installing updates

My Windows ME would stall while booting up so I did a
partial system recovery (saved data files and only renewed
the system files). I chose the partial recovery because in
safe mode I wasnt able to save all the stuff I wanted to.

NOW, I have to go back and perform all the Windows
Updates. I am able to download an update but my computer
fails to complete the install. (I left my computer running
for over 10 hours waiting for the install to complete....).
I closed the session. Now when I start a message indicates
the last set up was not completed. It loads the set-up and
says there is a problem and to try again. several attempts
bring no success and a message says to seek MS product
help.

I think the problem is linked to the partial recovery.
Although I didnt loose other software, most were not
working properly and I had to uninstal and replace them
(MS Office, Corel Suite, zone-alarm, norton AV, among
others).
The icon/link for the software was there but the program
wouldnt work. I had to use Add/Remove program as well as
deleting some directly from the "Programs" File.

I noticed one file in Windows labeled "Windows Update Set-
up Files" and deleted it. The seemed to help with allowing
one of the updates to complete the install.

The next Update has not completed.

The partial recovery seems to have been more trouble.
(If I could get my external CD burner working again - and
save my larger files - I would probably just do a complete
recovery.)

Any advice?

Start by emthying your Temporary Internet Files and offline content using
the button on the froont page of Internet Options, then....
Have you been running with the Quack?
Are you running Norton System Quack - - errr - Doctor?
If so, then read on...... (read on anyhow - NSD is only the most common
cause, not the only one).

You may have up to 32,000 empty OEM*.INF files sitting in your
c:\Windows\INF folder, which prevents any program putting a legitimate *.INF
file in there (it also slow your system down to stop, trying to read them
and sort the [non-existent] contents!).
You need to DELETE all 0byte (and ONLY the 0byte) OEM*.INF files.
look here for information on how to do that , and how to prevent it
happening again (i.e. TURN OFF NORTON SYSTEM DOCTOR - unless you are
actively troubleshooting something)

The Symantec site:
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT...15010309&src=n

also
"Computer Stops Responding (Hangs) During Setup, Installing Updates, or
Adding New Hardware"
(http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;Q281967)
also
http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;Q301540
(which contains the fix for your problem in the NOTE under the patch
description)
Phone your Local MS office, and tell them your problem quoting Q301540 -
they'll either send you the patch, or give you a one-use password, for the
cost of the call.

Good Luck


--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2004, Win9x)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's
or
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/f.../Mar27pmvp.asp

"Krys" wrote in message
...

My Windows ME would stall while booting up so I did a
partial system recovery (saved data files and only renewed
the system files). I chose the partial recovery because in
safe mode I wasnt able to save all the stuff I wanted to.

NOW, I have to go back and perform all the Windows
Updates. I am able to download an update but my computer
fails to complete the install. (I left my computer running
for over 10 hours waiting for the install to complete....).
I closed the session. Now when I start a message indicates
the last set up was not completed. It loads the set-up and
says there is a problem and to try again. several attempts
bring no success and a message says to seek MS product
help.

I think the problem is linked to the partial recovery.
Although I didnt loose other software, most were not
working properly and I had to uninstal and replace them
(MS Office, Corel Suite, zone-alarm, norton AV, among
others).
The icon/link for the software was there but the program
wouldnt work. I had to use Add/Remove program as well as
deleting some directly from the "Programs" File.

I noticed one file in Windows labeled "Windows Update Set-
up Files" and deleted it. The seemed to help with allowing
one of the updates to complete the install.

The next Update has not completed.

The partial recovery seems to have been more trouble.
(If I could get my external CD burner working again - and
save my larger files - I would probably just do a complete
recovery.)

Any advice?