Updates and Downloads

I keep getting the same updates from Microsoft to install
on my computer even though my Installation History shows
that have been downloaded and installed successfully
several times(e.g. KB832894 and KB831167).Why does this
happen and how can I stop it from happening again? I also
get a message on a "black" screen after each intallation
which states "Windows could not upgrade file %1 from %2%1:%
2". I get this about 9 times on the screen--PLEASE HELP.

You keep getting the same updates offered to you because they have not
installed correctly - possibly because your system has system crippling
software from Symantec installed on it.

Your "Windows Could Not Upgrade the File %1 from %2 %1: %2" error:

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: Windows Could Not Upgrade the File %1 from %2 %1: %2
(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:

ATTRIB -H -S -R C:\_RESTORE
and then
REN C:\_RESTORE OLDREST

c) Remove the floppy
d) Reboot your PC

Another problem is that the update you were doing was never completed so your
system may still be unusable and the update repeated.

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



wrote:

I keep getting the same updates from Microsoft to install
on my computer even though my Installation History shows
that have been downloaded and installed successfully
several times(e.g. KB832894 and KB831167).Why does this
happen and how can I stop it from happening again? I also
get a message on a "black" screen after each intallation
which states "Windows could not upgrade file %1 from %2%1:%
2". I get this about 9 times on the screen--PLEASE HELP.