Microsoft → Windows XP Pro SP3 fresh install won't update

I've recently tried reinstalling windows XP on a system that crashed. When I go to Windows Update, I don't get prompted to install an Active X component for Windows Update (I think there is one), and my system keeps stuck on the "Checking For Update" screen. It just keeps scanning and scanning, nothing happens. Anyone have any suggestions? I've even tried downloading the IE8 offline update and even when that is installed nothing...

The following Microsoft Support article may help:

»support.microsoft.com/kb ··· 03/en-us

If the issue persists check the C:\Windows\windowsupdate.log for the error(s) that are logged:

»support.microsoft.com/kb ··· 93/en-us

Thanks, but I don't even get an error. It just gets stuck in the update check loop.

You may not get an error at the update website but there could be a pertinent error recorded in the windowsupdate.log

Did you try re-registering the files related to Windows Update?

I have not yet. I will try that and let you know.

Thanks

You're welcome, and good luck!

mcelotto, yes.. at least for us who are still using "windows xp", the "windows update"/"microsoft update" websites, and everything else with "windows updates", is all screwed up..

here is how i managed to work around the problems, when trying to install the windows-updates on a computer that has a fresh install of windows xp on it..

i am going to try to be direct, just posting the steps, in order to keep my post short..

first of all, to install the windows-updates, go to the "microsoft update" webpage as opposed to going the "windows update" webpage..

here is a link for the "microsoft update" webpage:

»www.update.microsoft.com ··· ln=en-us

step 1: enable windows automatic updates, if it is disabled.. the windows update/microsoft update webpages will not allow access unless windows "automatic updates" is turned on..

step 2: at the "microsoft update" webpage (not the "windows update" webpage), when you initially click the button to install the updates, you are prompted to install an activex-control.. only install the activex-control that you are initially prompted to install, then close "internet explorer"..

step 3: after closing "internet explorer", on your computer, go to "system", in "control panel", and turn off windows "automatic updates".. then, reboot the computer.. the purpose for rebooting the computer is to shut down whatever windows "automatic updates" might be doing, like causing "svchost" to hang.. in my experience, sometimes it does cause "svchost" to hang and sometimes it doesn't.. either way, i don't want windows "automatic updates" to be running..

step 4: after having installed the activex-control that you were initially prompted to install, at the "microsoft update" webpage, you will be able to access the "microsoft update" webpage with windows "automatic updates" turned off and proceed to install all of the windows-updates, in whatever manner you choose..

first, let me say that, when you click the button, to scan for updates, at the "microsoft update" webpage, yes, it seems to take forever to complete the scan, before if finally prompts you to install any updates.. the last time that i did this, which was a few days ago, the scanning-for-updates took 42 minutes before i finally was prompted to install any updates..

after having installed the "activex-control", when you scan for updates, at the "microsoft update" webpage, you are initially prompted to install 2 updates (assuming that "windows xpsp3" is already installed).. one is "WGA", the "windows genuine advantage" tool.. the other is the "package installer for windows", which is used by "windows update"/"microsoft update" for installing updates..

after installing the two updates that you are initially prompted to install, you then have the option to go ahead and install the rest of the updates.. however, personally, i reboot my computer after having installed the two updates that one is initially prompted to install..and then i have to go through the process of scanning for updates, again, which takes another 40 minutes, or so, to complete..

after having installed all of the updates, it no longer takes 40/41 minutes to scan for updates..

waiting the 41 minutes for the scanning-for-updates to complete literally sucks the spirit out of me..

i know, it is incredible (unbelievable) that microsoft could be so screwed up, and that they are completely oblivious to the problem.. (i think i know what the problem is, but, if i was to say, i would be banned from the forum)..

I don't believe the MS is oblivious to the issue (having been searching for a resolution for this all weekend) but I believe that MS just doesn't want to put any effort into a 12 year old OS with only 7 months of support left.

Having just gone through this with 2 machines, and having found that auto updates worked fine so long as SP3 was not loaded, I loaded the machines with SP2, and updated them as far as they would go without SP3. Then I disabled the Auto update service and the BITS service. I'll live without SP3.

Perhaps this WSUS offline update program might help:

»download.wsusoffline.net/

Delete the windows update package you have already in this location:

C:\Windows\Downloaded Program Files

Then go to this link:
»www.update.microsoft.com/

It should prompt for the latest installer package for Windows update.
Source (First paragraph):
»support.microsoft.com/kb/949104

I had an endless loop of Microsoft update and it was how I fixed it to allow the update process to work.
This was after trying to delete the C:\Windows\Software Distribution folder as well after turning of the Windows Update service first then enabling it again after and numerous other options.

Another option is to manually download the Windows Installer 4.5 Redistributable and install after deleting the file in downloaded program files
»www.microsoft.com/en-us/ ··· id=8483#

What Norwegian said...

Stop the Windows Update service.
Delete the contents of the c:\windows\software distribution folder.
Start the Windows Update service.
Try Windows Update again.

I've found that fixes the problem 90% of the time.

Thank you everyone. And THIS is why I come to DSLReports.. Fantastic!

I did this, but no joy for me. I guess I must be a 10% kinda guy.

I'd give it some time. I've seen it take 30+ minutes, even after deleted the Software Distribution folder.

Just wanted to pop back on here and thank everyone for their help. With a combination of the instructions above, I was able to get my XP machine updating again. How exactly? I'm not 100% sure LOL, but it's updating and back online.
Thanks again everyone!

You know I initially read this then decided don't need it. Well apparently I need this now as I did the same thing. A friend needed XP installed, so I did with a brand new hard drive. I did the WinXPsp3 for Dell first but got nowhere. So I did the SP1a install and went up to SP2. When I get home, I will try out redwolfe_98 and norwegian ideas.

