Microsoft Updates will not install for XP

[Alpha1851]

Describe the symptoms of your problem or bug carefully and clearly. Describe the environment in which it occurs (machine, OS, application, version, whatever)
Dell Latitude D620, Windows XP Pro, Service Pack 3 (according to my computer audit at least). I haven't really experienced any problems, but my computer has alerted me that I have a security vulnerability. It falls under the Windows Security Bulletin MS 08-052 (yes, I read it) and the yellow update shield icon is ALWAYS in the task bar tray. My tech at work fixes it (whatever that means) but it comes right back. W/ the latest trojans and bugs coming around, I want to make sure that my computer is safe.

Describe the research you did to try and understand the problem before you asked the question
I've read various Microsoft Updates Bulletins and Knowledge Based Articles and none were remotely helpful. I got a lot of useful info from other online forums—majorgeeks, pctech, that sort of thing. Of course, JUB also had a couple of tips which I tried (and thanks to you guys for always using plain language).

Describe the diagnostic steps you took to try and pin down the problem yourself before you asked the question.
The security updates are:
Security Update for Microsoft XML Core Services 4.0 Service Pack 2 (KB936181)
Security Update for Microsoft Office Excel 2003 (KB955466)
Update for Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 Junk Email Filter (KB957257)

• I attempted to install the updates and received error code 0x57E

• Now, a similar question has been asked before, and Mike-n-Herrin suggested going to the site and downloading them individually. So next, I tried to download the standalone/manual updates, and that wouldn't work either. I went to this site for the individualupdates. http://groups.google.com/group/micr..._frm/thread/2b228a752d3fbc11/3d9eb54b0764dbb2
--

• Then, I found a suggestion on another forum and went to Microsoft Word, clicked on help, selected detect and repair. However, this didn't work at all and I received this error:

Received this error message--Error 1406 Setup can not write the Value localserver 32 to the registry key. CLSID with a whole bunch of numbers. Verify that you have sufficient permissions to access the registry or contact your IT department for assistance.

• At that point, I downloaded Dial-a-Fix (my work techie uses this one a lot) but it got hung up. When it came to the DLLs part, I got this error:
DLLs
The feature you are trying to use is on a CD-ROM or other removable disk that is not available. Insert the "scan" disk then click ok.
-windows can not find scan.msi
-Error 1706 no valid source could be found for the product scan. The Windows Installer cannot continue.

I have no idea why Dial-a-Fix isn't working.


• So, I gave up on Dial-a-Fix and tried another trick I located in another techie form.

I right clicked on My Computer, left clicked on Manage, then I expanded Services and Applications, left clicked on services, found Office Source Engine and doubled clicked on it, set startup type from Manual to Automatic, hit apply, hit start, then ok and closed.

Now, this baby seemed to work and I recommend trying it! It allowed me to successfully download Security Update for Microsoft Office Excel 2003 (KB955466)
Update for Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 Junk Email Filter (KB957257)

BUT, I'm still unable to install Security Update for Microsoft XML Core Services 4.0 Service Pack 2 (KB936181). At this point, I'm out of ideas, and so is the internet it seems.

Describe any possibly relevant recent changes in your computer or software configuration.
The only thing I can think of that's different w/ my laptop is that whenever I attempt to repair my internet connection, I get the message "Windows could not finish repairing the problem b/c the following action could not be completed: clearing the DNS cache." I can fix this issue, but every time I re-start my computer, it comes back up. No matter how many times I change it. Other than that, nothing has changed. Well, the new issues w/ Microsoft have given our techies fits, but they are more concerned w/ pushing us towards Vista than in fixing the current technology.

Any help would be appreciated!

 

[mike_n_herrin]

GREAT information.

however, I'm afraid you'll have to wait until one of the super tech geeks pops in, because i don't know. a suggestion though on the dial-a-fix thing is that it wants the windows xp CD to be in the cd/dvd rom drive. i think. if you have a separate windows xp CD then i'd try putting it in there. if you don't then just ignore what i just said.

