Windows updater problem - need help!

[Stephen]

I did a Windows repair install, without first uninstalling IE7. Big mistake, as I now understand. After several hours of tryihng to uninstall fragments of IE6, including deleting IE7 in the recovery console, running a new repair install, and then re-installing IE7 from the web - I now have a working IE7 back. (I'll spare the details of IE6 going haywire in the middle of this mess).

Now, I can get the WIndows Updater to work. It tells me I need to install version 3.1, but every time I try the install fails.

I have the 3.0 version of the msi dll in my systems 32 folder, but it isn't working. When I try to upate, the only option I am getting is to download the 3.1 installer update - which then fails.

In my add and remove folder in the control panel, I have a "Hotfix for XP KB915865) which was apparently installed today.

Does anyone have any ideas as to how I can fix the windows updater?

--------------------------
On another forum someone pointed me to an XP Pro fix for resetting security settings back to the defaults (Q31222). However, when I tried this I got an error message that "secedit" was not a recognized command.

Does anyone know of a similar fix for XP Home (which is what I have)?

[angelkiller]

Honestly, I hate screwing around with errors like those. (My lack of patience doesn't help either) But it that was happening to me, I'd just reinstall the OS. If you system is new, it's better to do it now that to have no choice later.

[ktriebol]

I had the same problem and last week I decided that I was going to do whatever it took to fix it. I found the answer on the Microsoft Windows Updater forum. That is where you should have looked first. Here is a link to the post that helped me (I hope I get this right):
[http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupda ... IsMu=False]
If that link doesn't work, I am pasting the key info here:

1. Delete the contents of the DataStore folder
1. Stop the Automatic Updates service
1. Click Start.
2. Choose Run.
3. In the Run box, type services.msc.
4. Click OK.
5. Right-click the Automatic Updates service.
6. Click Stop.
Stopping the service will take a moment.
2. Delete the contents of the DataStore folder
1. Click Start.
2. Choose Run.
3. In the Run box, type %windir%\SoftwareDistribution.
4. Click OK.
5. Open the DataStore folder.
6. Delete all contents of the DataStore folder.
7. Close the window.
3. Start the Automatic Updates service
1. Click Start.
2. Choose Run.
3. In the Run box, type services.msc.
4. Click OK.
5. Right-click the Automatic Updates service.
6. Click Start.
Starting the service will take a moment.

These instructions might be a little confusing, so if you have any questions just post or pm me. Also, if this solution does not work for you, go to the Microsoft Windows Updater forum and search for other solutions.

[/url]

[NeilBlanchard]

Windows is frustrating.

You will be better off reinstalling from scratch. Problems get compounded (as you have already found out), and starting over is the best way to go.

[J. Sparrow]

Does anyone have any ideas as to how I can fix the windows updater?

May I suggest

http://www.autopatcher.com/

?

[Stephen]

I had the same problem and last week I decided that I was going to do whatever it took to fix it. I found the answer on the Microsoft Windows Updater forum. That is where you should have looked first. Here is a link to the post that helped me (I hope I get this right):
[http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupda ... IsMu=False]
If that link doesn't work, I am pasting the key info here:

1. Delete the contents of the DataStore folder
1. Stop the Automatic Updates service
1. Click Start.
2. Choose Run.
3. In the Run box, type services.msc.
4. Click OK.
5. Right-click the Automatic Updates service.
6. Click Stop.
Stopping the service will take a moment.
2. Delete the contents of the DataStore folder
1. Click Start.
2. Choose Run.
3. In the Run box, type %windir%\SoftwareDistribution.
4. Click OK.
5. Open the DataStore folder.
6. Delete all contents of the DataStore folder.
7. Close the window.
3. Start the Automatic Updates service
1. Click Start.
2. Choose Run.
3. In the Run box, type services.msc.
4. Click OK.
5. Right-click the Automatic Updates service.
6. Click Start.
Starting the service will take a moment.

These instructions might be a little confusing, so if you have any questions just post or pm me. Also, if this solution does not work for you, go to the Microsoft Windows Updater forum and search for other solutions.

[/url]

Should I save copies of the files in "My Documents" just in case? Also, there are two folders named DataStore - though one appears to have nothing in it.

[ktriebol]

Stephen, you can save the My Documents if you want. I did not save them and found that I did not need them. Also, yes, go ahead and delete both files and/or folders even though there is nothing in one of the folders. Once you go through this procedure you should be able to download and install Windows Updater 3.1, then you will be busy for hours downloading all of the other Windows updates that you have missed out on. Good luck!

-Ken

[skidrow]

I'm pretty sure that this freeware program, Dial-a-fix, is what your after:
http://wiki.djlizard.net/Dial-a-fix#Mir ... d_articles

[Stephen]

I'm pretty sure that this freeware program, Dial-a-fix, is what your after:
http://wiki.djlizard.net/Dial-a-fix#Mir ... d_articles

I already tried Dial-a-fix. It did not work.

[sjoukew]

I think from my experience you have fixed your computer faster with a clean install. If a windows is gone bad, it costs far more time to repair it so it more or less works again, then to reinstall everything from scratch. And a clean windows install runs faster anyway
So I would advice you to save some time, save a lot of trouble, and reinstall.