Hotfix won't install

Edit Note: split from This thread - different problem. Newt

Hello everyone - I'm new to this forum, which I found after two days of experimentation and searching the net for a solution to this problem. In my case things are slightly different, but suspiciously similar.

Four days ago everything was OK except XP was eating into my disk space so fast that I couldn't make space fast enough. On Friday morning I had just 50Mb left and needed to do some serious cleaning up. The disk space seemed to be disappearing daily, so I decided to remove all hotfixes to SP1, along with all remaining junk (MSN Explorer etc), until I had enough space to install SP2. This just left me with slightly less disk space (huh?). Then I discovered what a waste of space System Restore was and turned it off, regaining shed-loads of space. Half way through SP2 installation the installer crashed out with the message "Invalid flags specified ", leaving temporary files all over my disk. The MS techie I spoke to told me they had no record of this error. After a long discussion I decided to delete all the temporary files and let the hotfixes download again. Interestingly many, many more of these have auto-installed than I had four days ago. However, whilst other computers on my LAN can locate this PC and grab files from it, I cannot do the reverse. Internet access is unaffected. Needless to say the Server service is running, but the Workstation service isn't. If I try to start it manually I get the message:

Could not start the Workstation service on Local Computer
Error 126: The specified module could not be found.

This service has no dependencies, so what module is it searching for? The executable that gets run is svchost.exe, and I know that this file is the subject of one or more hotfixes, so naturally it's on my list of suspects. What I do about it is another matter (ie I'm stuck ).

OK, so back to the SP2 installation problem. I've tracked that down to the hotfix for KB833987, which simply wont install on this machine no matter how many times I reboot and run it. I can provide the log files for this if anyone is interested.

I tried the hotfix suggested by Dez Bradley, but that just told me I didn't have SP2 (though a lot of the hotfixes are labelled SP2). I've also tried removing and re-installing all the network components, running the Network Setup Wizard, and disabling my firewall, all to no avail.

 

Hi Brummig and welcome to the forum.

Always a better idea to start a new thread when you are trying for a fix to a new problem. The issues may be similar but rarely identical and things just get too confusing.

First item - the way Microsoft does hotfix labeling is confusing. Those released after SP1 will usually be labeled SP2 when they are really just a post-SP1 release. SP2 is a large update that will include all the previous hotfixes and service packs.

From the sounds of things, you do have something strange going on. Here's what I suggest at this point. Hopefully it will put things back in order and you can install SP2 - although DO NOT try to put it on until you have the system running cleanly or you will simply add to your issues.

1. Open IE and clear all your temporary internet files, history, and cookies. Close IE.

2. Open My Computer, right-click on the C: drive icon and left-click properties then click the button to do a disk cleanup. Let it remove all it finds. If you don't do this regularly it may take several hours and will appear to have frozen on the 'compress old files' section. Just let it run. Close when finished.

3. Click on start, on run, put

Code:

sfc /scannow

in the run line and click OK. You will probably be asked for your XP install CD at some point so have it ready. The System File Check runs pretty quickly and without giving you much information.

4. Click on start, on run, type cmd in the space and OK. When the command window opens put in the following and after you press ENTER, answer all the questions so it will run after a reboot then reboot

Code:

chkdsk c: /r

When the system is running again after the chkdsk finishes, see how things are and if all is well after a day or so, try SP2 again. If you still have problems, post back.

 

Thanks Newt. Sorry if the post went in the wrong thread. I understand your thinking, but I placed this in the other thread because my primary problem is that I can't access my LAN having tried installing SP2. The hotfix not installing I can live with if I have to, though potentially there is a relationship between the two. Anyhow, before I do anything further, one question. Do you think it would be wise to remove all the (auto-installed) hotfixes before running SFC, as I would expect SFC to restore files from CD, leaving everything else relating to the hotfixes (backups, registry entries etc) in place, or would that be a bad idea for some reason? That was what I was planning on trying next, but I thought it better to wait and see what others had to say before jumping in and creating an even bigger mess.

 

The version of SFC that runs on XP and on 2000 after SP3 is smart enough to recognize legit files from hotfixes and service packs after the initial install and will ask you for the proper media. Sometimes unless you are working with a slipstreamed CD that has all the latest stuff, you may be asked for several different CDs.

So, no need to remove any installed hotfixes. Probably would be a good idea to force a restore point before you start though.

 

OK, thanks Newt, but I did as you suggest, but still no change . The hotfixes for KB33987 and KB839645 refuse to install, whilst more recent ones have jumped ahead in the queue and installed themselves, and I still can't access my LAN.