 

[looseliam]

Just a quick look around google, it seems you should have your office cd in the drive whilst updating.

Some say disabling firewall and anti-viral software does the trick.

 

[Alpha1851]

I saw the disabling the firewall and spyware thing, but I'm afraid to do that. I have online armor as my firewall and Spyware Doctor as my real time protection. Is it really safe to turn them off?

I have not tried putting my CD's in while updating or while using Dial-a-Fix. I'll try that next. Thanks guys!!

 

[looseliam]

So long as you're just doing the updates, I see no harm in disabling them. Give it a shot and report back.

 

[Alpha1851]

Thanks fellas!

Okay, I did it. It downloaded and installed and I restarted my computer. The update says that it's installed BUT the update icon still pops up and my computer still shows that I have that vulnerability. I checked again, and Microsoft wants me to install the same update again--Microsoft XML Core Services 4.0 Service Pack 2 (KB936181). Maybe I just need to wait for a bit? You know, so the computer will realize that it's been updated??

I found the disks that came w/ my computer but there's not a XP one. I have one for reinstalling Dell Latitude Computer Software. Should I put that in, or will it wipe out my laptop?

 

[looseliam]

If it's a restore cd, I don't think it'll be of any help.

Which update isn't installing?

 

[Alpha1851]

It's a reinstall CD.

This update is--Microsoft XML Core Services 4.0 Service Pack 2 (KB936181). When I check my history, it says that it's installed but the updates icon keeps re-appearing and it continues to show the vulnerability. Before I turned off my firewall and spyware, the update wasn't installing at all, so you've gotten me one step further.

After the latest worms and security threats have come out, I've been worried, but then again, I went ages w/o installing an update last year and nothing happened.

 

[looseliam]

http://www.eggheadcafe.com/software/aspnet/31636932/update-kb936181-installed.aspx

See if that works for you.

 

[looseliam]

Here's another:

http://www.microsoft.com/communitie...&tid=84e39e5f-5967-4d25-ac39-4769f4bd9389&p=1

 

[Alpha1851]

^I tried those first before bugging you guys. Eggheadcafe was very helpful, it helped me to download the other two updates that weren't installing. I don't have administrator privileges unfortunately, and that may be the hold up. We each have a techie and that person is our admin. He fixes the update, but like I mentioned, the thing comes back.

That's insane that this problem has been going on since 2007 (according to the Microsoft website) but the updates only showed up on my laptop a few weeks ago.

Wait, do I need to turn off my firewall and spyware while I'm trying out the suggestions from eggheadcafe and microsoft? I left them on, I'm off to try again w/ them off.

 

[Alpha1851]

Well, I just turned off my spyware and firewall and tried to download the security updates, but it isn't showing up now. It seems that all my updates are current. I still have the yellow shield, but I have an article saved which explains how to get rid of it. I wish I knew which option fixed the problem so I could share it w/ everyone. I'm guessing that you have to turn off your spyware and firewall to install this particular update. I wish I had more to add.

Thanks looseliam! Your computer skills got me over the hump.

 

[looseliam]

Not skills, just savvy searching

You're welcome.

 

[mike_n_herrin]

if it's a restore CD then it may not be the "windows" cd per say. however, you should be able to safely try putting the CD in while your computer is already on and you already have windows up and running, it shouldn't try to restore anything. it's having the CD in while you reboot that it might try to restore (and thus erase) stuff.

 

[Alpha1851]

Not skills, just savvy searching

You're welcome.

Hey I googled that issue to death and I read every article on Microsoft regarding updates (and they suck). I do my homework before posting. I was afraid to turn off my spyware and firewall--it's supposed to be really bad if you turn them off. I mean, what if that new worm attacked while I had my shields down. But hey, if looseliam says go for it, I figured it was okay.

