Directx update problems

Hi, to start this simply, my computer sucks, it's old and has been updated multiple times. I've upgraded to a much better machine in the past year and this beast has gone to my mother who basically plays civilization on it and that's it, no internet, nothing. I come back for the summer and she receives internet again and low and behold countless errors in the system, no downloads work the registry is corrupt etc etc. In the end I have to format the computer and reinstall windows, no everything seems to be fine I have few errors now and then but basically it runs. Now the problem that I'm bringing to you guys started by me trying to install the spore creature creator. It installs properly and I click run and it says I need to update my Directx so I sigh and go to windows update and it says I've got all of my updates. So I go to the Directx website and click on their update there and I go through the process of downloading and begin to install. Almost immediately I get a message saying "A cabinet file necessary for installation cannot be trusted. Please verify the Cryptographic Services are enabled and the cabinet file certificate is valid." Frustrated now I search online for an answer to this problem and see quoted many ties that if I got to this website http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;822798 and do everything it says it will fix the problem. Well I have done this twice now and I still have a problem, I still get the same error message i was getting 4 hours ago. I cannot update my computer anymore as I appear to have all of the updates. I'm stuck, I can't think of anything else to do short of throwing this blasted computer out the window. Please if anyone knows of a way to fix this please tell me, I'm at my wits end, it seems this computer will never run out of errors. Maybe it's just at a point where its saying I'm too old I give up, replace me! Anyways I leave this in your capable hands, I apologize for this terribly long message, I just had to vent. Thanks for listening and for any help you can give.

-Vanessa

Windows XP Home Edition
Directx 9.0c
512 mb RAM

 

lol. You wouldn't be surprised to see what Superhero Movie called Vista.

Before installing an OS, make sure the computer is stable.

1. Find memtest here or at google. Write it to a floppy/cd/dvd. Leave it in the drive.

2. Look up the user's manual for how to clear cmos. Shut down, unplug power cord, remove battery for 1 min, short any 2 pins next to the battery holder for 10 secs with the tip of a ball pen or pencil, put battery back in, power on, tap DEL or whatever is on the screen for setup/BIOS, load defaults, save & exit.

3. memtest will start by itself and test the memory. 1 pass is ok. 5-8 = best.

4. Back in windows, open my computer, right-click the OS drive, properties, tools, check now, check both boxes, start, click yes/schedule, restart pc. Windows will scan the harddisk for errors & fix them.

You should be good to go after making sure the pc is stable. Perhaps, wipe clean & reinstall windows. Or do a repair install. Try updates.