Microsoft Update fails in Windows 2000

[Trond Ruud]

I have both Vista (64-bits) and Win2000 on my machine. In Vista, Microsoft
Update works faultlessly, but in Win2000 the downloads often stops or don't
start at all, and
if they succeed, the installations often freeze, requiring a hard reset and
reboot. Consequently only a very few of the Win2000 updates ever get
installed,
which worries me quite a bit. (I need Win2000 in order to run some older
software and use some older peripherals, that don't work with Vista 64) What
can I do to get Win2000 properly updated?

There are lots of kb hints that NVIDIA shell extensions are the reason, and
that , some kamikaze registry editing "might, perhaps" solve the problem,
which isn't much of a help to the common user.
Trond Ruud,
Norway

 

[Sky King]

Hi;

It would help to know exactly what error(s) you see when the Win2000 system
fails to update. Check the last 10-to-15 lines of the WindowsUpdate.log
file (located in the Windows folder) and look for the 8-hex-digit error
codes listed there; post back with that info.

Meanwhile, as a first step, it is often helpful in clearing up Windows
Update issues to clean out the SoftwareDistribution folder (it tends to get
corrupted a lot for various reasons). Boot into Safe Mode, delete the
entire C:\Winnt\SoftwareDistribution folder. You will lose your WU History,
but that isn't a big deal and nothing to worry about. While still in Safe
Mode, rename the WindowsUpdate.LOG file to something like "WinUpdatelog.OLD"
(a new .log file will be automatically generated later). Then delete the
contents of the Temp and TMP folders (all of them) and clear the IE browser
TIF, History and Cookies (open Control Panel, Internet Options, and delete
those items using the options on the General tab).

Then boot back into Normal Mode. The folder you deleted will be recreated
next time you visit the WU website, so after booting back into Normal Mode
and before doing anything else, open IE and go to the WU website. Watch for
the yellow warning bar and download/install any ActiveX controls offered by
MS.

If the problem perists after clearing out that folder, please post back with
the error code info you see in the newly created WindowsUpdate.LOG file.

--

....Sky

Tom "Sky" King
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In