Auto Update problems since SP2

Question

Hi, haven't seen anyone with this particluar problem yet, but maybe someone can help. Installed SP2 on my Inspitron 8500 yesterday and it was pretty successful. Didn't actually get to try it out for long as I decided to carry on updating my PC, I was in the mood. But since SP2 I can detect new updates, and download them, but they fail to install. Autoupdate doesn't generate an error, or crash, it just stops, and stays at 'initializing install' forever, which you can cancel. I've had a few other problems, like start up being slow, and I couldn't load up a game: Far Cry?   Anyone had any similar experiences?

roussos · Answer

I also have this problem and it has started to get annoying!! Everything up to SP2 downloaded and installed perfectly. Starting with SP2, the window appears stating that it's downloading and after a while it times out. I got the CD from Microsoft and installed SP2, but now I have the same problem with other updates! The download never proceeds past 0%!!!

How annoying, huh? You gotta love Micro$oft or what? Anyone has any recommendations?

geek or unique · Answer

I've looked around the net and someone suggested is wasn't an update problem at all, but rather something else to do with system restore. He found that system restore had been behaving strangely after SP2 and after turning it off, which I haven't tried as you lose all previous restore points, update works again. This makes sense as update runs, or tries to run, system restore before an installation of any update. But turning system restore off isn't really a fix. Have you had any other installation problems? Weirdly I trid to reinstall Far Cry and received the same behaviour. The game would initialize the installShield, and then stop. No error, no crash, just stopped. I've removed SP2 for now but am beginning to wonder if I was unable to install anything after SP2, which is a weird problem. System restore perhaps??? Anyone?

rjdjbd · Answer

I'm having a similar problem but it's during the actual installation of SP2; I can't get it to finish. Stalls, no error messages, can't cancel install. Task Manager allows me to stop process and shows the message "Program Not Responding". That also seems to apply to Microsoft...

I did find by going to Windows Update that installation had failed with an error code of 87FF004. Did a search of that error code at Microsoft and nothing comes up. so I have no clue what it means or what I can do to actually install SP2.

I did install SP2 on my Dimension 8200 and 2350 but can't get it to work on my 8300.

Richard

geek or unique · Answer

Yeah, I couldn't find some of the errors I got on the MS website either. Try just pasting that error code in google or something, I've found that quite useful. Usually comes up with some unoffcial forums which are good.

So has SP2 been fine on your other PCs? If so, were you running any Norton products? I'm wondering if thats the problem?

rjdjbd · Answer

Yes, the install went well with the Dimension 8200 and 2350. Also installed on an H-P ze5570 notebook. All seem to be working fine at this point; I didn't even download a more current BIOS or drivers on any of them. I only downloaded a new BIOS on the 8300 when I couldn't get SP2 to install.

All four computers are running Norton Antivirus 2004.

Richard

spencerdl · Answer

I am not sure if you folks are 'meaning' that other Windows Updates are having probs installing since down loading and installing XP sp 2? I have had one headache after another trying to get sp3 for Net Framework to install. Similarly, I have the same issue with sp 1 for Net Framework 1.1. I've search across the internet to all kinds of forums and to all sorts of KB articles and non really give an explicit ans which will work in every instance. Usually, I get a pop up window that states the 'JIT Debugger has failed' and that the 'Cordbuger' has also failed. Whatever these are! But beyond that, I've had no prob down loading and installing some other updates even while have the above probs with Net Framework...ahhhhhhhhh, what is one to think, let alone do!! My next move is to delete the current installations of both ver of Net Framework and try re-installing using the files from the MS Tech site and see if I cant get beyond this prob! Whatever it is and whatever is causing it! I suspect my experiences as outlined above don't help you with yours, but at least this has given me an outlet for my frustrations since XP sp 2! Good luck with finding solutions for your issues. spencerdl

geek or unique · Answer

Hey man

Thanks for the input. I think the problems the other guys have been havibg are slightly different to mine. SP2 installs successfully, but I'm unable to install any other updates, none, no error massages, no crash, nothing.

I guess thats different to yours too. I've decided to remove SP2 and live without it. My 8500 just works so well without, I'm gonna leave it.

Is that a bad decision?? I'm very aware of security I keep both my Firewall and AntiVirus up to date. I also have a hardware firewall. I realise SP2 does more than just security, but is it worth it?

thanks

andy

spencerdl · Answer

I dunno Andy, but if it were me having all that kind of problem, I believe I would start over by removing sp2, have you read the message at the beginning of this forum about "removing sp2"? It may have some additional info that could help you, are at least give you some direction about removing sp2. I've talked to some folks who have not down loaded it and their reasons are somewhat similar to the thot you expressed, which goes like this "if it aint broken, don't mess with it!" Perhaps if I had read more about sp2 I wouldn't have put it on the computer! I did wait tho and ordered the cd which makes it somewhat easier to handle....doesnt tie up the line with down load time, you can search the cd easier for specific folders and files, and I think it allows you to make some choices (cant recall now, as it was several weeks ago that I got the cd)....anyway, whatever you decide to do, good luck and "happy computering"!
spencer

jrvogt · Answer

Well I download sp2 yesterday and had the same exact problem you did on my 8600.  Auto Update stalls on the initialize... no error messages and the boot up and running of programs is extremely slow.  I contacted Dell support. Can't say they helped any except gave a me a fancy way to run the SP2 unistall the program.  They say microsoft has not identified the exact problem and blamed it on spyware and registry problems.  So I uninstalled SP2 but I am still nervous there is something lurking in the wings that wiil bite me in the 'C drive'.  Would really like to get some definitive answers.

rjdjbd · Answer

I posted eariler in this thread as I am having the same problem. I'm not even sure how to uninstall SP2 as it doesn't even show up in Control Panel / Programs. Everytime I boot up the task bar has a message that the download is ready to install. (I have tried installing from two different CD's and the Windows Update.)   I contacted Microsoft but the only thing they said was to try and reinstall; I have tried many times already. They finally sent me a new Windows XP, but it was the Professional version not the Home version that I have installed.   I haven't installed it yet as I know this will wipeout everything on my computer and I'm not sure that it will resolve anything or is worth the effort.   Richard

geek or unique · Answer

I've just decided not to install SP2. My PC's worked fine without it all this time, I can't see why I'd need it. I run a Hardware and software firewall, and an up to date anit-virus. If you do all these things, and take care of your machine, you don't need SP2 if it's just gonna make things slower.....

andy

spencerdl · Answer

Andy...it has been so long since this thread was started that I am not so sure what I now will add has any bearing on anything!

But for what it is worth...I finally was able to fix my problem with Net Framework 1 and 2, really more by accident than anything else. As I recall the problem the NT 2 would not install correctly after I had installed XP sp2. What turned out to be the problem ( I think) was that the windows installer was "corrupted"...but I could never "fix" the precise problem. But never mind, because finally out of desperation I went to "add/remove" programs and started to remove both copies (in so far as NF 2 had partially down loaded)...and wham, bang, all kinds of "things" took off! NF 2 installed completely with no problem, so I now have both NF 1 and 2 with the respective sp! The other day when trying to dl another software a similar problem cropped up. But I worked around it and had no problem. The prob with the NF was I believe caused by XP sp 2, the last was not.

If you have the XP sp CD,you might want to browse through it to see if you can locate the file or files you are having probs with. If you don't have the CD I suggest you go here http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/sp2/cdorder/en_us/default.mspx and order it.

Hope things work out better for you!
tedc (aka Spencedl)

Windows General

Auto Update problems since SP2

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