JimL wrote:
XP Pro, SP3, heavily updated, T42 Thinkpad

I have an update that won't update. That is, new Microsoft update
proceedures give me a "Failed to install" message on it.

As bad or worse, it will not remove (Control Panel Add-Remove) either.
After telling me that some previous installation archive can't be found it
ultimately gives me a message that vs_setup.msi cannot be opened.

(It seems possible or probable that this problem is at the root of a
recent triple undate failure.)

I googled this literally for hours and discovered that everything about
vs_setup.msi is complicated, tricky, esoteric and probably insolvable
short of a 5 genius attack or total reinstallation of XP.

But I'd be glad to hear of an easy explanation/fix.

All of that and the only specifics you have given is the OS, service pack
level and type of machine. ;-)

What is the specific update in question? (Surely you have come across the
KB###### by now.)
What is the specific error message you get (nor paraphrased - word-for-word
please)?

My suggestion, given what little I have to work with, is a little cleanup
and attempt at updating again. Barring that working, SFC /SCANNOW. Barring
that working, in-place upgrade (repair installation.)


First suggestion - the cleanup:

Download/install this:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301

After installing, do the following:

Start button -- RUN -- type in:
"%ProgramFiles%\Windows Installer Clean Up\msizap.exe" g!
-- Click OK.
(The quotation marks and percentage signs and spacing should be exact.)

Download, install, run, update and perform a full scan (separately) with the
following two applications (freeware versions are the ones to use for this):

SuperAntiSpyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/

MalwareBytes
http://www.malwarebytes.com/

After performing a full scan with one and then the other and removing
whatever they both find completely, you may uninstall these products,
if you wish.

Download and run the MSRT manually:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/ma...e/default.mspx

Reboot.

Download/Install the latest Windows Installer (for your OS):
( Windows XP 32-bit : WindowsXP-KB942288-v3-x86.exe )
http://www.microsoft.com/downloadS/d...displaylang=en

Reboot.

and...

Download the latest version of the Windows Update agent from here (x86):
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=91237
.... and save it to the root of your C:\ drive. After saving it to the root
of the C:\ drive, do the following:

Close all Internet Explorer windows and other applications.

Start button -- RUN and type in:
%SystemDrive%\windowsupdateagent30-x86.exe /WUFORCE
-- Click OK.

(If asked, select "Run.) -- Click on NEXT -- Select "I agree" and click on
NEXT -- When it finishes installing, click on "Finish"...

Reboot.

Then follow the instructions he

How do I reset Windows Update components?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058

Reboot.

CHKDSK
How to scan your disks for errors
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315265
* will take time and a reboot

Defragment
How to Defragment your hard drives
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314848
* will take time

Reboot.

Log on as an user with administrative rights and open Internet Explorer
and visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and select to do a
CUSTOM scan...

Every time you are about to click on something while at these web pages -
first press and hold down the CTRL key while you click on it. You can
release the CTRL key after clicking each time.

Once the scan is done, select just _ONE_ of the high priority updates
(deselect any others) and install it.

Reboot again.

If it did work - try the web page again - selecting no more than 3-5 at a
time. Rebooting as needed.

The Optional Software updates are generally safe - although I recommend
against the "Windows Search" one and any of the "Office Live" ones or
"Windows Live" ones for now. I would completely avoid the
Optional Hardware updates. Also - I do not see any urgent need to install
Internet Explorer 8 at this time.

Seriously - do all that. This is like antibiotics - don't skip a single
step, don't quit because you think things will be okay now - go through
until the end, until you have done everything given in the order given. If
you have a problem with a step come ask and let someone here get you
through that step. If you don't understand how to do a step, come back and
ask here about that step and let someone walk you through it.

Then - when done - let everyone here know if it worked for you - or if you
have more issues.


Second suggestion, SFC /SCANNOW.

You'll need your Windows XP CD. It should have the service pack you are at
(SP3 according to what you have given) integrated. If it does not - you may
wish to do that now (Google nLite or AutoStreamer for easy methods) as you
should have one of these for this and/or the repair install.

Reboot and log on as an administrative level user. Start button -- RUN and
type in SFC /SCANNOW. Follow the instructions, rebooting when done.


Third suggestion - repair install.

How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm


In any case - the more specifics you give, the more likely you will get the
assistance you need. ;-)

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html