Windows XP - SP3 fails to install with 'An internal error occurred'

[NineMilesHigh]

Hi,
I have a separate thread on a Firewall issue, which in turn generated a new issue when I tried to upgrade to SP3, so I thought I would start a new topic for it.
PC is a Dell Dimension 4600, 5 years old and has ran well until recently when I suffered from hangs/crashes/slow downs. A general clear out of programs etc seems to have alleviated this issue somewhat.
So, the PC has Windows XP (SP2), 2.5GB memory. I tried to upgrade to SP3 as follows:-

I firstly uninstalled Malwarebytes AntiMalware which was the only protection s/w running other than Avira Antivirus and tried to install Windows XP SP3.
It failed after about 10 mins with 'Access Is Denied'.
I tried uninstalling the virus s/w (Avira) and ran the SP3 install again.
This time it failed to install with 'An internal error occured'.

This is an extract from the svcpack.log file when the install failed:-
110.360: AnalyzeDevices used 1953 ticks
110.516: AnalyzePhaseTwo used 156 ticks
110.516: AnalyzePhaseThree used 0 ticks
110.516: AnalyzePhaseFive used 0 ticks
110.657: AnalyzePhaseSix used 141 ticks
111.235: Trying CheckVLKForBlock again
111.735: Error: CheckVLKForBlock failed
111.813: Inventory complete: ReturnStatus=536741199, 54250 ticks
111.813: Num Ticks for invent : 54250
116.375: UnRegisterSpuninstForRecovery, failed to delete SpRecoverCmdLine value, error 0x2
116.375: DoInstallation: Failed to unregistering spuninst.exe for recovery.
116.375: An internal error occurred.
119.594: Message displayed to the user: An internal error occurred.
119.594: User Input: OK
119.594: Service Pack 3 installation did not complete.
120.469: Message displayed to the user: Service Pack 3 installation did not complete.
120.469: User Input: OK
120.469: Update.exe extended error code = 0x1ffe054f

I then tried to reinstall SP2, just to see if it would clean up any files, but it also failed with ‘An internal error occurred'.
I have read the various MS sites about these errors, but don’t have an answer yet.

Any help appreciated.
William

 

[Kcircyrd]

Do a Gurgle Search, or Look on Microsoft Website for this long and helpful file. Too long to post here, but this is a very helpful and detailed explanation that gets most Windows XP working again.

Prerequisites to install Windows XP SP3

 

[NineMilesHigh]

Latest position

Hi,
Have been through the information 'Prerequisites to install Windows XP SP3', but nothing there seems relevant.
Here is an excerpt from WindowsUpdate.log when the install of SP3 fails:-
Agent * Updates to install = 1
2009-12-05 21:40:29:046 1064 bd8 Agent * Title = Windows XP Service Pack 3 (KB936929)
2009-12-05 21:40:29:046 1064 bd8 Agent * UpdateId = {60B990A0-6EFA-47BE-8F5A-7DF2C402583E}.112
2009-12-05 21:40:29:046 1064 bd8 Agent * Bundles 1 updates:
2009-12-05 21:40:29:046 1064 bd8 Agent * {A18CC936-DA41-421F-9AD9-303D806EC128}.113
2009-12-05 21:40:40:500 1064 bd8 Handler Attempting to create remote handler process as HOME-PC\William in session 0
2009-12-05 21:40:40:750 1064 bd8 DnldMgr Preparing update for install, updateId = {A18CC936-DA41-421F-9AD9-303D806EC128}.113.
2009-12-05 21:40:40:750 2652 b78 Misc =========== Logging initialized (build: 7.4.7600.226, tz: -0000) ===========
2009-12-05 21:40:40:750 2652 b78 Misc = Process: C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
2009-12-05 21:40:40:750 2652 b78 Misc = Module: C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuaueng.dll
2009-12-05 21:40:40:750 2652 b78 Handler :::::::::::::
2009-12-05 21:40:40:750 2652 b78 Handler :: START :: Handler: Windows Patch Install
2009-12-05 21:40:40:750 2652 b78 Handler :::::::::
2009-12-05 21:40:40:750 2652 b78 Handler : Updates to install = 1
2009-12-05 21:40:40:750 2652 b78 Handler : Installing update {A18CC936-DA41-421F-9AD9-303D806EC128}.113
2009-12-05 21:40:40:750 2652 62c Handler Installing with parameters=-z /DefaultUninstallNoPrompt /AcceptEulaNoPrompt /DefaultFinishNoPrompt, sandbox=C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download\9866fb57abdc0ea2f5d4e132d055ba4e.
2009-12-05 21:41:35:000 1064 704 Agent WARNING: WU client fails to call back to install call {EE31CCA2-2E09-4457-AE31-EFEE558B8FF1} with error 0x800706ba

