Windows Update Endless Loop [modified]
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Greetings: I have a PC system here running Windows XP-Pro. Some weeks ago, it notified me that it had downloaded an update and asked if I would like to install it before shutting down. Verily, I replied "Sure". Next day, same thing. After the 2nd and 3rd time, I started to wonder why MS was sending so many updates. Now, I realize that it is just installing the same update over and over again. :wtf: Anybody familiar with this particular endless loop? Any advice on what I can do about it? Thanks in advance. Mark -- modified at 13:16 Monday 12th February, 2007
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Greetings: I have a PC system here running Windows XP-Pro. Some weeks ago, it notified me that it had downloaded an update and asked if I would like to install it before shutting down. Verily, I replied "Sure". Next day, same thing. After the 2nd and 3rd time, I started to wonder why MS was sending so many updates. Now, I realize that it is just installing the same update over and over again. :wtf: Anybody familiar with this particular endless loop? Any advice on what I can do about it? Thanks in advance. Mark -- modified at 13:16 Monday 12th February, 2007
The only time I've seen that happen is when the update requires Windows Genuine Advantage to pass the machine as authentic Windows, and it's failing.
Dave Kreskowiak Microsoft MVP - Visual Basic
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The only time I've seen that happen is when the update requires Windows Genuine Advantage to pass the machine as authentic Windows, and it's failing.
Dave Kreskowiak Microsoft MVP - Visual Basic
If it's failing authentication, then there is just something plain wrong. Its a Dell Latitude D800, purchased by my company in 2003 with the operating system installed by Dell. I have had countless Windows updates since then proceed successfully up to now. I don't pretend to be an expert on the Windows registry, but I am aware that things can get badly screwed up in there. Any possibility it could be something like that? Mark
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Greetings: I have a PC system here running Windows XP-Pro. Some weeks ago, it notified me that it had downloaded an update and asked if I would like to install it before shutting down. Verily, I replied "Sure". Next day, same thing. After the 2nd and 3rd time, I started to wonder why MS was sending so many updates. Now, I realize that it is just installing the same update over and over again. :wtf: Anybody familiar with this particular endless loop? Any advice on what I can do about it? Thanks in advance. Mark -- modified at 13:16 Monday 12th February, 2007
This happens when an update installation fails to complete for some reason. Although I can't verify that they all do, many I've installed have left behind a log file with step-by-step details of the process, and often you can find a clue as to what failed. Rarely, though, will that clue be clear enough to enable you to fix it. Check the Add/Remove Programs applet for the particular fix you're trying to install - the KB number will be part of the name. If you find it, remove it and start over. Sometimes a partial install gets stuck for some error or other and can't recover. Deleting any reference to it will cause a fresh install to begin. Another way (I haven'tried it, but it seems reasonable to me) might be to skip the Update page and go directly to the knowledge base article and do the update from there.
"...a photo album is like Life, but flat and stuck to pages." - Shog9
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This happens when an update installation fails to complete for some reason. Although I can't verify that they all do, many I've installed have left behind a log file with step-by-step details of the process, and often you can find a clue as to what failed. Rarely, though, will that clue be clear enough to enable you to fix it. Check the Add/Remove Programs applet for the particular fix you're trying to install - the KB number will be part of the name. If you find it, remove it and start over. Sometimes a partial install gets stuck for some error or other and can't recover. Deleting any reference to it will cause a fresh install to begin. Another way (I haven'tried it, but it seems reasonable to me) might be to skip the Update page and go directly to the knowledge base article and do the update from there.
"...a photo album is like Life, but flat and stuck to pages." - Shog9
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Greetings: I have a PC system here running Windows XP-Pro. Some weeks ago, it notified me that it had downloaded an update and asked if I would like to install it before shutting down. Verily, I replied "Sure". Next day, same thing. After the 2nd and 3rd time, I started to wonder why MS was sending so many updates. Now, I realize that it is just installing the same update over and over again. :wtf: Anybody familiar with this particular endless loop? Any advice on what I can do about it? Thanks in advance. Mark -- modified at 13:16 Monday 12th February, 2007
Hi, it's also possible that something with your Update Agent goes wrong. First you should check the event log and log files for errors: C:\WINNT\WindowsUpdate.log C:\WINNT\SoftwareDistribution\ReportingEvents.log And you could try "resetting" the Update Agent: 1. Disable Automatic Updates 2. Stop the Automatic Updates service 3. Delete all files under C:\WINNT\SoftwareDistribution\*.* 4. (Re-)Start the Automatic Update service 5. (Re-)Enable Automatic Updates But be warned: This is a dirty hack. Do it at your own risk! Steffen
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Greetings: I have a PC system here running Windows XP-Pro. Some weeks ago, it notified me that it had downloaded an update and asked if I would like to install it before shutting down. Verily, I replied "Sure". Next day, same thing. After the 2nd and 3rd time, I started to wonder why MS was sending so many updates. Now, I realize that it is just installing the same update over and over again. :wtf: Anybody familiar with this particular endless loop? Any advice on what I can do about it? Thanks in advance. Mark -- modified at 13:16 Monday 12th February, 2007
Hi Again: I'm replying to my own original message. I just wanted to report that the probem was resolved. Turning "automatic updates off" and selecting instead "Notify me when updates are ready" I was able to note the two update codes that kept going around and around. It was 925672 and KB927978. They relate to MSXML V4.0 SP1. Taking Roger Wright's advice, I checked Add/Remove programs and set it to include updates in the listing. Here, I found that MSXML 4.0 SP1 had two identical entries. I uninstalled both of them and restarted. I then allowed them to be reinstalled when the message appeared saying that those two updates were ready. They installed successfully and it has all been tickety-boo since then. Thanks all, and Roger in particular. Mark