
4. Please find the screenshot on the Desktop and send it as an attachment to:
v-30roxi@mssupport.microsoft.com.
How to collect System Information
=========================
1. Click "Start", go to "Run", type in "MSINFO32" (without quotations) and press "Enter" to start System Information.
2. On the "System Information" window, on the menu bar, click "File", and click "Save as"; save it as an NFO file, such as "system.nfo" to your local Desktop.
3. Locate the file, right-click on it, click "Send To", and click "Compressed (zipped) Folder".
4. Please send it as an attachment to
v-30roxi@mssupport.microsoft.com.
How to collect the Windows Update log file
===============================
Note: Since there are two Windows Update log files with similar names, please be aware that I am requesting the "WindowsUpdate.log" file without a space in the middle of the name.
1. Click "Start", "Run" and type "WindowsUpdate.log" (without quotations).
2. Click "OK". We will see a file named "WindowsUpdate.log".
3. Now click on the "File" menu and then click "Save As" and select "Desktop" in the "Save in" option on the top of the window.
4. Click "Save". The file will be saved to your Desktop. Please send it as an attachment to
v-30roxi@mssupport.microsoft.com.
However, if the file is unable to be collected by the above steps, we can also use the following method to collect it.
1. Click "Start", "Run", type: "%windir%" (without quotations) and then press "Enter".
2. In the open window, we will see a file named "WindowsUpdate.log".
3. Please send it as an attachment to:
v-30roxi@mssupport.microsoft.com.