The last error (WU client fails to call back ....etc etc... ) then repeats hundreds of times, then we have:-

2009-12-05 22:16:06:500 2652 62c Handler Install completed with 0x87ff054f.
2009-12-05 22:16:06:500 2652 b78 Handler FATAL: UH: 0x87ff054f: InstallOrUninstallThread failed in CUHWindowsPatchHandler::HandleSingleUpdate
2009-12-05 22:16:06:500 2652 b78 Handler : WARNING: Install completed: result type = 0x0, installer error = True, error = 0x87ff054f, disabled until reboot = No, reboot required = No
2009-12-05 22:16:06:500 2652 b78 Handler FATAL: UH: 0x8024200b: HandleSingleUpdate failed in CUHWindowsPatchHandler::HandleMultipleUpdates
2009-12-05 22:16:06:500 2652 b78 Handler :::::::::
2009-12-05 22:16:06:500 2652 b78 Handler :: END :: Handler: Windows Patch Install
2009-12-05 22:16:06:500 2652 b78 Handler :::::::::::::
2009-12-05 22:16:06:500 1064 704 Agent WARNING: WU client fails to call back to install call {EE31CCA2-2E09-4457-AE31-EFEE558B8FF1} with error 0x800706ba
2009-12-05 22:16:07:281 1064 59c AU Triggering Offline detection (non-interactive)
2009-12-05 22:16:07:281 1064 59c AU #############
2009-12-05 22:16:07:281 1064 59c AU ## START ## AU: Search for updates
2009-12-05 22:16:07:281 1064 59c AU #########
2009-12-05 22:16:07:281 1064 bd8 Agent *********
2009-12-05 22:16:07:281 1064 bd8 Agent ** END ** Agent: Installing updates [CallerId = MicrosoftUpdate]
2009-12-05 22:16:07:281 1064 bd8 Agent *************
2009-12-05 22:16:07:281 1064 59c AU <<## SUBMITTED ## AU: Search for updates [CallId = {02A206BC-768A-40CA-B3E1-474A412AB324}]
2009-12-05 22:16:07:281 1064 f80 Agent *************
2009-12-05 22:16:07:281 1064 f80 Agent ** START ** Agent: Finding updates [CallerId = AutomaticUpdates]
2009-12-05 22:16:07:281 1064 f80 Agent *********
2009-12-05 22:16:07:281 1064 f80 Agent * Online = No; Ignore download priority = No
2009-12-05 22:16:07:281 1064 f80 Agent * Criteria = "IsHidden=0 and IsInstalled=0 and DeploymentAction='Installation' and IsAssigned=1 or IsHidden=0 and IsPresent=1 and DeploymentAction='Uninstallation' and IsAssigned=1 or IsHidden=0 and IsInstalled=1 and DeploymentAction='Installation' and IsAssigned=1 and RebootRequired=1 or IsHidden=0 and IsInstalled=0 and DeploymentAction='Uninstallation' and IsAssigned=1 and RebootRequired=1"
2009-12-05 22:16:07:281 1064 f80 Agent * ServiceID = {7971F918-A847-4430-9279-4A52D1EFE18D} Third party service
2009-12-05 22:16:07:281 1064 f80 Agent * Search Scope = {Machine}
2009-12-05 22:16:07:281 1064 704 Agent WARNING: WU client fails to call back to install call {EE31CCA2-2E09-4457-AE31-EFEE558B8FF1} with error 0x800706ba

Any suggestions?
Thanks
W.