INTERRUPTED UPDATE INSTALLATION

I downloaded the critical updates to my old computer with MS ME. During the
installation process, the power went off. When I restarted my computer, I
only get past the password window; I get an "Updating Hardware Database"
window that "isn't responding" and can go no further. I can only work in
safe mode and can not connect to the internet. My laptop does not have a
floppy and my wounded desktop does not realize it has a cd drive.
Suggestions???

Check that you don't have a very large number of useless 0 byte
oem????.inf files in your windows\inf folder. If located, and by default
they are hidden so you will need to enable viewing of hidden files in
Windows Explorer, delete them. Then boot back into normal mode and try
reinstalling the failed updates.

If this is your problem then I would advise you that if you have Norton
installed you would be well advised to remove this faulty software which
can cause this and many other similar problems.
--
Mike Maltby



dmh wrote:

I downloaded the critical updates to my old computer with MS ME.
During the installation process, the power went off. When I
restarted my computer, I only get past the password window; I get an
"Updating Hardware Database" window that "isn't responding" and can
go no further. I can only work in safe mode and can not connect to
the internet. My laptop does not have a floppy and my wounded
desktop does not realize it has a cd drive. Suggestions???

WHOA, BABY!!!! A large number?! Eight and a half hours and 32,000 useless
files later, my computer works again. You're a genius -- you're my hero.
Now, I'm going to start downloading all those updates that seem to be gone.
One thing. The images are all extremely pixilated. I've checked in Control
Panel (Display) and it's not going back. Is is possible that one of these
downloads will remedy this?

"Mike M" wrote:

Check that you don't have a very large number of useless 0 byte
oem????.inf files in your windows\inf folder. If located, and by default
they are hidden so you will need to enable viewing of hidden files in
Windows Explorer, delete them. Then boot back into normal mode and try
reinstalling the failed updates.

If this is your problem then I would advise you that if you have Norton
installed you would be well advised to remove this faulty software which
can cause this and many other similar problems.
--
Mike Maltby



dmh wrote:

I downloaded the critical updates to my old computer with MS ME.
During the installation process, the power went off. When I
restarted my computer, I only get past the password window; I get an
"Updating Hardware Database" window that "isn't responding" and can
go no further. I can only work in safe mode and can not connect to
the internet. My laptop does not have a floppy and my wounded
desktop does not realize it has a cd drive. Suggestions???

WHOA, BABY!!!! A large number?! Eight and a half hours and 32,000
useless files later, my computer works again.

That's good news indeed. Shame however about the wasted 8½ hours,

Is it possible that one of these downloads will remedy this?

The remedy is to thoroughly remove all software on your PC that has either
the name Symantec or Norton. Sadly in the last 15 years or more Symantec
has changed from selling worthwhile and useful software to instead pushing
bloated, faulty and defective software that in most cases does more harm
to a user's system than any good it might suggest it offers. It is of
course just possible that your problem was caused by some other third
party software that exhibits the same behaviour as Norton but that is very
rare with Norton, NAV, LiveUpdate and Norton System Works being the
principal culprits.
--
Mike Maltby



dmh wrote:

WHOA, BABY!!!! A large number?! Eight and a half hours and 32,000
useless files later, my computer works again. You're a genius --
you're my hero. Now, I'm going to start downloading all those updates
that seem to be gone. One thing. The images are all extremely
pixilated. I've checked in Control Panel (Display) and it's not
going back. Is is possible that one of these downloads will remedy
this?