 

[Corny]

That's insane that this problem has been going on since 2007 (according to the Microsoft website) but the updates only showed up on my laptop a few weeks ago.

That very much hints at some new software you recently installed. Did you install any additional office programs? That would be the most likely ones needing the xml stuff.

Has your admin tried installing this specific update while being logged in as an adminstrator yet?

In your services list, can you find some kind of xml service running? If so - stop it and try installing the update again.

Have you tried manually downloading this upgrade and installing if after booting into safe-mode?

Can you find the xml service stuff in your "software" list and uninstall it? if that works, download and reinstall the standalone version of it afterwards from the MS website (that one should include the security fix). As I said above, most likely the cause for that is some older applications which installed this stuff, too.

And great infos again, it's so much more fun to figure out a problem with that background Plus the questioner learns a lot more this way ^

 

[Alpha1851]

When you have a problem with updates download them separately and install them as opposed to using Windows Update. This may help.

jav's suggestion is right on.......
Interesting that M$ can't even make its own update site work but there you go.......
Anyway, go to the update site, select updates manually and I think things wil pan out for you.

Yep, I tried this one right off. It didn't work though, but I do understand that it's good to start w/ this option. However, I should add that when I tried it, I had my spyware and firewall turned on, it was only after I turned them off that the update worked.

You guys rock for the suggestions!!

 

[Alpha1851]

That very much hints at some new software you recently installed. Did you install any additional office programs? That would be the most likely ones needing the xml stuff.

I use Microsoft Office for my work calendar and emails, but it's not new. I checked my computer profiler and the only xml program that I have is:
Programs
XML Paper Specification Shared Components Pack 1.0
Publisher: Microsoft
System Component: Yes
Install Date 2/13/2007
Uninstallable: No.

I'm so glad you wrote this b/c it makes perfect sense and I can't believe it didn't occur to me before. Duh, of course, when you add stuff to your computer you're going to see different updates. Software has vulnerabilities w/in itself and software also creates new vulnerabilities w/in the system. I just didn't think of it that way and thanks for clueing me in.

Has your admin tried installing this specific update while being logged in as an adminstrator yet?

My techie takes my laptop to his office. I have no clue what he does to it and he isn't big on explaining things. The yellow update shield would go away, but it came back up whenever I'd re-start my computer. Sometimes, it popped back up before then. The shield would appear in the taskbar tray, but it didn't pop up w/ the annoying, Microsoft is updating your computing and you'll have to restart, warning.

In your services list, can you find some kind of xml service running? If so - stop it and try installing the update again.

I'm assuming you mean to go to run type in msconfig.exe then look under services. If so, there's nothing there w/ "xml" in it. I looked up "xml" and that type of program is above my skill level. I'm not xmling I can assure you.

Have you tried manually downloading this upgrade and installing if after booting into safe-mode?

I can't boot up in safe-mode. It requires administrative privileges. I don't have the password.

Can you find the xml service stuff in your "software" list and uninstall it? if that works, download and reinstall the standalone version of it afterwards from the MS website (that one should include the security fix). As I said above, most likely the cause for that is some older applications which installed this stuff, too.

Well, it seems to be fixed. I think Looseliam was right. I needed to turn off my spyware and firewall. I read that too in the egghead forum and on majorgeeks, but I really didn't want to turn off my "protection" if I didn't have to. It's odd b/c I have microsoft.com incl. on my safelist. My spyware and firewall shouldn't have caused problems, but they must have. I'm copying this thread down though. I'll probably have the same issue later on and can try all of your solutions to that update.

And great infos again, it's so much more fun to figure out a problem with that background Plus the questioner learns a lot more this way ^

And that's what I love about you guys. You all explain everything in great detail and in common language. That way, I can fix things myself and apply those tips to future problems. Unfortunately, it seems that no one else wants to do that. I guess it does take up more of your alls time, having to list the steps out. I am thankful for your efforts and I don't think a lot of JUBBERS realize what an asset the tech forum is.