Windows update hangs

[PaulBarter]

I'm running Win98SE

My system hangs when trying to use windows update

It tells me what updates are available etc and lets me review them. Then when I click install now the download dialog box appears and just sits there saying "preparing to download" but does not do any more, with the download progress staying blank. There is no internet traffic happening either.

If I then press the Cancel button Iexplore crashes with an illegal page fault in KERNEL32.DLL.

I think this has been happening for a couple of weeks now. I think the last time I got it to work it stopped part way through and said it had failed, so presumably it had left some file somewhere that is causing problems.

I tried uninstalling IE and reinstalling from my ISPs CD (version 6.0.2800.1106IS) but that didn't make any difference.

Anyone got any ideas?

Paul

 

[FredDibnah]

Hi Paul,

First thing to do would be to try a few system checks:

Clear the IE browser cache and all temp files - Window Washer from Webroot.com is a great product for automating this doing a far better job than Windows does itself. It also clears out lots of other bits and pieces and is available as a fully functioning trial version.

Ensure cookies are activated and security not set to high.

Run 'System File Checker' (sfc.exe) over the system.

Run 'Scandisk'.

Run 'Disk Defragmenter'.

Run a antispyware package over the system - I'd recommend Spy Sweeper once again from Webroot.com, you can download a fully functioning trial version.

Once you've done this shutdown every unrequired program running in the background and try to run Windows Update.

If the problem persists here are a few other place to try are for help:

http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/troubleshoot/

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=281967

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=812956

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=261328

http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/updtcl.htm

And someone posted this on another forum (thanks John A Dixon):

If It Hangs At 0% Try Going To Control Panel, Network, Under The Configuration Tab, Scroll Down To The TCP/IP Listing For Either The "Dial-Up Adapter" Or Your Network Card (If Your Doing Ethernet For DSL, etc), And Double Click On It (Click On The OK). Click On The "DNS Configuration" Tab. Select The Enable DNS Radio Button. In The Host Window Type In Your Login User Name. Just The Name, Do NOT Add The @ Sign And Whatever Follows It, If Used. Then In The "Domain Name" Window Type In The Name Of Your ISP (xyznet.net, Or abcxyz.com, etc.). Click All Of The OK's And When Ask If You Want To Restart Answer NO, Then Restart Your Machine Manually Using "Start", "Shutdown", etc. After The Machine Restarts Try Your Updates Again.

If all else fails take a list of all the recommended updates and go to the following page at Microsoft:

http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/catalog/en/default.asp

Here you can select your operating system and have returned to you a list of all the available updates which you can then select to download for later installation.

Regards,

 

[PaulBarter]

Thanks for all the help - that was great.

 

[FredDibnah]

Hi Paul,

Did you manage to get things working?

 

[PaulBarter]

Well I've gone through the list with no success so far. I've cleared all cache and temp files etc, scanned & defragged, virus checked and spy checked.

I tried sfc.exe but it complains about MSI.DLL but I cannot find a version to restore to - is this relevant?

I've tried downloading the latest version of IE but when I try to run the downloaded Ie6setup.exe I get an error in Ie6wzd with close/ignore boxes. Either box gives general protection fault in GDI.EXE

Seems to be getting worse!

 

[FredDibnah]

Hi Paul,

Sorry you've had no success so far. The msi.dll relates to Microsoft's installer package which is definitely relevant. Without it your going to have problems installing Microsoft software, and this may well be the cause of your current problems. You can either download just the dll file at:

http://www.dll-files.com/dllindex/dll-files.shtml?msi

Or the whole installer package:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...d8-c094-4255-b702-de3bb768148f&displaylang=en

If I can be of any further help just run up another post.

Regards,
You can also try extracting the dll from your Windows 98CD, but the two methods above are far easier.

When it comes to IE are you trying to download the installer or the whole package? If you download the installer 'ie6setup.exe' and run it the package downloads just the files it requires. There is a method however that allows you to download IE in a complete package, good if you work on multiple systems, however it does way in at over 50Mb if memory serves me well , so DSL/Cable is prefered connection. Follow the instructions below:

1. download the regular ie6setup.exe from

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...cb-5e5d-48f5-b02b-20b602228de6&DisplayLang=en

2. Start-Run-Open-Browse to the ie6setup.exe file and click open.
3. Edit the field to read [ /c:"ie6wzd.exe /d /s:""#E"""] to the filename, without the square brackets but with the spaces and quotes.
It should look like,
C:\some folder\ie6setup.exe /c:"ie6wzd.exe /d /s:""#E"""
make sure it is not the same folder you downloaded the ie6setup.exe to or it will not work.
4. Run that and it will download the files needed to install
it later.

 

[PaulBarter]

Thanks for your continued help.

I've managed to download IE6 OK (just the installer and run that OK and updated my IE6). Not sure why it failed last time. I just let it pick what it thought I needed but that did not help much. So when I have a bit more time I'll download the complete package (I'm only on dialup speed). Do I need everything or just Internet Explorer itself?

I've also downloaded the installer package including MSI.DLL but it's not clear how to reinstall as when I try running IMSTMSIA.EXE it says "The specified service already exists", so I extracted all the files from the .EXE manually and ran the extracted instmsi.exe, but not sure if it did anything. So ran stc.exe again and used the new MSI.DLL

Now sfc.exe is also complains about WININET.DLL which it managed to restore from my Win98 CD. Why does it keep finding different files?

However, windows update still does not get anywhere after the downloading information box appears.

 

[FredDibnah]

Hi Paul,

Glad to know that you're having some success. Where abouts are you based, I'm in the UK and if you are I could always post you of a full version on IE?

As for why SFC keeps finding different files it could just be the joys of Windows.....

 

[PaulBarter]

Hi Gavin

Thanks for your help. I'm in UK too (kent).

Whats the best way to get my address to you?

Paul

 

[FredDibnah]

Hi Paul,

I'm in Kent too small world, usually you could go to my website at:

http://www.indie-it.com

But for some reason it appears to be off-line(!), instead if you send it to gavin@ and insert the above web address less the www. it should get to me.

Regards