Can't use Windows Update on Fresh Install of XP SP3

I am still trying to rebuild a buddy's computer after he opened a ups virus. Anyways, this latest wrinkle has me confused.

I do a fresh install after a full format of the two hard drives (Raid 1). I install the network adaptor software. Ok, great. Open control panel and tell it to hit windows update.

First time, ran fine. But then I noticed that for some reason, XP had decided that the hard drive was H, which blew up the install on some specialized AutoCad stuff. So I re-formatted and reinstalled, and got C. Ok. So install network adaptor software. Good. Hit control panel and select windows update. uh oh.

I get re-directed to a windows support page that tells me that I can't interface with the windows update site as I am not running the most recent XP service pack. Um, yes I am... And Automatic Updates seems to be working fine.

Came in and on my computer, also running xp sp3, tried. It worked fine. So why won't the rebuild?

I did try manually putting in the address for windows update. Got redirected again.

Huh???

 

Thinking that perhaps that UPS loaded virus, whatever it was, somehow got into the BIOS, I decided to flash it. What the heck. So I went to the mobo site, and downloaded two different BIOS flash files. Followed the mobo book's directions to hit f12 and got into the bio-flasher utility. Had to put the files on a micro-usb camera card, but the utility saw the files. Selected the first file, and it read the file, and tossed me an error on the checksum. Ran it again. Different checksum number but same error. Tried the other file. Same thing. The checksums come up with different numbers, but either way, I can't seem to flash the bios.

AARRGG!!

Thoughts?

 

I would try to run Microsoft Update instead of Windows Update; on Internet Explorer go to http://www.update.microsoft.com/

 

I've seen the same thing, and it seems to have started happening just in the last couple days (Maybe a temporary bug at MS?) One of my projects is to wipe and reload several HP D530 desktops with the OEM XP+SP3. Putzing around with these machine the past couple of days, I've noticed a couple of nuances which might help, but I haven't repeated it enough times to know if it'a a real workaround or just a fluke:

- One machine, I loaded XP+SP3 (and nothing else). Of course, t said I didn't have SP3 just as others have seen. I installed IE7 (but not IE8) and then updates worked.

- Another machine, I started with XP+SP3. update was broken. I added IE8. Still broken. I let the machine sit overnight with automatic updates turned on. It does the 3 AM update, and now the update site works.

 

Interesting tricks.

Ok, so I was wrong to say windows update. It was the Microsoft update that didn't work, as Phrederick has also experienced.

Perhaps it is the site. Gawd, can you imagine the trouble if some hacker ever gets into update.microsoft.com??? I will try the explorer 7 idea. I did note that the updates were running. In fact, automatic updates pulled down explorer 8, so they are hauling stuff in. It just spooks me that something like that isn't working after a complete wipe. Wish I knew what he loaded when he opened that attachment.
I will see if the updates hit it enough to get me on the site.

Fingers crossed.

 

Ok, so one of the tricks worked. I tried installing IE7, and that did not do it. But it ran enough updates that suddenly it could get on. SWEET!

But, no. There is a problem. For some darn reason, Windows now classifies the hard drives as H: and not C: anymore. HUH????

How do I change that back?? ARRG!!!

I didn't have anything plugged into the USB ports. And this is killing me cause I can't install some custom software that will only go on C:. (great programming there eh?)

What the heck???