Re: Upgrade to Windows XP SP2 download problems

Automatic Updates has a habit of not showing error messages. If you use Automatic Updates & you happen to be at the pc monitor when it shows in Notification area...then...what you should do is double-click the icon so that it is forced to show its window (on-screen). Thus you'll be able to see & watch its progress. Having said all that, the real answer on error messages is in "the log" file.

Look for file WindowsUpdate.log in your C:\Windows folder ( or it may be C:\WINNT on your system).

Use Notepad or Wordpad to open & view contents. Scan down to the very bottom. Look at the set of lines for that last session-date.
Do you see lines with "Error" and some text with "fail".
Copy the set of lines for that last session-date & paste back into a reply in here.

Do check on free space on your disk drive(s) by viewing My Computer while in Windows Explorer or simply double-click My Computer on the desktop.
Close your browser, and then run Disk Cleanup to delete temp and temporary internet files.

Other housekeeping issues:
Put some MS sites in Trusted Sites list of IE browser.
Internet Explorer > main menu /Tools/Internet Options >

Security Tab/ click on green icon Trusted Sites/click Sites button.

Look very closely at line that says:

"Require server verification (https:) for all sites in this zone" to
*clear* the selection.
(e.g. You want that to be un-checked (un-ticked)).

In the "Add this Web site to the zone:" field, add these entries to
list of "Trusted Sites" --

type
http://*.download.windowsupdate.com (click Add)

http://v5.windowsupdate.microsoft.com

https://v5.windowsupdate.microsoft.com (with HTTPS)

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com

Click OK. Apply changes to IE browser. Close browser.

>From main Windows Start menu, select RUN, type in
CMD <Enter-key>

type in
net stop wuauserv <Enter-key>

Go to Windows Explorer.
Look on your system drive (usually C ) and look at the Windows folder name. Like Windows or WINNT.
Modify following as appropriate.
If your Windows folder is C:\Windows. Look at this folder
C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download

If you find files in there, delete them. That folder is where files are stored from W U downloads.

Go back to Command prompt window.
type in
net start wuauserv <Enter-key>

EXIT <Enter-key>

Finally, tips on preparing & installing XP Service Pack 2.
It is "very recommended" to disable antivirus program ( as well as minimizing all startup user-apps) prior to installing the service pack.
Keep firewall on as long as pc has internet connection.

My strong suggestion to you is to disable all startup apps & your antivirus before starting the setup of Service Pack 2 (or any future service pack.) .

Do a liitle reading before getting SP2. See tips at Aumha.org on preparing for SP2.

Look at the Pre-Installation Recommendations
http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=45

Windows XP SP2 - FAQ & Best Practices" at Aumha.org
http://forum.aumha.org/index.php?c=16

Here is one link to get started on getting XP SP2
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/windowsxp/choose.mspx

Keep this SP2 reference page handy
http://aumha.org/win5/a/sp2faq.htm

--
Maurice N
MVP Windows - Shell / User

Go Spurs, Go !
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Kerta wrote:
> The Windows Update Site cant detect the Service Pack 2 update but the
> Automatic Updates will. Automatic Updates however begins downloading
> then vanishes from the tray. It doesnt give any error messages or
> anything. Is there a reason for this?
.