My neighbor's machine was destroyed by virus, trojans and who knows what
else.

Thanks to the help of people on here, I've gotten an XP Home CD, used the
Recovery Console and Dell driver disks to get it up and running (including
Wireless which never had worked for him).

However there are two glitches.
- There are two USB ports and neither works.
- Windows Update reports SP3 is available but when I tell it to get
it, the message is that it did not install. No errors, warnings or
other useful messages are shown.

I am hoping someone will be kind enough to suggest things I could try for
these problems.

Dell Inspiron 1300 Notebook
Celeron M 1.5G
512M Memory
XP Home SP2

CrystalBall© sez...

Updates are not installed successfully from Windows Update, from Microsoft
Update, or by using Automatic Updates after you repair a Windows XP
installation:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144

NB: Also applies to clean installs, upgrade installs, and Recovery installs.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

ralphs wrote:

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:OOwrH7J2IHA.524@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
PA Bear, you keep pulling me out of the fire - Thanks!!

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:OOwrH7J2IHA.524@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
I spoke too soon.

I followed that knowledge base article, stopped the service, registered the
dll and started the service.

I then went for SP3, failed, rebooted and tried for it again. Both times
there was no error or warning, only this:

The following updates were not installed
Windows XP Service Pack 3 (KB936929)

In no certain order...

WinXP SP3 - Read all prerequisites for a successful installation
http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldron...tallation.aspx

Steps to take before you install WinXP SP3
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717

How to troubleshoot an unsuccessful installation of WinXP SP3
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950718

How to troubleshoot Windows Update, Microsoft Update, and Windows Server
Update Services installation issues:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/906602

1. See the "Need more help? Tell us what problem you are having" section of
http://support.microsoft.com/ph/6527

2. You cannot install some updates or programs
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/822798

3a. Check your WindowsUpdate.log (%windir%\WindowsUpdate.log) for errors
associated with the download/install.

How to read the WindowsUpdate.log file
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/902093

3b. Compare errors to those listed here:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/blog...showentry=1122
and/or go to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com > click on Help and Support
link in left pane > Solve problems on your own.

Free unlimited installation and compatibility support is available for
Windows XP, but only for Service Pack 3 (SP3), until 14 Apr-09. Chat and
e-mail support is available only in the United States and Canada.

• US:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...3&gprid=522131

• CA:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...3&gprid=522131

• UK:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...3&gprid=522131

• AU:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...3&gprid=522131

• Other: http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...spx?gprid=1173 | select
Windows XP | select Windows XP Service Pack 3
--
~PA Bear

ralphs wrote:

Try this fix:
http://www.paulsxp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=105

--
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www.paulsxp.com
www.paulsxp.com/forum
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"ralphs" <ralph08260@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:#afALzK2IHA.5560@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

"PaulM" <paul@paulsxp.com> wrote in message
news:eYe3QfL2IHA.4476@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
Thanks Paul!

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:upN95%23K2IHA.5944@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
Thanks PA Bear - but gosh, that is a long list!!

That machine's got major problems (the USB issue isn't one of them). I'd
start by examining the WindowsUpdate.log for errors associated with the
failed install of SP3 (and any other updates since you did the Recovery
reinstall).

ralphs wrote:

"PaulM" <paul@paulsxp.com> wrote in message
news:eYe3QfL2IHA.4476@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

That fixed the USB problem - Thanks!

Note that after running it gave an error about an invalid character. If it
works, who cares about that error

Do you always trust such "Download this!" posts made in the newsgroups or
forums, especially where the download page tells you absolutely nothing
about the problem the download is supposed to fix, how it does it, the
System Requirements, or the person/website hosting it?

ralphs wrote:

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:%23vNxdsN2IHA.5564@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
Thanks for the quick and blunt answer (meant in a good way - blunt is
better). I did the things in the links you provided without success but may
have not looked closely enough in the update log. I'll go back into it now.

Let me tell you something guy! There is nothing wrong with my VBScripts! You
can open them in Notepad and check them out.
Why don't you check it out.
That’s script is right from Micosoft KB Help.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314634/en-us

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"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:u0xk$nV2IHA.2384@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

You did not get a error from the Vbscript, right?

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"ralphs" <ralph08260@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:#TZhmgV2IHA.2208@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

I didn't say anything was wrong about or with your script.

Your post (here and in what appears to be your own hosted forum) is
completely anonymous.

You give no information about the script (e.g., what problems it's supposed
to fix; how it fixes them) for the script. In the forum post (but not here)
you post blind references to 2 KB articles* but you do not state the the
scripts are an automated way to perform the Resolutions (either of which
could be done manually by Ralph, except that your forum wouldn't get a hit
that way).

Furthermore, the forum post offers 2 scripts? How is the user to know which
he needs?

All in all, shady behavior in my book, Paul.

*Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 does not detect your new USB device:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314634/en-us

A computer that is running Windows XP cannot detect a USB thumb drive, an
Apple iPod, or an external hard disk drive:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925196/



PaulM wrote:

Most users do not want to edit the registry, so a vbscript will do it for
them.
I did say what the script did! It will fix the USB problem. I do not care if
my site gets hits or not, I just like to try to help people. I am not here
to send users to my site. I am here to Help, just like you!

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"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:ehLJxhW2IHA.5944@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

Merge line 400: http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

SupportSpace
www.supportspace.com/pages?aiu=kellyskorner

"ralphs" <ralph08260@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:%23AjC4HI2IHA.552@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

"PaulM" <paul@paulsxp.com> wrote in message
news:%23wvJy9V2IHA.5664@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
It complained of an invalid character but the USB ports started working, so
the script must have been handled by the interpreter.

Ok thanks and good luck.

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"ralphs" <ralph08260@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:OxUk8lj2IHA.3920@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:%23vNxdsN2IHA.5564@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
PA Bear,

I've had it with this machine. I wanted to help my neighbor who is a nice,
80-year old guy who mostly uses it for family photos and email [via AOL ]
It looks as if my help will be limited.

I've saved the photos onto a usb stick and now hope to re-install rather
than repair. I expect the install will wipe out everything.

One thing I wonder about is how do I then configure it to be recognized as a
valid install, hopefully as a Dell OEM one as it came from Dell loaded with
XP Home. I found this app-note on TechNet
Preserving OEM Pre-Activation when Re-installing Windows XP
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l.../bb457078.aspx
but 1-it might address automated deployment and 2-it gives keys for XP Pro,
Tablet and Pro 64 bit but not for XP Home.

I've also looked at a couple of reinstall app notes but each addressed a
specific situation that does not apply here.

So my questions are:

Is it enough to just give it the key from the Windows sticker on the machine
so that it's recognized as a valid installation by the MS update validator?

Are there pitfalls that you can guide me around?

Note that I value your help greatly. I may dance well to C++ and assembly
but on the subject of Windows troubleshooting and installing I have found
myself essentially illiterate.