Solution for: Windows XP (NL): Windows Activation Problem + WindowsAutomatic Update Problem = Very S

[Skybuck]

I think I have found a solution on the internet, I will sum it up
shortly because the description wasn't that accurate, my description
will be more accurate with additional information about what I think
might have happened, but first a little story what I wanted to do
today:

Today I wanted to try and install Service Pack 3 for Windows XP dutch
version (NL).

This was not possible because Windows Automatic Updates was required
by the Microsoft website to be able to download it and windows
automatic updates is malfunctioning, so that became a short attempt.

Then I decided to look into the matter/problem some more... I came
across what seems to be a solution, the solution is:

First stop windows automatic updates. (Via Control Panel/
Administrative Tools/Services)
(ConfiguratieScherm/Systeembeheer/Services)

Then open Windows Explorer/My Computer/This Computer and open the
following folder:

C:\Windows

Inside that folder is another yellow folder called:
SoftwareDistribution.

Rename this folder to for example SoftwareDistribution(Old).
(right click to get pop up menu with has the rename option).

Then start windows automatic updates again.

Then go to windowsupdate.microsoft.com or simply
update.microsoft.com

It will now simply redownload the web controls for automatic updates I
think... and it will make a new folder called SoftwareDistribution.

This folder should then only be 5.81 MB big or so...

The strange thing is that the old folder was 600 MB ?!

Furthermore the windows update site says that hundreds of patches were
not/never installed ?!?

Is it maybe confused... because the old history is now gone (via the
old folder rename) or were they never installed because of maybe some
stupid anti virus product or some other problem ?

For now I guess windows update is simply confused and the patches were
installed.

So far so good.

I will now attempt to skip over these 100's of patches and instead
install service pack 3 which seems a smart thing to do... the 100's of
patches are for sp2 only probably... and that's old... installing
those patches could conflict with sp3 very maybe...

So first sp3 and then i'll attempt another update to get the latest
patches for sp3.

And hopefully then this computer will start to work better again,
hopefully flash 10.x will install... and hopefully the computer can
then be considered "saved" and secure/updating again and running
smoothly again.

This have to re-install everything would be way too much work for my
taste ! including the backup and restoring of stuff bleh
Could take days to do such a thing...

Therefore hopefully this sp3 will do the trick and keep ths computer
running for a while

(I also contacted microsoft support... but I probably won't be needing
that... oh well...)

I'll return with another post to let you know how it went...

Bye,
Skybuck.

 

[Skybuck]

Microsoft: fail.

2 seconds.

Bye,
Skybuck.

 

[Skybuck]

Windows automatic updates simply starts to malfunction again... it
makes the computer almost not respond, harddisk rattles endlessly...
it's probably microsoft bullshit to rename that folder... it just
distraction tactic... it doesn't solve anything.. it simply restarts
the whole shit until it leads up to problems... so not gonna try that
anymore.

Only thing left to do is backup pictures, people's data, and do a
format, reinstall of english software no more dutch bullshit.

And no more access for dumb-ass stupid people who probably ****ed this
machine up... no more access for them ever...

Bye,
Skybuck.

 

[Skybuck]

Though that gonna get me in a fight with my family members maybe so I
rather avoid that...

So I will give it one more attempt at trying to find a direct download
link for xp sp3 dutch version...

I think I found not yet sure if automatic updates bullshit is required
for it...

Bye,
Skybuck.

 

[Skybuck]

Ok,

I think I found one:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...a8-5e76-401f-be08-1e1555d4f3d4&displaylang=nl

I'm gonna give it a try it's 300 MB

Bye,
Skybuck.

 

[Rob]

Microsoft: fail.

2 seconds.

Bye,
Skybuck.

Hou toch eens op met dat geleuter man!
Je kunt er gewoon niks van. Zelfs dit simpele probleem kun je
nog niet oplossen. Je bent een NUL.

 

[Spook van Rook]

Hou toch eens op met dat geleuter man!
Je kunt er gewoon niks van. Zelfs dit simpele probleem kun je
nog niet oplossen. Je bent een NUL.

Is dat niet een beetje erg hard? Je had tenminste toch nog wat achter de
komma kunnen zetten.

 

[Skybuck]

Installing service pack 3 for windows xp 32 bit home edition went ok.

