Some Critical MS Windows Update patches fail to install

Problem with MS Windows Auto Update patches:

I use MS Windows Update very regularly and there are two
Critical Updates that download and seem to install
but fail when the systems reboots.... I have tried to
install them many times over the last few months. I have
also tried the update after disabling Norton Anti-virus
and Zone Alarm firewall, with no luck. I tried Windows
update troubleshooter but this problem doesn't seem to be
addressed there, that I could find anway...

The updates that won't install a

Critical Update for Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1
(KB831167)
Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer 6 Service
Pack 1 (KB832894)

Mys system is an IBM Netvista (with MS Millenium Edition)

After it reboots and just before Windows loads I get the
following message:

" Windows could not upgrade the file %1 from %2
%1 %2
(this repeats for a dozen lines or so, then

Windows could not upgrae one or more system files before
starting

Windows may not start or run properly

If windows fails to start, run setup again "

My Windows ME seems to be running alright. It does do a
freeze up sometimes and I occasionally get the blue screen
of death with a subsequent crash and burn, but I'm so use
to that with all the MS OS's I've ever had I wouldn't know
if it was a problem or normal operation.... forgive me for
saying so.

Thanks for your Help

Steve

Steve,

Until you fix the %1 %2 error no program or update will install correctly if
it uses the wininit mechanism to update files that are normally in use whilst
Win Me is running. This error has a number of causes and is the result of
system restore being trashed on your system. Whilst Symantec's LiveUpdate is
a common cause of this problem others exist .

Your %1 %2 problem.

First boot to DOS using a floppy and check whether you have a WININIT.INI
file in your C:\WINDOWS folder. If present rename it to something like
wininit.old and try booting again. It is also probable that you will have to
repeat the last software install or update that you made. See MS KB283069 -
"Error Message: (http://support.microsoft.com?kbid=283069).

If you can't find a wininit.ini file then I suspect your problem is due to the
C:\_RESTORE\TEMP folder having around 64K files in it which is the limit
(2**16) for the number of files that can be located in a folder using the
FAT32 filing system. This then results in the "Cannot upgrade file %1 from
%2.." message when booting. I suggest you try deleting the _RESTORE folder
with the loss of any system restore checkpoints you might have (not that I
think they are now usable) and see if that solves the problem. Delete the
folder as follows:
a) Boot to DOS using a floppy. Do NOT choose "Minimal Boot" from the menu
when booting from a floppy but rather choose "Start computer with (or without)
CD-ROM support" otherwise the ATTRIB command will not be available.
b) At the DOS A:\ prompt, type:

A:\ ATTRIB -H -S -R C:\_RESTORE
A:\ REN C:\_RESTORE OLDREST

c) Remove the floppy
d) Reboot your PC

Another problem though is that the update you were doing was never completed
so your system may be unusable. If however it does manage to boot then:

e) Delete the folder C:\OLDREST
f) Check that an automatic system restore checkpoint was created.
g) Finally adjust the space allocated to the restore folder:
System | Performance | File System | Hard Disk and adjust the restore slider
to your preferred setting. A figure of 200MB is normally more than adequate
for day to day use allowing perhaps a week of checkpoints to be available
although increasing this to perhaps 400MB for a few days during periods of
large installs such Microsoft Office is advisable.
--?
Mike Maltby MS-MVP



Steve wrote:

Problem with MS Windows Auto Update patches:

I use MS Windows Update very regularly and there are two
Critical Updates that download and seem to install
but fail when the systems reboots.... I have tried to
install them many times over the last few months. I have
also tried the update after disabling Norton Anti-virus
and Zone Alarm firewall, with no luck. I tried Windows
update troubleshooter but this problem doesn't seem to be
addressed there, that I could find anway...

The updates that won't install a

Critical Update for Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1
(KB831167)
Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer 6 Service
Pack 1 (KB832894)

Mys system is an IBM Netvista (with MS Millenium Edition)

After it reboots and just before Windows loads I get the
following message:

" Windows could not upgrade the file %1 from %2
%1 %2
(this repeats for a dozen lines or so, then

Windows could not upgrae one or more system files before
starting

Windows may not start or run properly

If windows fails to start, run setup again "

My Windows ME seems to be running alright. It does do a
freeze up sometimes and I occasionally get the blue screen
of death with a subsequent crash and burn, but I'm so use
to that with all the MS OS's I've ever had I wouldn't know
if it was a problem or normal operation.... forgive me for
saying so.