Microsoft tell me that when the SP2 installation failed, it should have put things back as they were. It clearly didn't, as it left hundreds of files behind that I had to remove manually. I have this pet theory that one of the hotfixes included with SP2 is flawed in such a way that it stops LAN access. What is the best way to get back to the original set of XP files, bearing in mind that all my application software predates XP and so should not have changed any system files? Or do you have a better idea as to how to procede from here?

 

OK. You have several major, different issues I think at this point we need to get one fixed before worrying about the others. May all have come from the same update problem but for now, treat them as discrete issues.

Network Access first

If the fix Dez posted didn't work then you may have run into something that corrupted your IP stack or possibly something that hosed the entire network load. Try a simple fix for stack problems and see if that helps. Download LSPFix and give it a try. Harmless and may cure the problem.

 

i'd like to see the logs of the failing hotfix installs.

Certainly seems that if it not something simple with the hotfix, you might be on track for doing an upgrade install or a repair to get it back to the bare metal.

 

Newt - I tried LSPFix, but it told me there was nothing to remove. It did make me think though, because I do have Adaware. However, I think the TCP/IP stack is OK, because from another machine I can transfer files to and from the XP machine in the normal way. From the XP machine I can ping other machines on the LAN.

Joe - I've sent you an email to establish a proper email link so I can send you the files, which are unsuitable for posting on the forum.

 

Partial Fix

I've fixed the problem with not being able to access my LAN. The problem resulted from something deleting the file WKSSVC.DLL from the SYSTEM32 directory - that's the workstation service. I found a copy of this file in directory F:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download\6ca7b3a8efd5a9b6f87fff395a2eb989. This particular directory contains 500Mb of files, and I think it's a copy of SP2. The Download directory contains 571Mb of files. Well that would certainly explain why my disk space is disappearing. How on Earth do I reign in this monster called XP?

Unfortunately I still have the problem with the hotfixes that wont install, so I'll take a guess that I still can't install SP2.

 

OK, i've reviewed the log files.
SVCPACK.LOG:

Code:

30.604: No F:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download\6ca7b3a8efd5a9b6f87fff395a2eb989\update\updtblk.inf file.
31.546: Message displayed to the user: Are you sure you want to cancel?
31.546: User Input: YES

Code:

491.206: Error installing assemblies, GLE=2148073481
501.991: Unregistration of sprecovr successful
502.082: Invalid flags specified.
548.789: Message displayed to the user: Invalid flags specified.
548.789: User Input: OK
548.809: Service Pack 2 installation did not complete.
Select 'OK' to undo the changes that have been made.
554.036: Message displayed to the user: Service Pack 2 installation did not complete.
Select 'OK' to undo the changes that have been made.
554.036: User Input: OK

Code:

1163.873: Message displayed to the user: Service Pack 2 installation did not complete.
Windows XP has been partially updated and may not work properly.
1163.873: User Input: OK
1163.873: Update.exe extended error code = 0x80090009

KB833987.log

Code:

***
2004/11/8  9:24:56.550
***
Exe = update.exe, Version = 5.4.1.0 
***
================== Update.exe started at 11/ 8/2004 at  9:24:56 ==================
***
Service Pack started with following command line: -q /Z -ER
***
FetchSourceURL: SetupOpenInfFile Failed to open file: d:\7715647d04277be0c0f5d510f1c68c4e\sp2\update\update.url 

Seems to me your machine is in this nasty half-installed sp2 state. I recommend you make enough disk space, download the SP2 flat install package and try again with that package. If that fails, send me the new svcpack.log file.

As a general rule, if you are below 10% of availible free space, you are out of disk space. Hard disks are not like suitcases, when stuffed to the brim, they run poorly, thrash excessively, and can cause all sorts of wierd problems.

 

OK, I did that. I found some more useless files and shunted them off to a partition with more space, giving me 1Gb free space. However, SP2 crashed out at the same point with the same error, though this time it left my network intact. I've sent you the (lengthy) log file by email. The log appears to detail all attempts, including those where I had insufficient disk space.

edit: Oh, and it left hundreds of temporary files behind (as before), which I've deleted manually.