At least this seems to have solved the problem with installing flash
10.1 which was now successfull, this has been tested via google street
view which seems to need it.

I also tried to get the latest patches for service pack 3 but the same
happens, it just keeps on rattling endlessly...

It seems a programming inefficiency in the windows update website and
activex component since access the harddisk to view pictures works
just fine.
Ofcourse it could also simply be a programming bug.

I was kinda surprised to see internet explorer 6.0 is still installed
on this machine.

It seems to work rather just fine.

But I am starting to wonder if the windows automatic update
inefficiency is perhaps because of javascript inefficiency or maybe
activex inefficiency.

It seems unlikely though, since automatic updates can work without the
webbrowser as far as I know.

So I don't see how an old webbrowser could be responsible for this
apperent inefficiency... unless it does somehow use it.

I don't think so so for now I will not waste my time with installing a
new webbrowser and running the risk of a memory hog and system hog of
IE7 or IE8.

I also spent enough time on this computer for now... I already spent
3+ hours on it today. I was hoping to be back early to work on my
apps... but I also wanted to install sp3.. so far I think it has been
worth it..

I also cleaned up the PC somewhat... removed many old games which I
never played anyway anymore like Call of Duty United Offensive lol.
And battlefield 1943 ?!? Totally forgot it was on it... and some other
stuff.

The PC only has 256 MB of ram... it does seem to be a bit short of ram
because of all the rattling... but when I look at task manager it
seems to have memory available so doesn't really seem a problem,
unless windows is being carefull not to run out of memory... but I
don't think that's how windows works... it will happily use the swap/
page file if it needs to be...

So my conclusion for now is that the harddisk is either slow, or it's
fragmented... and needs a big defragment session... or maybe something
else is going on... but now the harddisk is quiet... so a rootkit
seems unlikely...

It seems nice and clean for now... but just a bit slow. Maybe it's
because I am used to my DreamPC and double harddisk setup with
pagefile on other disk... and ofcourse fast IBM deathstar series
euhm darkstar ?!? whatever lol. I totally forgot their names can I
only remember deathstar lol.

I was kinda hoping all the clean up might make the PC a bit faster...
it does seems to be a littttle bit faster.

The defrag will have to wait for another time... I am tired and going
home.

I will disable automatic updates for now because it still seems to be
malfunctioning.

Bye,
Skybuck.

 

[Skybuck Flying]

On my way home I didn't feel too comfortable leaving the computer in a state
of just having service pack 3.

It was probably more secure with the probably installed patches for service
pack 2.

At least flash is now working correctly again so I should get no further
complaints from family members

There probably is a way to install all the patches manually... could be a
time consuming job... but at least it gets
around the website bullshit with all the searching and wasting time
bullshit.

So if it comes down to that then maybe that could be a way...

Especially if somebody else already collected all the patches and made them
available in a direct download/install.

Installing windows xp 64 bit edition onto a 256 MB ram machine doesn't seem
to smart to me... the 64 bit edition probably
takes two times the memory requirement so it would cut the machine's
workspace in half... so I am not gonna do that

The computer simply has to be "saved" for now

Bye,
Skybuck =D

 

[Skybuck Flying]

Is dat niet een beetje erg hard? Je had tenminste toch nog wat achter de
komma kunnen zetten.

Laat Rob lekker spelen in de kleuter tuin... De kleuter staat bij mij allang
op de banlist HAHAHA Lol.

Doei,
Skybuck =D

P.S.: Je kunt er op wachten op dat soort teringlijers.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Skybuck wrote:

I will disable automatic updates for now because it still seems to be
malfunctioning.

Uh-huh, Automatic Updates is malfunctioning...

 

[Skybuck Flying]

Skybuck wrote:


Uh-huh, Automatic Updates is malfunctioning...

So does that mean you don't take it seriously ?

Bye,
Skybuck.

 

[Skybuck Flying]

Skybuck wrote:


Uh-huh, Automatic Updates is malfunctioning...

You know I tell you something.

If I was Bill Gates/Steve Balmer and it turned out that I was correct and
windows update *was* indeed malfunctioning.

I would fire the whole window updates team that same day.

Because this is the kind of thing that will make *average dag* people wanna
switch to *anything* else.

I couldn't write such a piece of crap on accident even if I tried !

Bye,
Skybuck.