SP2 will not install

[Steve]

I have tried everything (I think). I have attempted installation of SP2 at
least 6 times and just spent an hour on the phone with Microsoft SP2
support. Their only answer was to run repair or reformat. Since I just
recently ran repair, I am hoping someone else has a better answer. (I have
the SP2 CD.)

Here is what happens:

After it does the inspection of the computer and backs up the files and
starts copying files, it gets to a point (different point each time) and
stops telling me there is a copy error with a particular file (the file is
different each time) The specific error is:

An error occurred while copying file ----------- (always different file)
Cannot copy file to destination directory.
Click Retry to retry or Cancel to cancel.

Retrying does not do anything.

Clicking Cancel gives a dialogue box that asks if I want to continue without
copying the file. If I say yes, it gives me the same error again, but with a
different box asking me to check the source location of the file to make
sure the file is there. I check and the file is there to be copied, but
clicking OK does not work. It tries to copy again and gives the same error.
The only other choice is to cancel and it restores everything back to the
way it was.

Any suggestions? Please!

Steve

 

[Taurarian]

http://www.michna.com/kb/WxSP2.htm#Cannot_install_Service_Pack_2
Cannot install Service Pack 2

Scroll to: Cannot copy file

 

[Steve]

Thanks for the response. But these suggestions do not work with my problem
(although they are good suggestions.) The site you suggested says:
"This can be caused by virtual drive software. Try to deactivate such
software. If this is not enough, you may have to uninstall it entirely."

I don't have such software installed

"Another possible cause is that some version of the offending file is
already on the hard disk and cannot be overwritten for one reason or
another. (This has been reported, for example, for the file branches.inf.) A
way to get around this problem is to rename the old file on your hard disk.
You can do this even while you still have the error message on your screen.
Find and rename the file on your disk, then click on the Retry button in the
error message dialog box."

The file cannot be renamed. I have tried this numerous times.

"If renaming fails at first, because the file on the disk is read-only,
removing the read-only attribute may already cure the problem."

I am not able to change the attribute. The file where it stops is always "in
use" and therefore cannot be overwritten.

Steve

 

[Taurarian]

Have you tried installing in safe mode?

Thanks for the response. But these suggestions do not work with my problem
(although they are good suggestions.) The site you suggested says:
"This can be caused by virtual drive software. Try to deactivate such
software. If this is not enough, you may have to uninstall it entirely."

I don't have such software installed

"Another possible cause is that some version of the offending file is
already on the hard disk and cannot be overwritten for one reason or
another. (This has been reported, for example, for the file branches.inf.) A
way to get around this problem is to rename the old file on your hard disk.
You can do this even while you still have the error message on your screen.
Find and rename the file on your disk, then click on the Retry button in the
error message dialog box."

The file cannot be renamed. I have tried this numerous times.

"If renaming fails at first, because the file on the disk is read-only,
removing the read-only attribute may already cure the problem."

I am not able to change the attribute. The file where it stops is always "in
use" and therefore cannot be overwritten.

Steve

 

[Steve]

Have you tried installing in safe mode?

Yes. Same problem.

 

[Taurarian]

Hi Steve, next step - suggest you try the WU Newsgroup and perhaps someone there
maybe able to assist you further. State what you've already tried to avoid
duplication. Give as much information as possible.
Good luck

Windows Update newsgroup:
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsupdate
or
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...=microsoft.public.windowsupdate&lang=en&cr=US