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Can't get updates for XP Home

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by MitchellCooley, 2007/05/08.

  1. 2007/05/08
    MitchellCooley Lifetime Subscription

    MitchellCooley Inactive Thread Starter

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    My small slow computer was getting updates just fine (I went to Windows Update through IE7) until about a week ago. I turned on Automatic Updates because the little popup bubble was driving me nuts. The next morning I got a little bubble telling me I had updates to install. I tried but my system locked up.

    After a couple of days of ripping the skin off my head (I have no hair), I finally got on the bbs and got it all figured out.

    My problem now is I can't get updates at all. I go to Microsoft Update and it just sits there telling me it is searching for updates for my computer. This evening it sat there with its little annoying green dots going from left to right for 90 minutes.

    Anybody have any idea about this? Anytime I turn on Automatic Updates my system locks up. Works fine otherwise.

    Mitch
     
  2. 2007/05/08
    sniper9228

    sniper9228 Well-Known Member

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    Download and install the updates manually from the Microsoft SITE microsoft.com website.

    Make sure your firewall does not conflict.
     

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  4. 2007/05/09
    ackerberg

    ackerberg Inactive

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    I have had the same problem. I had my computer set for automatic download but I have the choice to install. Yesterday I saw the update symbol on my taskbar but there was no download and my computer was hanging up. I finally cancelled the automatic download and everything works now. I think when MS comes out with a new update, their system is swamped sending out notifications and downloads, and it is almost impossible to get through to their server. I suggest you wait a few days until things calm down and it will then work again. That has been my experience.
     
  5. 2007/05/09
    MitchellCooley Lifetime Subscription

    MitchellCooley Inactive Thread Starter

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    tried the direct route. Same result.

    Will try waiting a few days and see what happens.

    thanks

    Mitch
     
  6. 2007/05/11
    MitchellCooley Lifetime Subscription

    MitchellCooley Inactive Thread Starter

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    Success!!!

    I tried updates again yesterday afternoon. My system sat for two hours and nothing happened.

    So, I elected to send a help request to Microsoft. The Support Team member emailed me back and gave me some instructions to help diagnose the problem

    Turns out my Software Distribution subdirectory was corrupted. After renaming the directory and trying again.....Success.

    For the Moderator:

    With the moderator's permission, I would like to post the relevant portions of her email to me here so others who might have a similar problem can benefit. I could, on the otherhand, send the email to the moderator who can edit it and post is somewhere where it can be used.

    Just let me know.

    Happy as the day is long,

    Mitchell
     
  7. 2007/05/11
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    You can post it here, or edit your post above to include the info.
     
    Arie,
    #6
  8. 2007/05/12
    Beach Boy

    Beach Boy Well-Known Member

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    Hi Mitch, could you pls post her email answer as I am still having the same problem..

    Thank you
     
  9. 2007/05/12
    MitchellCooley Lifetime Subscription

    MitchellCooley Inactive Thread Starter

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    Assist from Microsoft

    Here is the original part of Microsoft's email which helped me fix my problem. There was more about collecting data about my system to send to her but didn't think that was pertinent:

    To: (mitchc@xanadoo.com)
    From: Betty He \(MS\) (v-30beth@mssupport.microsoft.com)
    Subject: [Microsoft]Regarding CaseID: SRX1035148501
    Date: 5/11/2007 12:54:10a





    Dear Howard,

    Thank you for contacting Microsoft Windows Update Support. My name is
    Betty and I am glad to work with you. You can contact me directly by
    sending an email to v-30beth@mssupport.microsoft.com with the case ID
    SRX1035148501 in the subject line.

    From the case log, I understand that a problem was encountered when trying
    to get Windows XP Home Updates manually at the Microsoft Update site using
    Windows Updates selection under tools in Internet Explorer 7. The update
    scans the computer for over an hour and does nothing else. In addition,
    you had taken Windows XP suggestion and turned on Automatic Updates. You
    received a message that you had updates ready to install on 1 May 2007,
    but there were no updates to install. Automatic Updates locked up the
    computer. So you turned it off. The computer would freeze when turning on
    Automatic Updates each time. You have been trying daily since then to get
    updates unsuccessfully. If I have misunderstood your concern, please do
    not hesitate to let me know. I understand the inconvenience you have
    experienced. Please be assured that I will try my best to help you.



