SP2 update hung -did not complete

[Guest]

When I tried to use windows update to do sp2 everything moved along to about
80% complete. The dialogue box showed that it was "processing cleanup" but
after 20 minutes the progress bar had not moved at all. All buttons on the
update box were greyed out and so I had to use ctr/alt/delete to get out of
the update program. I did a restart and although it took a long time to
reboot, windows came up and when I went to control panel/system, it showed
that I had windows xp sp2. When I go into the tool bar I can see new options
that are now available that came along with sp2.

My question: Because I never got any message saying installation complete or
installation successful, is there anything I should be doing to make sure I
have a full successful installation for sp2?

 

[Guest]

I can teach you a trick that might make it easy to redo the install. First
locae your "

C:\Windows\Software Download\

folder, and look at the date on the numbered(GUID) folders there. The one
with the right date is the sp2 update. Go to ..<some long
number>/update/update.exe to run the reinstall.
First, of course, you would take SP2 out with Add/remove.

 

[Guest]

I went to c\windows\ but there was no folder called software download.

 

[Guest]

.../SoftwareDistribution/

 

[Guest]

I went to c\windows\ but there was no folder called software download.

Did you try to see the History of your downloads on windows updates site?.
Open the MS Windows updates site and after the site or ActiveX performed the
Check click on History and see if the SP2 labelled as Success or does it have
a Red (X)?.
HTH.
nass

 

[Guest]

I went to the update history as you suggested and I see that SP@ is marked as
failed. Do I just try to reinstall it or do I have to do the steps outlined
by Mark Ferguson, ie. if I go to add/remove programs it shows the name of sp2
but it does not show anything for file size. And what about going into the
windows/software distribution folder and looking for some numbered GUID
folder to run the reinstall? You are talking with a real novice here so I
apologize for not being able to relate well to all of the suggestions.
Thanks.
Carl

 

[Guest]

Hi Carl,
Try the following:
Click Start >> Control panel >> Add/Remove Programs and Remove the SP2, as
it failed in the history of your Updates.
Then perform this step and the other steps for cleaning I gave to you in the
other Post:
1.... Open windows explorer and locate these paths:
C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution = Delete all Folders in the Right
Pane/Window (like download,updates..etc.)
Then this path:
C:\Windows\Temp\Temporary Internet Files\IE.5Content = Delete all here.
Then run Disk CleanUp and Defrag in Safe Mode.
Note: If you have a slow Dial Up try to avoid the busy Pick time for your
ISP that can affect your download or try the download on another machine that
has a DSL and download on a CD/DVD.
Windows XP Service Pack 2 Network Installation Package for IT Professionals
and Developers
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...BE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en
HTH.
nass

 

[Guest]

Ok--I did the remove sp2--that was a bit scary as it kept showing files that
were being deleted and saying here are some programs that might not run
correctly if deleted --bbut I continued thru the uninstall. Now--I went to
windows/software distribution--I just want to be sure before i go farther.
Here is the list of folders that was in the software distribution folder:
Auth Cabs, Data Store, Download, Event cacche, Self update, web setup,
Wuredir, and reporting events.log.
Do you want me to delete all of these?

Also, how do I boot up in the safe mode to run disc cleanup and defrag?

I do have dsl so that will aid with the download of sp2 when Iget to it.
You mentioned a url to download sp2 network Inst pkg for it professionals--is
this something different than just going to windows update for the download
or the microsoft xp home page that shows sp2 for a download?

Thanks.

 

[Guest]

There are several reports of this same problem in various news groups -
e.g. search for 0x00055e92 in the Windows Update newsgroup.
I was looking for a solution too because I also had the problem.
It seems that the solution is to ignore the error - just Restart and you
come up with SP2. This is what I and at least one other user did.
If "my Computer" properties says your version is SP2,
and online Windows Update gives you the updates for SP2
(and does not offer SP2 as an update), then you probably have
a good SP2 (like me).
I don't know what the last part of the Cleanup does, but it doesn't
appear to be necessary.
If any Microsoft expert sees this, maybe they could explain what's going on.

 

[Guest]

Hi Carl,
Yes delete all this Sub-folders, because this which keep track of what you
downloaded.
To log into safe mode Tap F8 on Start Up before getting the Blue welcome
screen, a boot up options will show select Safe Mode and perform the defrag
there.
The link is For IT people whom might have lots of Machine in a co-operate
environment and instead of running the update on every machine they can use
this to put on Network drive and let the machine Install SP2 from that Server
or machine, time saving and resource (internet wise).
Come to why this can happen, if the procedure of downloading SP2 interrupted
or the download damaged or corrupted partially by any means it can show you
that he installation a failure, but still the SP2 can function on your
machine, but not to full.
It can happen between you and the server or on your machine, like Power
supply not given your machine a clean current, Anti-Virus interfering, a
packet corrupted during the download and so on..etc.
/* It looks like making a birthday cake, the ingredients involve three Eggs,
the by dropped one Egg you left with two Eggs, but you still can go a head
and make the cake and still edible but for the professional cook, still need
Extra Egg or a half an Egg, this an example I may didn't have my breakfast
LOL.*/
So you can download the Professional one on your Desktop then Disconnect
from the Internet, turn your Anti-Virus OFF and Firewall and try the
installation, you can save the installation folder on a CD for future usage.
HTH.
nass

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your feedback. My system did show it is sp2 and windows update
doesn't offer it. However, I have already done some of the recommendations ,
including removing sp2 from the pc, so I will continue on with the remainder
of the directions.

