XP update problems

[TBoneit]

I did a clean install on two computers this week of XP Home SP2.

After doing the first windows update the computers become unusable once the little Windows update starts to run.

Has anyone else noticed thi sproblem?

I am suspecting that it may have something to do with a new version of the windows updateing software.

Edit: I should mention that after getting all the Updates installed then the computer works normally. Even going to http://windizupdate.com/ to do the updates didn't help. It downloaded them but then didn't install them. I ended up installingthe ones that were downloaded manually and tunring off Automatic updates and then running windows update from within explorer and then the computers began working normally.

[fritzi93]

Recently, I read (forget where, sorry) that when there are problems updating, do the following:

1) Close ALL open programs, including anti-vir, etc.
2) Go to Windows -> System32. Rename and move the Catroot2 folder. Do not permanently delete it, not yet. Just in case. Or make a copy somewhere, and delete it.
3) Try updating again. Windows should create a new Catroot2 folder. Once you're certain everything's okay, delete the old Catroot2 folder.

Now that I think on it, it was from someone quoting a Knowledge Base article....Hmm, tried to find it, but got a party to go to tonight. No more time right now. Good luck.

[TBoneit]

Yeah, but the Catroot2 folder should be empty or near empty in a new install on a freshly formatted new drive.

If it was only my machine at home I'd say maybe as that also had slow updating saturday night when I remembered to do it. I have it set to tell me but now download automatically. When I rmembered and clicked download it took forever to actually download anything, sitting there at 0% for a long period of time.

I'm beginning to suspect something on microsofts end, Maybe tied into WGA checking? Since it was dog slow on two new fresh installs this past week. And of course I tend to not activate until after all the updates and drivers when I'm sure the computer is OK.

[fritzi93]

I'm beginning to suspect something on microsofts end, Maybe tied into WGA checking? Since it was dog slow on two new fresh installs this past week. And of course I tend to not activate until after all the updates and drivers when I'm sure the computer is OK.

Hmm, you could be right. Good point about the Catroot2 folder, should be (nearly) empty.

Not trying to restart the argument about WGA or anything, but I'd prefer to use Autopatcher on a fresh install and nix the WGA stuff (and Windows Update) altogether. Then periodically update with Windiz or the Autopatcher monthly release.

Good luck and I hope you post again about how you're doing with the problem.

[TBoneit]

Autopatcher? Sounds interesting and links to the website?

Got them both running Ok finally, just took all day to get the updates in from a SP2 install to completely updated. I think what helped was turning off the autoupdates and trying manually doing it. On the one computer (compaq laptop) it was a fresh OEM XP Home w/SP2 and no drivers loaded. External USB Ethernet that XP loads the drivers itself to go to net. So Catroot2 should have been empty and not corrupted either.

The first update where it installs the updated software (1st download) was normal on both, then the next pass where it should do the BITS and Windows installer update and a 3rd one (working form memory here) just doesn't go.

They're both running fine after all the updates finally got installed. However after that first update s/w they stopped shutting off, only on IE would run etc. I Treid 3 different OEM install discs so I have to believe it is something in the Windows updates update s/w as they were normal until I tried updating.

[ntscuser]

At the risk of overstating the obvious have you tried switching off automatic updates? I always do for the very good reason that if my hard drive is going to crash it usually happens immediately after installing a Windows update.

[fritzi93]

Autopatcher has "rollups" of all updates. So say you download the latest monthly rollup, that's all you need on a fresh install. I try to keep up with it, so it's not necessary to screw around with updating a fresh install. Every so often I'll download a rollup overnight and delete ones older than a few months. IIRC, starting in June they include WGA, but it's optional install.

http://www.autopatcher.com/

[TBoneit]

Thanks for the information. That sounds like the best thing going in updates I've heard of. As someone that is regularly installing a fresh copy of XP on his own computer it sounds like what the doctor ordered.

Cheers