Windows Update Problem- help!

[david uk]

Hello technologically competent rudies,


I have a really annoying and potentially risky problem with Windows Updates not downloading and affecting the running of my laptop. I've emailed Microsoft Support but so far nothing. So I was wondering if anyone here has any ideas.

Here is my problem:

3 weeks ago Vista completely crashed and I couldn't turn on my laptop. I've had the laptop almost 4 years and it's always run like a dream since then, until 9th October. I ended up having to do a system restore right back to manufacturer's settings. (That makes me sound like some techie, but I'm not I assure you!).

Ever since then, almost every day I've had a varying number of automatic windows updates, anything from 1 to 32 per day. I think that's probably normal as the laptop is probably playing catch up on all updates since I bought the laptop due to the syetem restore.

However, on Saturday I had 32 updates which it said would instal when I shut the machine down. They started to download, hit a problem, and I had a message saying that it would retry next time I started up. However, it just got worse. Since then every time I've started up, it's tried to configure the updates, and then I get the following message:

'Updates were not configured correctly. Reverting changes. Do not switch off your computer.'

And it then takes 30-40 minutes to start my laptop. And happens every time.

I have 2 concerns, firstly that it's taking forever to start my laptop, but most importantly, lots of the updates are security updates going back a year, and I'm concerned at not having them, or being able to get any future updates.

Can anyone help? I've looked in online forums but the solutions proposed just confyoooze me, as I'm not that techie.

eye thank ewe

david x

[DaveM]

I had the same problem with XP at exactly the same time. Wound up doing a System Restore (from a 2005 copy of XP Media Edition) and then had over 200 updates to install. Most went smoothly, but the .NET framework wouldn't install. I wound up having to download a ".NET cleaning tool" from Microsoft which essentially removed all earlier versions and my attempted installations. THEN it downloaded and installed the latest version AND came up with 40 more updates!

My experience has been that when there are a bunch of updates and one won't install, Windows stops the whole process and doesn't install anything after the "offending" software. If you can figure out which update won't download and fix that, the rest should take care of themselves. Vista, in my experience, updates itself almost constantly--or at least used to. You may have several stages to get through.

[david uk]

Thanks Dave.

That's interesting, a few of the updates I have to install are .NET framework (not that I know what that is). So maybe I have the same problem.

One thing I did see suggested on an online forum was to download the updates one by one and figure out which one(s) were causing the problem. If I don't hear back from Microsoft, I might do that. It might take a while, but then it's not every day I have 32 updates to instal.

cheers again.

[paularoid]

Wound up doing a System Restore (from a 2005 copy of XP Media Edition) and then had over 200 updates to install.

I'd -really- like to get my hands on one of those if at all possible. The Dell laptop I bought and/or inherited from my late friend when I was her "cancer-buddy" has that on it and the unfortunate thing is that it has that version of Windoze on it. I'd like to do a 'repair panel' repair job on it but I can't because she never told me where the original CD for it was and it's now gone and lost forever. A copy of it would make me a really happy camper. I can find umpteen kajillion copies of XP Pro from he!! to breakfast and back but the Media Edition is a very rare beast.

An 'ISO' file of the CD would be a really nice thing to have. (hint hint)

Terms?

[DaveM]

Well...XP's "backup" copy is on the partitioned hard drive. There is a one-time option to make backup disks and I do have them (can't remember if they are CDs or DVDs). They are keyed to each installation....I don't know if a copy would do you any good but if you can figure out how to do so--I'll happily make copies for you.

[aabram]

I've been using Ubuntu (it's free) for two and a half years now. Beats all these commercialised Windows Apps hands down! (but that's just my opinion!)

[paularoid]

Well...XP's "backup" copy is on the partitioned hard drive. There is a one-time option to make backup disks and I do have them (can't remember if they are CDs or DVDs). They are keyed to each installation....I don't know if a copy would do you any good but if you can figure out how to do so--I'll happily make copies for you.

All things considered I'll just back everything up (including settings) and then completely re-do things with XP Pro. If I do that then I won't have to worry about it at all. I've seen no real -advantages- to using the Media Edition over other versions of XP anyway and it obviously has some definite DISadvantages (like I'm currently experiencing.


I've been using Ubuntu (it's free) for two and a half years now. Beats all these commercialised Windows Apps hands down! (but that's just my opinion!)

I really -want- to move over to or at least try out Ubuntu but unfortunately that requires a machine that is not proprietary or at least has more hard drive space than I have on what I'm -currently- using. My regular machine has got everything it needs to do this but I've been to lazy and haven't expended then energy required. It's got a 400 gig hard drive so I've got the space but my eyes can't -clearly- see all the little places to plug in all the wires on the motherboard. :rolleyes: Getting old is -not- for sissies I tell ya. <chuckle> I'll just have to break down and take it to Computer Warehouse and have them do it like I've been trying to convince myself to do for over a year now. What I've been doing (a little) is using Ubuntu on a "live" CD and I've been getting as familiar with it as I can that way.

[david uk]

Well after much pulling out of hair (that's a lie because I don't have any) it's all sorted, but only because a nice young man on the phone sneakily told me something he wasn't authorised to. It's a useful tip for anyone with Windows, whether Vista, XP, 7 etc.

First I emailed Microsoft who emailed back saying I should call their Support line, which I did. They told me that as the laptop was bought with the Vista already on it, it was the manufacturer's responsibility not theirs. But she said they might be able to fix it for £46... £46???? I haven't got £46.

So I called the manufacturer and was for some reason put straight through to Curry's (retail chain), which was fine as that's where I bought it. The young man there told me I was out of warranty and had no extended warranty. He was very nice tho. He told me I could take out their extended warranty and after 3 months I'd be covered. He then said 'I'm not supposed to tell you this, but if you Google Windows System Readiness Tool and download it, you might find that does the trick, and you won't have to pay anything'. Hooray! It did! All fixed! No cost!

Now why did Microsoft not tell me about Microsoft Windows System Readiness Tool??

And why is there no mention of it on the Windows update support page?

The words 'forty six pounds' make me suspicious.

But it's all solved :):):)

[DaveM]

It sounds as if that's the same program, more or less as the "cleanup tool" I had to install and run before I could complete my updates (on Windows XP). I couldn't find that mentioned anywhere on Microsoft's site. It eventually turned up on a blog after I did an extensive search for ".NET won't install" and various permutations thereof. Someone had posted a link, which took me to a download page on Microsoft's site.

Strange, indeed, when the company is apparently unaware (or selectively aware) of its own software offerings.

[david uk]

Strange, indeed, when the company is apparently unaware (or selectively aware) of its own software offerings.

Selectively aware indeed, Dave.