Win Udate Failed

I have worked on several differant peoples PCs over time. One problem I have run into is reaccuring with the same set of curcumstances. A prebuilt pc with a fresh install of WinXP, patched through SP3 and IE7, fails updates right after IE7 is installed. The Windows install that I complete is via a legal cd using the OEM sticker cd key on the prebuilt case. Should be legal right? I get no squalking from Windows Genuine Advantage, just Updates that "Failed To Install". Seaching MS tech support has failed to find an answer.

 

I'm watching this thread--as I had same problem w/XP, not being able to do Updates correctly, and this manifested itself in all kinds of ways, from error msgs at the updates site, to constant downloaded of the "malicious software removal tool" which I really learned to dislike...

But it took a day or two, after contacting ms at the updates site, thru email, and they assigned somebody--twice now--and we did all kinds of registry reloads in areas, and renaming files, and checking to make sure certain system requirements were on--I run really barebones XP, and did have some problems--and we finally got it to working right, but then the same thing started happening, whether I set it to "automatic install" or "just notify me when there are updates..."

So once again, I emailed and waited a day or two, and finally w/some help, got it working good, but malicious software removal tool, started same thing, so I did all the steps again *after * turning off windows update, and now I go to site, it works fine, and I just uncheck "mal/soft/rem/tool, and it works "good enough" but I've got Vista on same HD, and now prefer it, and all, so only check for updates once a week or so..

If nobody answers you w/better info, I'll post instructions she left me, as they worked for me...

best wishes,,,

 

thanks alot Duck, for the reply. I posted to a couple differant forums and got this answer a couple hours ago:
http://thevistaforums.com/index.php?showtopic=45033
In it the mystery is solved by, wait for it...Microsoft's knowledge base.

 

Yep: I kind of knew I could probably plow thru the ms website and eventually get it all sorted out...but it was starting to reminding of those long nights trying to wade thru linux stuff, which is kind of fun...but gets old, too...and I just actually wanted to see if ms would actally try to help me, if I emailed them, where it said to...and they actually did assign me somebody, gave me a #number, etc...yeah, somebody from India--is there anywhere else?--but a nice lady, well, then a nice man, then a nice lady again...all from the land of the Buddha ... but they were patient, and knew what they were doing, I just got tired of it...

but *anyway* the following was what actually worked--most of the time--and my other problems--like so much in my misspent life--were "of my own making"... :-D

Here's the stuff that worked:


Service Pack 3 (SP3) has been installed. You are the administrator. When going to Windows Update, the error code 0x8DDD0002 still appears.

I have checked the WindowsUpdate.log file and still found the error code 0x8007005.

At this time, let's try to clean up Windows Update temporary folder to check if the issue is related to corrupted Windows Update temporary folder.

NOTE: Some third party programs can also affect the Windows Update service. If you are running any third party applications such as Spyblocker, Internet or web accelerators (programs designed to boost the speed of the Internet connection), security or anti-virus programs (Norton, McAfee, etc.), I recommend we temporarily disable or shut them down and then try accessing the Windows Update site later. Please be sure to enable them again after completing the update process.

Clean up Windows Update temporary folder
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1. Click "Start", "Run", type: "cmd" (without quotations) and press "Enter". Please run the following command in the open window.

Net stop WuAuServ

2. Click "Start", "Run", type: "%windir%" (without quotations) and press "Enter".
3. In the open folder, rename the folder "SoftwareDistribution" to "Sdold".
4. Click "Start", "Run", type: "cmd" (without quotations) and press "Enter". Please run the following command in the open window.

Net start WuAuServ

If the issue persists, let's try to perform the following steps to check the issue again.

Verify the relevant Windows Update services
====================================
1. Click "Start", click "Run", type "services.msc" (without quotation marks) in the open box and click "OK".
2. Double click the service "Background Intelligent Transfer Service".
3. Click on the "General" tab; make sure the "Startup Type" is "Automatic" or "Manual". Then please click "Start" under "Service Status" to start the service.
4. Please repeat the above steps with the following service:

Automatic Updates

You can also temporarily stop these services, restart the computer, and then restart them again. If one of the two services is missing...