[Rollin' Rog]

You searched in the registry editor, not Explorer.

But let's assume the Windows Installer is properly installed since you reported the message "sucessful".

What I'd like to test is a manual install of any pending update, not necessarily a "critical" one -- but an "optional", non- driver, update from Windows Update.

What I'd like you to do is visit Windows Update and see what updates are still available.

Just copy the ID of one or two and let me know what they are; I will see if I can find a manual update version for you to try.

I want to know if this "installer" error is occuring on all setups that use the Windows Installer or just something in particular.

Alternately if you have a program you want to test installing -- you can try that.

By the way if you really want to bite the bullet -- XP SP3 is available.

I installed it without issue -- but I'm not sure I can heartily recommend this to you -- but it might be a last resort option.

[beenthere7659]

In order to use MS updates I must... Screenshot

[beenthere7659]

To open Updates I must install--- Screenshot
It showed Installation complete.
Now I'll search for some updates to suggest.
I searched update history (It is what came up)--

Update for Windows Media Format 11 SDK for Windows XP (KB929399) Cancelled

Windows Internet Explorer 7.0 for Windows XP Cancelled

Windows Genuine Advantage Notification (KB905474) Failed

Security Update for Windows XP (KB913446) Failed

Now I'll try to find a list of available updates---

This is what I found--- Is there anything in this mess with which you can work?
*****
More high-priority updates are available
Your computer might be at risk until you install them. Check for the remaining updates and install them now.

Express

Restart now to finish installing updates
Your computer will not be up to date until you restart it. Please save any open files, photos or documents and restart now.



Installation Summary

Successful: 0
Failed: 1
Remaining: 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Successful Updates


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Failed Updates
For help installing an update successfully, see the solution under each problem description.


Problem: End User License Agreement (EULA) Not Accepted
Solution: Check for updates again and wait while you install updates. You will be asked to accept the EULA before any updates with a EULA can be installed.

Problem: Not Enough Disk Space
Solution: To make more space available, run the Disk Cleanup tool or uninstall any programs that you don’t use. For directions, see Help and Support on your computer.

Problem: Automatic Updates is currently installing updates
Solution: Please wait until Automatic Updates is complete and then check your update history. At that time, if the update has failed to install, you can try installing it from the website.
Note: To view Automatic Updates progress, click the updating icon in your System Tray.

Problem: Please check your update history for a description.

Problem: A problem on your computer is preventing updates from being downloaded or installed
Solution: To fix the problem, try installing the updates again. If that doesn't work, use the Troubleshooter to try solve the problem.

Microsoft Windows XP
Windows XP Service Pack 3 (KB936929)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Remaining High-Priority Updates
Your computer might be at risk until you install all high-priority updates. These updates help protect against security threats and performance problems.


Microsoft Office 2007
Microsoft Office Accounting 2008 US Service Pack 1 (KB949426)

[Rollin' Rog]

I think I found something relevant to your problem, so I want you to first try the "fix" described below. The article seems right on the money for your "verbose" logging errors.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/321497

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type msiexec /unreg, and then click OK.
3. When this process is complete, click Start, and then click Run.
4. In the Open box, type msiexec /regserver, and then click OK.
5. When this process is complete, reinstall the update.


>> Also let me know how much disk space you have available.

[beenthere7659]

Rog-
I ran both those. It did not appear to do anything.
I have 37 gigs free HD space.

Suggest something for me to install please.

Windows Installer "Preparing to install" is still with me.

[Rollin' Rog]

Is this the Office 2007 Security update that remains pending >>

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

Remaining High-Priority Updates
Your computer might be at risk until you install all high-priority updates. These updates help protect against security threats and performance problems.


Microsoft Office 2007
Microsoft Office Accounting 2008 US Service Pack 1 (KB949426)

[beenthere7659]

I suppose so--

I pasted what it reported.

[Rollin' Rog]

Well try saving the setup to your hard drive from the download option on that link.

Then run the setup and see how it goes. If you get an error, upload or copy the "msi" log for it as you did before so I can have a gander.

[beenthere7659]

Attempted sp 3 See screenshots.

What are my next steps?

[Rollin' Rog]

Right click on the Start button -- do you see "open All Users" as an option there?

This is an indication of whether you are logged on with Administrative rights; if it isn't there you are not.




>>> Also, please do this, search for c:\windows\svcpack.log

Right click on it and select "copy"

Save the file to the desktop, then right click again and select Send To "compressed (zip) folder"

Upload that here as an attachment.

>>> Do the same for:c:\windows\setupapi.log

[beenthere7659]

I am logged on as Admin.
Here are the zip files

[Rollin' Rog]

There are a humongous number of "access is denied" errors in the "setupapi" log.

Many of them seem to reference combofix for some reason and I cannot tell whether they actually refer to the SP3 install. I don't know why combofix should be involved.

Would you navigate to c:\windows\setupapi.log, right click on it and rename it "setupapiold.log"

Then run the SP3 setup again and after you get the error zip and upload the newly created setupapi.log


>> Also has chkdsk /r been run on this drive since these problems began?

>> Finally I'd like you to download the attached "secedit" file and unzip it and copy the enclosed files to

c:\windows\system32

But don't do anything with them at this time. We may wish to try the resetting of security settings per the MS article here:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=313222

But these files are not a part of MS HOME; if you have XP Professional then you do not need to download and copy the attached.

[beenthere7659]

Rog--
I restarted SP3 install and it almost finished before "Access Denied" (screenshot).
Then it started cleaning up and replaced a big bunch of files.
I then sdid a new setupapi.log zip (attached) as directed.

I do not recall running chkdsk /r since problem.

BTW-- it was while working with Cookiegal that I was directed to download Combofix.

I hesitate to bite off too many chunks at a time.

I'll stop here and await your next suggestions.

[Rollin' Rog]

We may have to wait on this; I am currently unable to download any uncorrupted zipped attachment.

I believe the problem is site related and involves the attachments server but must wait for others to confirm.

[Rollin' Rog]

Ok, it looks like attachments are working again.

I still see too many "access is denied" errors in that log for it to be practical to deal with them one by one.Some mention "combofix" for some reason.

So let's try to use a method of resetting security permissions using a command line tool.

1 > Download and unzip the previously attached "secedit.zip" file.

2 > Copy the files to c:\windows\system32

3 > Reboot the computer

4 > Go to Start, run and enter cmd

5 > At the command prompt enter (or copy/paste) >

secedit /configure /cfg %windir%\repair\secsetup.inf /db secsetup.sdb /verbose


It would be best to copy/paste that line rather than type it;

I have never run this command, so I don't know exactly what to expect from it. It may take some time to finish -- perhaps 15 minutes or more.

Note any error messages.

Reboot the computer after it completes and attempt any install which was previously giving errors.


If this doesn't work, there is another, slightly more complicated method we can try.