failed install of new critical updates

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dennis w. - 26 Dec 2003 18:48 GMT

PLEASE HELP: Downloaded from Msoft update sire,12
updates,1 & 1/2 hr. download. Install successful.
attempted to install several times after closing all
running programs using Ctrl/Alt/del window,one by one
leaving only Explorer and systry running,ending task on
these causes shut down. Even attempted in safe mode,all
neg. results ,gets to 75% then stops and gives error
message saying to close running programs and try again.
What running programs????? Thanks ,ANYONE???

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Noel Paton - 27 Dec 2003 11:38 GMT

Dennis
First off - don't try to install more than a couple of updates at a time!

Scan your system with an up-to-date virus scanner, and download AdAware
from
www.lavasoftusa.com, install, update, and run it to remove spyware, adware,
and other such nasties from your system.

The try again - with just the one (small) update! If that doesn't work -
what's the EXACT error message?

Also...
Have you been running with the Quack?
Are you running Norton System Quack - - errr - Doctor?
If so, then read on......

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/nunt.nsf/docid/2000120915010309&src=n

also
"Computer Stops Responding (Hangs) During Setup, Installing Updates, or
Adding New Hardware"
(http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q281967)
also
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;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

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

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http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm

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> PLEASE HELP: Downloaded from Msoft update sire,12
> updates,1 & 1/2 hr. download. Install successful.
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> message saying to close running programs and try again.
> What running programs????? Thanks ,ANYONE???

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ed p - 30 Dec 2003 21:14 GMT

>-----Original Message-----
> PLEASE HELP: Downloaded from Msoft update sire,12
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>.
>check the hiddened folder INF in your windows directory.

if there are many files labled 'oemxxxxx.', with the x's
representing numbers, then you many need a patch to
correct this. your computer is chewing through, in some
cases up to 30,000 files like above, with '0' bytes in
lenght, and it will take time to do this. that is why your
computer is taking so long to install programs. this is
true in my Windows ME, and it may be true with yours
system too. good luck.

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