Hopefully this'll help someone if they are having the same problems. I tried norwegian 's idea but there was nothing in the C:\Windows\Software Distribution folder. I went was able to get Microsoft Fix 50777 which got me the Custom and Express options for the updates. I went ahead and did Custom and let it run. Hopefully it'll be like what redwolfe_98 said about running for about 40 minutes.

Stuck is an understatement, it took 40m for the first batch of patches to make it down on a fresh install of XP Sp3.

I think I may have another fix for this.. If you download IE8 by itself and install it. Once you reboot and go to Windows Updates it will ask you to install the ActiveX control. I did this and in about 20 minutes WU actually worked.. Once you do that, it looks like you are good to go. So even thou SP3 comes with IE6 (which MS is trying to phase out), they phased it out on their update site. TOP NOTCH MS!

Hey, I had the same problem while doing a fresh install of Windows XP and I found a solution that worked for me. It consists of an amalgamation of ideas already posted in this thread. You can review each step below:

Step 1: Enable Automatic Updates in the Control Panel if it is disabled (Any setting other then disabled is fine). Wait a while (5~ minutes) after implementing this change because Windows will be silently updating the Windows Update components built in to Windows. The Windows Update/Microsoft Update webpages will not allow access unless Windows "Automatic Updates" is turned on.

Step 2: Visit the Windows Update website via Internet Explorer and install the Active X control.

Step 3: Opt-in to Microsoft Update.

Step 4: Close "Internet Explorer" after opting in to Microsoft update.

Step 5: Disable Automatic Updates in Control Panel and then reboot the computer. Never re-enable Automatic Updates.

Step 6: Install Internet Explorer 8 and (important!) during installation choose the option to also install updates. (The updates will fail to install if you don't have the Active X control mentioned in Step 2 installed.)

Step 7: Reboot your computer after installation is complete.

Step 8: You should now be able to visit the Windows Update or Microsoft update website via Internet Explorer and search for updates without issue.

Step 9: Once all updates have been installed via Internet Explorer (May require you to reboot and re-check for updates multiple times to ensure you have all the updates installed) you can re-enable Automatic Updates in the Control Panel without issue.

Step 10: Finished, enjoy your working computer

I think the really big key here is not to have IE6 on the system when you are setting it up.

In my experience you definitely want to install IE8 and associated updates, otherwise you'll still end up with an inability to do much with Windows/Microsoft Update.

I think IE8 is the root of the problem, in all my troubles of updates of late, I had IE6 or IE7 to work with and they both performed the same sort of results.

Next install I will try the IE8 route to see if it bypasses the bugs.
I know Microsoft are about to quite on the old girl, and has quit IE6, but if you are updating the least they could do it detect you do not have IE8 and install it or the needed updates first.

SP3 and NET framework will not allow other installers without sorting them specifically - so it is possible to help the end user bypass the lack of support for XP SP1 install media etc..

All the suggestions hear are good but, it still takes Microsoft Update for XP PRO over 1 to 2 hours to get all security updates and patches. Then you have to download them and install so consider it a half a day affair.

Eventually you can get it back up to date. I was using Seagate Disk Wizard to restore an older image (about 1year ago) and it was out of date. It took at least 2 hours after following instructions on here.

Now that I am back up to date I went ahead and saved with Seagate Disk Wizard (Acronis) backed-up the whole image.

Updates move through XP now like a fiber filled diet. (Regular & Fast) I almost forgot I was still on XP.

Thank god its not just me aving a nightmare Ive just put a fresh copy of XP onto a laptop & to say Im stuck is an understatment the only way I can get onto the internet is via Chrome or firefox I just cant get IE8 to install it starts but gets stuck at the first hurdle for ages without IE8 will none of the above fixes work

Just to help any body else out there just like this forum has helped me, I followed franpa's fix but I couldn't install IE8 so I tried IE7 once this had installed restart I then turned updates to inform me but don't install (I prefer this setting ) within seconds that little yellow sheild appeared updates are ready, thanks to all of you that contributed on here you've helped me no end Graham

Besides installing IE8, I used this link:

»www.winhelp.us/reinstall ··· ate.html

Using Option 2: downloading Fix It tool 50202 to reinstall Windows Update completely.. The one thing with this is you have to get .net installed on your system or the Microsoft FIXIT doesn't work.

It's a pain to have to do all of this. Some of us just need a utility machine or an older machine running XP, nothing fancy. I understand Microsoft wanting to stop support but for those of us that have to do this something is better than nothing.

The installation I have for XP has SP3 slip streamed into it.

mele, in order to use "windows update"/"microsoft update", one thing that is needed is, in win xp's "services", the "automatic updates" "service" must be running.. (the default setting for it is "automatic" ).. also, the "background intelligent transfer service" must be set to "manual", the default setting, so that it can run..

i just mention it in case you have those "services" disabled, which can cause problems with using "windows update"/"microsoft update"..

regarding a requirement that win xpsp3 installed, according to this webpage, it is:

»support.microsoft.com/kb/2497281

also, according to that webpage, it is required that windows "automatic updates" is turned on.. the "windows update"/"microsoft update" webpages are not accessible unless windows "automatic updates" is turned on, at least with a fresh install of win xp, where no "windows update"/"microsoft update" activex-controls have been installed..

having "automatic updates" turned on is only required in order to initially access the "windows update"/"microsoft update" webpages.. after the "windows update"/"microsoft update" activex-control(s) is installed, "automatic updates" can be turned off and the "windows update"/"microsoft update" webpages will still be accessible, once the "windows update"/"microsoft update" activex-control(s) have been installed..