    This issue can be caused by the following factors:

    1. The Windows Update service has been stopped.

    2. Corrupted Windows Update Temporary folder.

    In order to narrow down the cause of this issue and resolve it, please
    refer to the following steps. After finishing each step, please check the
    result on the Windows Update website again.

    NOTE: Some third party programs can affect the Windows Update service. If
    you are running any third party applications such as Spyblocker, Internet
    or web accelerators (programs designed to boost the speed of the Internet
    connection), security or anti-virus programs (Norton, McAfee, etc.), I
    recommend we temporarily disable or shut them down and then try accessing
    the Windows Update site later. Please understand that we are disabling
    these programs only for the purpose of troubleshooting and we can
    re-enable these programs after we finish troubleshooting.

    Step 1: Verify the relevant Windows Update services

    =======================================

    1. Click Start, click Run, type "services.msc" (without quotation marks)
    in the open box and click OK.

    2. Double click the service "Background Intelligent Transfer Service ".

    3. Click on the Log On tab, please ensure the option "Local System
    account" is selected and the option "Allow service to interact with
    desktop" is unchecked.

    4. Check if this service has been enabled on the listed Hardware Profile.
    If not, please click the Enable button to enable it.

    5. Click on the "General" tab; make sure the "Startup Type" is "Automatic"
    or "Manual ". Then please click the "Start" button under "Service Status"
    to start the service.

    6. Please repeat the above steps with the following service:

    Automatic Updates

    You can also temporarily stop these services, restart the computer, and
    then start these services again. If one of the two services is missing,
    please let me know.

    Step 2: Rename the Windows Update Softwaredistribution folder

    =================================================

    This problem may occur if the Windows Update, Software distribution folder
    has been corrupted. We can refer to the following steps to rename this
    folder. Please note that the folder will be re-created the next time we
    visit the Windows Update site.

    1. Click Start, click Run, and type "cmd" (without the quotes) and press
    Enter. Please run the following command in the opened window to stop the
    Automatic Updates service.

    Type in "net stop WuAuServ" (without the quotes) and press Enter.

    Note: Please look at the cmd window and make sure it says that it was
    successfully stopped before we try to rename the folder. However, if it
    failsed, please let me know before performing any further steps and
    include any error messages you may have received when it failed.

    2. Click Start, click Run, and type in "%windir%" (without the quotes) and
    press Enter.

    3. In the opened folder, look for the folder named
    "SoftwareDistribution ".
    4. Right-click on the folder, select Rename and type "SDold" (without the
    quotes) to rename this folder.

    5. Click Start, click Run, and type "cmd" (without the quotes) and press
    Enter.
    Type the command "net start WuAuServ" (without the quotes) in the opened
    window to restart the Automatic Updates service.

    Note: Please look at the cmd window and make sure it says that it was
    successfully started. However, if it fails, please let me know before
    performing any further steps and include any error messages you may have
    received when it failed.

    Please test the issue again via the Windows Update website and let me know
    the result.

    Hope this helps anyone having a similar problem.

    Thanks Arie for letting me post this here.

    Regards

    Mitchell
     
  10. 2007/05/12
    Beach Boy

    Beach Boy Well-Known Member

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    Ok Mitch, thanks a lot -- I have printed this and will try it later.. probably will not know if it works for me until the 2nd Tuesday in June..
     
  11. 2007/05/12
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    No so :) Just go Start > Microsoft Update.
     
  12. 2007/05/12
    Beach Boy

    Beach Boy Well-Known Member

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    Well, my situation is a little different form Mitchell's. I am always able to go to Microsoft Update and manually download and install the updates the second tuesday of the month. However, I could not get the updates to download and install AUTOMATICALLY even though I had it SET to be done automatically -- that's my problem.
     
  13. 2007/05/12
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    OK - fingers crossed then :)
     
  14. 2007/05/13
    mxwrench

    mxwrench Inactive

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    I had the same problem with Windows Updates (both Automatic and Manual updates) with my computer running Windows 2000 Pro. The recommended procedures worked perfectly for me. Many thanks!
     
  15. 2007/05/13
    MitchellCooley Lifetime Subscription

    MitchellCooley Inactive Thread Starter

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    Glad I was able to do something useful.
     

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