Using Windows or Microsoft Office after Repair Reinstall 2

[bcastner]

I noticed at a client site that a Repair reinstallation of XP often reported that there were no updates required when the user immediately visited the Windows or Microsoft Update site.

This is clearly wrong, and apparently this is quite a common happenstance.

From now on when doing a Repair Reinstallation of XP prior to heading to Windows or Microsoft Update to get now missing Hotfixes and Service Packs I recommend:

[ul]
[li]Start, Run,"NET STOP wuauserv"[/li]
[li]Delete the folder Wuredir found in C:\windows\software distribution (or rename it wuredir.old)[/li]
[li]Start, Run, "NET START wuauserv" [/li][/ul]

Reboot and head to Windows or Microsoft Update.

Best wishes,
Bill Castner

 

[linney]

this is quite a common happenstance"

While not disagreeing with the sentiment, it is not something I have seen mentioned in any quantity before and was quite surprised to read about it being a common occurrence.

Windows Update reports that new updates are not available.

http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/troubleshoot/

Resolutions:
The error is caused by SSL (Secure Socket Layer). The scan process requires SSL and if the date and time on your computer varies too much from the valid date and time of the SSL certificates on Windows Update, the process will fail. Please verify that your computer’s date and time are accurate and that the Internet Explorer language option is not empty.

To check the language setting in Internet Explorer:
1. Click "Tools" and then select "Internet Options".
2. Click "Languages".
3. Make sure at least one language is listed in the "Language Options" dialog box.

Please delete the Internet cache and cookies.
1. Click "Tools" and then select "Internet Options".
2. Click "Delete Cookies".
3. Click "Delete Files".

 

[bcastner]

linney,

I was warning of a different matter completely.

Two discussions of the issue and a different approach to a workaround by forcing new entries in Wuaredir:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555615

(Windows XP)

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555616

(Windows Server 2003)

(Thanks to Richard Harper, MS-MVP for this).

 

[linney]

In this instance is it a manual check that says there are no updates, or is it that Automatic Updates itself just stops working, or do BOTH manual and automatic checks fail.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555615

states the following -

"Windows XP Repair installation causes Automatic Updates to no longer recognize that updates are needed...."

"After performing a repair install of Windows XP using the Repair feature of Windows Setup, your computer will no longer automatically download updates via the Automatic Updates process...."


Thanks for those additional links.

Of course this next link comes with the well known warning.

"After you perform an in-place upgrade or repair installation, you must reinstall all updates to Windows. To reinstall Windows updates, visit the following Microsoft Web site:"

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp

It also begs the question as to why this behavior is not consistent, in that it doesn't seem to happen to everyone, and is not a well known problem?

 

[bcastner]

Q1: "In this instance is it a manual check that says there are no updates, or is it that Automatic Updates itself just stops working, or do BOTH manual and automatic checks fail."

A1: Both Manual and Automatic update processes will no longer function properly without additional steps taken. There is no warning or error reported and no visible sign that Automatic Updates is no longer functioning as it was configured to.

Automatic Updates believes your computer is still up-to-date and will not download or install any Windows Service Packs or updates that the computer needs after the Repair install. Since Automatic Updates believes the computer is up-to-date on Windows Service Packs and updates, no warnings or error messages are generated.

Q2: "It also begs the question as to why this behavior is not consistent, in that it doesn't seem to happen to everyone, and is not a well known problem?"

A2: A Repair install of Windows removes any Windows Service Packs and updates that were previously installed. The repair install also replaces Windows Update client files on your server with older versions of these files. As a result, Automatic Updates believes your computer is still up-to-date and will not download or install any Windows Service Packs or updates that the computer needs after the Repair install.

I believe any inconsistency is related to what source was used for the Repair Reinstall. If a slipstream of XP with SP2 was used, I believe you will be okay; but I most certainly will check from now on.

As to why this is not a better known problem, it stems from the fact that everything appears to act normally. And it also stems from the unfortunate unwashed many who do not read my lightbulb posts on Tek-Tips.

Best,
Bill Castner

 

[linney]

So I am no longer unwashed, what a relief.

The skeptic in me (thinks to himself) that Bill wasn't that aware of a problem else he wouldn't have reported it via a "light bulb"?

As most Windows XP CD's nowadays come with SP2 embedded I hope that we don't see too much of this problem.

One of the reasons that I was not familiar with this problem might be that I have either used a slipstreamed SP2 CD, or more likely because I keep on disk every update released by Microsoft and by routine load them after any repair.

Anyway I think it is safe to assume that if any Tek-Tip members need "washing", the word is out and Bcastner or Linney is ready with the soap and towel.

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[bcastner]

Let me clarify some things I said above so that we are all completely clean:

. Pre-SP2 slipstreams, XP with SP1, just XP
You likely will face the issue discussed in this lightbulb.

. XP SP2 Slipstream
Assume you will have the problem in this lightbulb. You can check installed Hotfixes before and after a session with Windows or Microsoft or SUS or WUS Update (see below).

If using WUS or SUS you will have the problem.
If using Windows Update you may have the problem.
If using Microsoft Update you will have the problem.

To get a list of installed Hotfixes:
Open a Command Prompt window by typing CMD.EXE in Start, Run dialog. Then type the following command in the prompt:

wmic qfe list full /format:htable >C:\hotfixes.htm

Wait for few seconds, and then open the C:\hotfixes.htm file which contains the list of fixes installed in your computer. There are several ways to list installed Hotfixes; I just like a list.

As for linney, partially washed in my opinion, "The skeptic in me (thinks to himself) that Bill wasn't that aware of a problem else he wouldn't have reported it via a "light bulb"?" Read the first line of my original post.

Best,
Bill Castner

 

[BadBigBen]

Thanks to you both... for this ammusingly informative discussion and problem...

I am like Linney, in that I always keep all UPDATES and HOTFIXES on a seperate partition... but it has rinsed my thinking a bit aswell...

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."