 

I got your log, this looks much better, the package installs much happier now. Still a problem though:

Code:

451.149: Copied file (delayed):  F:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\SET1140.tmp
451.149: Copied file:  F:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\unidrv.dll
[U][B]451.960: Error installing assemblies, GLE=2148073481[/B][/U]
461.063: Unregistration of sprecovr successful
461.153: Invalid flags specified.
469.285: Message displayed to the user: Invalid flags specified.
469.285: User Input: OK
469.285: Service Pack 2 installation did not complete.

Select 'OK' to undo the changes that have been made.
473.301: Message displayed to the user: Service Pack 2 installation did not complete.

Select 'OK' to undo the changes that have been made.
473.301: User Input: OK
473.301: Starting process:  D:\SYSBAK\$ntservicepackuninstall$\spuninst\spuninst.exe /~ -u -z
650.756: Software Update Rollback has completed with return code 0xbc2.  This rollback requires a reboot.
650.766: Service Pack 2 installation did not complete.

Windows XP has been partially updated and may not work properly.

Code:

Mine:
491.734: Copied file:  C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\pcl5eres.dll
498.640: PruneCatalogsFromHotfixes:RegQueryValueEx Failed: 0x2 
500.719: Num Ticks for Copying files : 216235
508.515: Num Ticks for Reg update and deleting 0 size files : 7796	
508.515: Starting process:  C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v1.0.3705\copy2gac /i /a /p: "C:\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared\ink\1.7\ "
508.547:  Return Code = 0 
508.547: Starting process:  C:\WINDOWS\system32\rundll32.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\wbem\wbemupgd.dll,UpgradeRepository
512.859:  Return Code = 0 
512.859: Starting process:  C:\WINDOWS\system32\shmgrate.exe AddConfigurePrograms
513.375:  Return Code = 0 
513.375: Starting process:  C:\WINDOWS\system32\shmgrate.exe OCInstallUpdate

See the delta? Looks like its dying on running these migration and upgrade scripts. Possiblity that .NET framework is broken?

Lets try turning on verbose and see if it'll tell us which one it is dying on.

To enable Verbose logging for sp2 setup
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup
Name: LogLevel
Type: REG_DWORD
Value (Hex): 0000FFFF

Once more with the svcpack.log and setupapi.log with this verbose key set, please.

 

OK - more files on the way. BTW, after XP rebooted and I logged in, something called SMC crashed. It may not be important, but just in case.

I just Googled "sprecovr" and found some problems similar to mine, though not the same. Someone else picked up on .Net too. Might have known it was something I don't need or want. Many thanks for your help, Joe.

 

Well that didnt give us any better output than before.

Lets open it up wide, set to:
Name: LogLevel
Type: REG_DWORD
Value (Hex): FFFFFFFF

just need the svcpack.log

 

OK. To me the result looked the same .

 

we are a little stuck here. We know that one of the assemblies is failing to install, and throwing 'invalid flags' as the error. We've tapped out the logs, with no joy.

You mentioned you had worked with an MS Tech before, Do you still have access to that resource? We are running out of options. A microsoft engineer will be able to disect the package to figure out whats going on. I'd strongly recommend giving them a call if you need to pursue surgical analysis.

If this was a server, i would enable process auditing, hook up a debugger, debug all shellexecute and createprocess calls and figure out whos getting called with what, and why its failing. Unfortunatly, this isnt something that can be done over the board, nor is it worth it for a client machine.

At this point, i recommend you upgrade/inplace reinstall the OS to get back to a known state. Sorry, I gave it my best shot.

 

Many thanks for your efforts, Joe. I'm no longer in contact with the MS techie, though he had no idea what the problem was anyway because it's not in the Knowledgebase. I did try to contact them again, but once I told them what the problem was, they went quiet. I might give it one last go with the information I have from your work.

If I go for a repair install, would it be advisable to remove all the hotfixes first to avoid orphans? What about apps - are they best removed first?

 

Its a matter of degrees. Since we don't know whats broke, or to what extent, it's probably best just to do an inplace install, and reinstall the apps.

 

Fixed - I hope

Just in case anyone's reading through this old thread, I think this problem is now sorted. I had a long talk with an MS techie, and the conclusion was that the best thing to do was an Upgrade Install. I had too much work on to risk this at the time, but today I got an opening and went for it. It seems to have put the OS back in a known, stable state whilst retaining installed applications and settings. During the course of my investigations I discovered that SP2 kills Skype (which I use), so I then downloaded and installed the SP2 blocker provided by MS (note that MS plan to withdraw this utility), and turned on auto-update. The various hotfixes then all downloaded and installed, including the one that refused to install (KB833987). So I think all is well again. I hope.

Many thanks for all the help I received on this.