 

[Guest]

I removed sp2 as suggestedand I tried to delete all sub folders in the
software distribution folder. However, one called data store, event cache ,
and reporting events log--I get a message that they are being used by another
program and can't be deleted. any sugestions on my next steps/ Also, why
would i have to bbot up in safe mode to run defrag and disk cleanup rather
than from a normal startup? Thanks.
Carl

 

[Guest]

Carl,
Is it better to run when you are fit or when you exhausted?.
The same with the Computer, in safe mode less resources been taken by the
system for other applications/programs that run in Normal Mode, that been
said.
It is not necessary to accomplish the reset of the steps, but I recommend
for better result and be 100% (may be) that nothing will interfere with the
new installation of SP2.
You can Now try to download and install the SP2 to your machine and hope for
the good or you can continue the reset of the steps.
You can delete this in safe mode if you wish.
HTH.
nass

 

[Guest]

I apologize that I am still not sure what to do next. I understand that I
shoud do the defrag and disk cleanup in safe mode. But what about the 32 sub
folders in software distribution and the reporting events.log that will not
let me delete them--won't that be a risk to the new installation if I can't
get rid of them. Or are you telling me I may be able to delete them in the
safe mode as other applications won't be running in safe mode. Thanks for
your patience with me.
carl

 

[Guest]

You can delete this also in safe mode, then run the Update Engine and see if
the SP2 in the selections, also there is some updates need to be installed
individually.
HTH.
nass

 

[Guest]

Bummer! SP2 goes along well till it gets to a point where it says "finishing
installation--performing cleanup". This runs for aout 40 minutes with no
visible signs of progress and then I get a message "sp2 encountered an
error-closinh installation". I guess I'll just have to live with sp1. I
have Norton 360 with its firewall and antivirus as security.

I have a laptop that has XP Home Edition on it and it already includes sp2
in it. I have a CD that came with it that contains the XP Operating system
in case it ever needed to be reinstalled. Could I just use it on my desktop
and reinstall that system that has sp2 in it or would it not work on the
desktop? Or might it mess up my files and programs on the desktop? My
desktop is a Dell dimension 2400 and the laptop is a Dell Inspiron 6000.

 

[Guest]

No Carl, It will not work try and see if the SP2 is in the Add/Remove
Programs, something is forking the installation for some reason.
Try to download the Offline SP2 for IT Professional and run the installation
from it while disconnected, you can download on your Desktop and this time
turn Norton OFF during the installation then turn ON when Finished the
Successful SP2 installation.
HTH.
nass

 

[Guest]

I will try what you have recommended. I notice that when I go to add/remove
programs there was a line for sp2 again and so I removed it as I had before.
However, there are also three line items called hotfixes that have an sp2 in
their title. Should these be removed too before trying to do the sp2
install? Two of them will allow me to doa remove--the third, when I click on
it does not present an add/remove button to click.
Carl

 

[Guest]

Yes, carl Remove them and then download SP2 and perform an offline
installation for SP2.
The third one may be a failed one, so don't worry about too much.
HTH.
nass

 

[Guest]

The other day when I tried t o do sp2 a second time, it never completed.
After I did the add/remove I went to windows update history and it showed it
had been a successful install. However, I had already uninstalled it. I
should have looked at update history first. Anyway, I did the download of
sp2 to my desktop--turned off everything and tried to install it--and it
conked out at the same point as always " performing cleanup". Because the
last time I found out that windows update history considered it successful, I
am taking the chance that it got to the same point and maybe it is successful
now also. I hate to keep doing add/remove on this. When I had remvoved it
the first time , I began to get errors on web pages and unable to print email
messages from yahoo. Howeever, after doing this last sp2 install as far as
it would go , and then doing a restart, the errors on the web pages stopped
showing up and now I can priont from yahoo mail again.

Do you know of any good diagnostic tools I could run on windows to see if it
can locate any problems in the system that might be causing me not to
complete the sp2 install? I had noticed that even before I tried to do sp2,
that I was unable to do a system restore , regardless of which bolded dates I
chose from in the restore calendar. It waould always say, system restore
unsuccessful" pick another date.

I have not been having any known problems with my pc--programs work as
expected--internet works quickly and without any problems. Thanks.
Carl