Resolved Windows Update renders laptop unbootable

So, I reinstalled xp using the CD I have which has SP1 on it. Windows Update will not work with SP1 or so I see when I attempt to do an update. That took me to a page where I was instructed to download SP2 and SP3 manually, which I did and installed them. I now have SP3 installed on the system but Windows Update will still not work, telling me that Windows Update won't work unless you have the current Service Pack. This issue just keeps going on. What can I do now?

 

Windows update is turned on.

I can't install any updates because I can't get to the Windows Update Site.

I have tried rebooting multiple times.

 

Resolved this Windows Update issue with the following link

http://download.windowsupdate.com/w...one/7.4.7600.226/windowsupdateagent30-x86.exe

Downloading and installing updates now

 

Thanks everyone for your input on this issue. I was never able to get to the bottom of the issue of why Windows Updates periodically trashes my laptop. It appears to take out the boot sector and I can nothing with it. It won't boot into normal or safe mode. That makes trying to diagnose which update caused the problem impossible. A repair install did not help. So, I had to do a fresh install of XP Pro and rebuild the system. Interestingly enough, all the Windows Updates installed jsut fine.

I can't afford more time on this issue but I also can't afford the time to keep rebuilding the system, so I took some of the suggestions posted here and went with a fell swoop approach. I repartioned my hard drive into two logical drives and now I do a full partition backup of my drive C every night. I allow Windows Updates to download, but I will choose when to install them. I will simply ensure I have a full partition backup prior to running any Windows Updates so that I can at least be able to restore that partition rather than rebuilding it.

I find myself sorely dissappointed in Microsoft with this bug in their Windows Update application. I know of tow other people who have experienced the same type of issues, one of them on Windows 7. That said, I thank you for your input as I feel confident that I have a work around that really won't cause me to much discomfort should thiss issues pop up again.

I will now mark this thread as resolved.

Pops