Windows XP updates won't install

Okay folks, here's the deal.

Yesterday I did a fresh install of brand new, OEM Windows XP pro SP2 on a brand new WD VelociRaptor.

Everything went fine untill I tried to install the updates. They downloaded no problem, all 99 of them but for some reason will not install! What I decided to do was download SP3 which downloaded and installed perfectly.
My question is, is there a correlation between SP3 and not being able to install critical updates the old fashioned way?

p.s. I assume my computer is up to date since SP3 contains all the critical updates. If this is not the case please advise.

TIA to all replies,
Cheers

 

MVP, The only things I installed prior to getting updates are MB and video card drivers.

 

You can try Dial-A-Fix. It's worked for me in the past when I run into Windows Update issues; it's actually worked for me to fix all sorts of little Windows glitches and I consider DAF to be a necessity in everyone's XP 'toolbox'. It can be a little frighteneing the first time you run it, but it is impossible to do any damage to your OS. DAF does not erase or add anything to/from the PC, it simply works with the files that are already present. So, when you run it, you'll see a Windows Update section (check all the boxes there) and then check all the boxes in the SSL/HTTPS section, and check all the boxes in the Registration Center, and click Go. If you get any errors, post 'em here and we'll try to help.

(When using Dial-A-Fix, I always uncheck the Tooltips box first as I find the little "pop up" boxes very annoying; also, go to C:\Windows\... and locate the Software Distribution folder and rename it to Software Distribution.old or something, then try the updates again; sometimes simply renaming the folder or deleting it can help)

 

Hi dlb,
I tried DAF and checked all the boxes in the Registration Center and got an error message:

4:03:43 PM | Error during registration of C:\WINDOWS\system32\shdocvw.dll - version: 6.00.2900.5628. The error returned is: Error accessing the OLE registry.

Any suggestions? :confused