I have cleaning up someone computer which was filled with viruses and spyware. It is XP Home SP1.

The viruses and spyware are gone, and SP2 is installed. Windows Firewall is on, as is Windows Update. Almost all the missing updates have been installed via AutoPatcher.

.Net Framework 2.0 seems to be a problem. I can't get to install cleanly. Using a .net cleanup tool, I have removed the .net software. Now I am putting it back one update at a time.

Windows Update has downloaded some updates, that fail when they try to install. When I turn off the computer, Windows wants to install these failed updates. Other than turning off updates, how can I get rid of these updates?

Thanks.

There are many things that can mess up updates. I have seen it many times at work and honestly got dragged into a lazy way out. There is site out there that allows you to download and install updates in FireFox. I was "turned on" to this by a coworker.

Regardless....the point. Most of the time you will receive some type of error somewhere in the screen and you just need to do a search for the error #.
I was honestly VERY suprised that when I did the searches, the resolutions MS had actually WORKED!! Most of the time they either do not or you have to search through many other sites/pages/etc. to get a real solution.

So, from now on.....I have been printing these resolution pages for personal reference. I've only encountered 2 since I decided to quit being lazy but I will help you if you need it.

long shot...
was XP system restore cleared?
... just a suggestion

I had someone call me with this same exact problem today (he said it's been going on for about a week now). I've never seen it myself so I wasn't able to help him but automatic updates tries to install it every time he shuts down and fails and going to windows updates fails.

Google has revealed that others are having the same issue and some have posted what worked for them but nothing has worked for him yet.

One thing to try is to delete the system32\catroot2 folder then reinstall all updates again from the beginning. This is just a guess...

If he brings his pc to me next week and I find a fix then I'll post back here.

Tom

I"ve seen this 3 different times and each time required a different solution... first try Steels suggestion and using the error number given on the Windows update site follow their instructions... The one I was given was simply delete the registry location that said the update had run, another method that worked ( only once ) was to uninstall all .NET updates... then simply re-install them. The third one and toughest was a solution that required me to follow a relatively short set of instructions but I can't recall where I found them but it was through a google search.

Oh.. one thing that I've used for a number of update errors... download the actual update in question and just run it without any switches... this will also give you clues as to what may be happening... of course you could also read the LOG file which is normally in the Windows directory.

Thanks. The error # is helpful in some cases.

What's the site that you used in firefox?

I have turned off system restore.

Also, I turned automatic updates, shut the computer down, xp didn't ask to install on shut down. Turned updates back on, xp didn't ask to install anything.

I have .net 1.1 installed and everything seems fine so far. am about to try .net 2.0 using autopatcher.

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Lockergnome: Windows Update For Firefox

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note: interesting discussion ; see posts/replies from "62nds"