Windows Updates Won't Install

[Guest]

I have been receiving messages for a few weeks about windows updates that
have been downloaded and are ready to install. Whether I try to do so from
the icon on the bottom of the screen or from Windows Update at msn.com (in
either custom or express mode), the installation fails. When I look at
Update History on the msn site, there is one of the pending updates that has
repeatedly failed: Microsoft GDI + Detection Tool (KB873374). When I click
on the failure icon that should give me an error code, nothing pops up. None
of the other pending updates has even gotten as far as failing to install!
I have left the computer in installation mode for up to 15 hours, to no
avail. Now when I tell it to install the updates, I get a box that says
"initializing installation" and it does nothing. I tried to cancel the
installation. Now the box has said "cancelling installation" for hours and
hours. I have Norton Antivirus software installed. Anybody know what's
going on? Thanks!

 

[PA Bear]

How to troubleshoot Windows Update, Microsoft Update, and Windows Server
Update Services installation issues:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=906602

1. See the "Need more help? Tell us what problem you are having" section of
http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=ph;en-us;6527

2. You cannot install some updates or programs
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;822798

3a. Check Windowsupdate.log (%windir%\Windowsupdate.log) for errors
associated with the download/install.

How to read the Windowsupdate.log file:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=902093

3b. Compare errors to those listed here:
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/archive/windows_update_codes.htm and/or go to
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com > click on Help and Support link in left
pane > Solve problems on your own.

4. Windows Update Checklist:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/updtcl.htm

5. Windows Update-specific newsgroup:
news://msnews.microsoft.com/mi­crosoft.public.windowsupdate

Archive of Windows Update newsgroup:
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsupdate

 

[Maurice N ~ MVP]

<kibbitz>

Housekeeping and cleanup steps:
Bring up Windows Explorer / Tools / Folder Options/ select VIEW Tab and look at all of settings listed.

"CHECK" (turn on) Display the contents of system folders.

Under column, Hidden files and folders----choose ( *select* ) Show hidden files and folders.
Next, un-check Hide extensions for known file types.
Next un-check Hide protected operating system files.

Use Windows Explorer. Go to C:\Windows\System32 ( <<-- or \WINNT\System32

If you have a sub-folder called * Catroot2 * (not Catroot) rename the
folder to CR2OLD. Or delete everything in that folder. Just make sure you do the right one.

(to clean up downloaded files for Automatic updates / Windows Update)
From main Windows Start menu, select RUN, type in
CMD <Enter-key>

type in
net stop wuauserv <Enter-key>

Go to Windows Explorer.
Look on your system drive (usually C ) and look at the Windows folder name. Like Windows or WINNT.
Modify following as appropriate.
If your Windows folder is C:\Windows. Look at this folder
C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download

If you find files in there, delete them. That folder is where files are stored from W U downloads.



Other suggestion: In Internet Explorer browser > main menu /Tools/Internet Options >

Security Tab/ click on green icon Trusted Sites/click Sites button.
Click "Require server verification (https for all sites in this zone" to *clear* the selection.

In the "Add this Web site to the zone:" field, add these entries to list of "Trusted Sites" --

type
http://download.windowsupdate.com (click Add)

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com

http://update.microsoft.com

Click OK.

If you have Internet Explorer version 6:
Place sites into Exceptions list (to get around Pop-up blocking):
Internet Explorer > main menu /Tools/Popup Blocker>Pop-up Blocker settings

In block titled "Address of Web site to allow" type in
update.microsoft.com , then click Add.
Repeat for windowsupdate.microsoft.com

then press Close.
Apply changes.


Go back to Windows Update & just Review history.
Click on the Red X where install failure is noted.

Post back with exact wording.


+ +
Check the Windowsupdate.log , as per Robear's suggestion. It ought to have a "Error" notation for the date in question.

+ +
Go back to Command prompt window.
type in
net start wuauserv <Enter-key>

EXIT <Enter-key>

+ +
Before your next visit to Windows Update website, temporarily disable Norton Antivirus. {re-activate after updates are completed}

 

[Maurice N ~ MVP]

Housekeeping and cleanup steps:
Bring up Windows Explorer / Tools / Folder Options/ select VIEW Tab and look at all of settings listed.

"CHECK" (turn on) Display the contents of system folders.

Under column, Hidden files and folders----choose ( *select* ) Show hidden files and folders.
Next, un-check Hide extensions for known file types.
Next un-check Hide protected operating system files.

Use Windows Explorer. Go to C:\Windows\System32 ( <<-- or \WINNT\System32

If you have a sub-folder called * Catroot2 * (not Catroot) rename the
folder to CR2OLD. Or delete everything in that folder. Just make sure you do the right one.

(to clean up downloaded files for Automatic updates / Windows Update)
From main Windows Start menu, select RUN, type in
CMD <Enter-key>

type in
net stop wuauserv <Enter-key>

Go to Windows Explorer.
Look on your system drive (usually C ) and look at the Windows folder name. Like Windows or WINNT.
Modify following as appropriate.
If your Windows folder is C:\Windows. Look at this folder
C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download

If you find files in there, delete them. That folder is where files are stored from W U downloads.



Other suggestion: In Internet Explorer browser > main menu /Tools/Internet Options >

Security Tab/ click on green icon Trusted Sites/click Sites button.
Click "Require server verification (https for all sites in this zone" to *clear* the selection.

In the "Add this Web site to the zone:" field, add these entries to list of "Trusted Sites" --

type
http://download.windowsupdate.com (click Add)

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com

http://update.microsoft.com

Click OK.

If you have Internet Explorer version 6:
Place sites into Exceptions list (to get around Pop-up blocking):
Internet Explorer > main menu /Tools/Popup Blocker>Pop-up Blocker settings

In block titled "Address of Web site to allow" type in
update.microsoft.com , then click Add.
Repeat for windowsupdate.microsoft.com

then press Close.
Apply changes.


Go back to Windows Update & just Review history.
Click on the Red X where install failure is noted.

Post back with exact wording.


+ +
Check the Windowsupdate.log , as per Robear's suggestion. It ought to have a "Error" notation for the date in question.

+ +
Go back to Command prompt window.
type in
net start wuauserv <Enter-key>

EXIT <Enter-key>

+ +
Before your next visit to Windows Update website, temporarily disable Norton Antivirus. {re-activate after updates are completed}