Failure to instal critical update

[Gerontius]

I am running Windows XP Pro and have been encountering
quite a few problems. The most annoying (and intractable)
one, is the repeated failure to instal a 'critical
update'. Usually I just click 'install' via autoupdate,
when the alert message comes up but the message keeps
recurring. Tonight I went to the Windows updates site and
tried to instal it from there - again unsuccessfully. The
following message came up:

'The following items failed to install. To try installing
them again, click Review and install updates, and then
click Install Now again.

Q817287: Critical Update (Catalog Database Corruption in
Microsoft Windows XP)'

Tried again, but the same result.

Does anyone know what the problem might be?

[Maurice N]

Gerontius wrote:
> I am running Windows XP Pro and have been encountering
> quite a few problems. The most annoying (and intractable)
> one, is the repeated failure to instal a 'critical
> update'. Usually I just click 'install' via autoupdate,
> when the alert message comes up but the message keeps
> recurring. Tonight I went to the Windows updates site and
> tried to instal it from there - again unsuccessfully. The
> following message came up:
>=20
> 'The following items failed to install. To try installing
> them again, click Review and install updates, and then
> click Install Now again.
>=20
<snipped>
=20
If AOL is your ISP, make sure you only use Internet Explorer to get to =
Windows Update website.=20
You make your usual AOL connection, then....bring up Internet Explorer & =
go to this site=20
http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com=20

You are having an install failure ---which can be of many different =
varieties.
The update log file would indicate if & why each failed ---should have =
error code + some text ---again, for each 1.
You need to find & "isolate" the section of the log for that "fail =
date".
Use Windows' Notepad to open this log: =20
C:\Windows\Windows Update.log (for Win XP & Win98/Me)

Having found the "error" , then do a "search" on this MS page. See MS =
Windows Update Troubleshooter=20
http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/troubleshoot/
=20
Then do the remedies outlined on that page.

Follow these steps & this article for cleanups and Insure you do not =
have a leftover "Catroot2" sub-folder !

Bring up Windows Explorer / Tools / Folder Options/ select VIEW Tab and =
look at all of settings listed.

"CHECK" (turn on) Display the contents of system folders.

Under column, Hidden files and folders----choose ( *select* ) Show =
hidden files and folders.
Next, un-check Hide extensions for known file types.
Next un-check Hide protected operating system files.

Use Windows Explorer. Go to C:\Windows\System32

If you have a sub-folder called * Catroot2 * (not Catroot) rename the
folder to CR2OLD. Or delete everything in that folder. Just make sure =
you do the right one.

Find the folder \WUTEMP & empty out all its contents. Then retry =
Windows Update. If it still fails, do the section below.

This is for all editions of Windows. Just follow section for your =
version:
Read, study, and do what this article recommends. One of the things you =
will do
is to *very carefully* remove some files from the C:\Program =
Files\WindowsUpdate\V4 folder ; plus some more.

WINUP: Error Message: "Software Update Incomplete, This Windows Update =
Software Did Not Update Successfully
<http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=3DKB;[LN];Q319585>=20

If still failing, & if you have Win XP, do this:
Select Windows Start, and then click Run.=20
In the Open box, type cmd, and then click OK.=20
At the command prompt, type the following commands, pressing ENTER after =
each line:=20
net stop cryptsvc
net start cryptsvc

Retry Windows Update.

If still failing, attach a copy of the Windows Update.log file --- but =
really try to only get the entries for the "date" of this failure.
Look at the bottom end of that file.
--=20
Maurice N
MVP Windows - Shell / User
-----

[Gerontius]

Many thanks, RevXP and MauriceN. Thanks to your advice I appear to have
fixed the problem. Thought that other XP users with the same problem should
know the solution worked.

Cheers.

"Maurice N" > wrote in message
...
Gerontius wrote:
> I am running Windows XP Pro and have been encountering
> quite a few problems. The most annoying (and intractable)
> one, is the repeated failure to instal a 'critical
> update'. Usually I just click 'install' via autoupdate,
> when the alert message comes up but the message keeps
> recurring. Tonight I went to the Windows updates site and
> tried to instal it from there - again unsuccessfully. The
> following message came up:
>
> 'The following items failed to install. To try installing
> them again, click Review and install updates, and then
> click Install Now again.
>
<snipped>

If AOL is your ISP, make sure you only use Internet Explorer to get to
Windows Update website.
You make your usual AOL connection, then....bring up Internet Explorer & go
to this site
http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com

You are having an install failure ---which can be of many different
varieties.
The update log file would indicate if & why each failed ---should have error
code + some text ---again, for each 1.
You need to find & "isolate" the section of the log for that "fail date".
Use Windows' Notepad to open this log:
C:\Windows\Windows Update.log (for Win XP & Win98/Me)

Having found the "error" , then do a "search" on this MS page. See MS
Windows Update Troubleshooter
http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/troubleshoot/

Then do the remedies outlined on that page.

Follow these steps & this article for cleanups and Insure you do not have a
leftover "Catroot2" sub-folder !

Bring up Windows Explorer / Tools / Folder Options/ select VIEW Tab and
look at all of settings listed.

"CHECK" (turn on) Display the contents of system folders.

Under column, Hidden files and folders----choose ( *select* ) Show hidden
files and folders.
Next, un-check Hide extensions for known file types.
Next un-check Hide protected operating system files.

Use Windows Explorer. Go to C:\Windows\System32

If you have a sub-folder called * Catroot2 * (not Catroot) rename the
folder to CR2OLD. Or delete everything in that folder. Just make sure you
do the right one.

Find the folder \WUTEMP & empty out all its contents. Then retry Windows
Update. If it still fails, do the section below.

This is for all editions of Windows. Just follow section for your version:
Read, study, and do what this article recommends. One of the things you
will do
is to *very carefully* remove some files from the C:\Program
Files\WindowsUpdate\V4 folder ; plus some more.

WINUP: Error Message: "Software Update Incomplete, This Windows Update
Software Did Not Update Successfully
<http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;[LN];Q319585>

If still failing, & if you have Win XP, do this:
Select Windows Start, and then click Run.
In the Open box, type cmd, and then click OK.
At the command prompt, type the following commands, pressing ENTER after
each line:
net stop cryptsvc
net start cryptsvc

Retry Windows Update.

If still failing, attach a copy of the Windows Update.log file --- but
really try to only get the entries for the "date" of this failure.
Look at the bottom end of that file.
--
Maurice N
MVP Windows - Shell / User
-----

[Maurice N]

Gerontius wrote:
> Many thanks, RevXP and MauriceN. Thanks to your advice I appear to
> have fixed the problem. Thought that other XP users with the same
> problem should know the solution worked.
>=20
> Cheers.
>=20
Cheers, Gerontius ! Good to hear that. & you're welcome.
--=20
Maurice N
MVP Windows - Shell / User
-----