How to Fix Problem When Windows Updates Download But Won't Install

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After spending several hours trying to fix a Windows XP computer, I finally decided to backup any important data, reformat the computer and reinstall Windows XP and the associated programs. Generally, I don't decide to do this because I can usually solve the various computer problems. However, after several hours of work on this desktop computer, including a failed in-place install of Windows XP, I decided it was time to surrender and start over.

Normally a reformat and reinstall of Windows XP will leave the machine in working order. However, on this particular occasion I was still left with a problem. When I tried to install the Windows XP updates for the computer, they would download fine, but then they would fail to install.

Follow the steps below to solve this annoying problem when the Windows XP updates will download but won't install.

Make sure Windows installer 3.1 is installed correctly


Click on the following link to visit the Microsoft Download Center and download Windows installer 3.1


Download Windows Installer 3.1

Reboot the computer and try to download Windows Updates, if they still fail to install, continue with the next step.

Stop the Automatic Update Service


Click on Start, Run
Type the following command and press Enter

services.msc


Right-click on the Automatic Updates option in the Name column and click Stop
Close the Services window

Show Hidden Files and Folders


Open My Computer
Click on Tools, Folder Options
Click on the View tab
Under the Hidden Files and Folders section, select "Show Hidden Files and Folders"
Click Ok

Delete the Previously Downloaded Windows Updates


Open My Computer
Double-click on Drive C (or whatever drive Windows is installed on)
Double-click on the Windows folder
Double-click on the SoftwareDistribution folder
Double-click on the Download folder
Click on Edit on the menu bar
Click on Select All
Click on File on the menu bar
Click on Delete and delete everything in the download folder
Return to the SoftwareDistribution folder by clicking on the green up arrow on the toolbar
Double-click on the EventCache folder
Click on Edit on the menu bar
Click on Select All
Click on File on the menu bar
Click on Delect and delete everything in the eventcache folder

Restart the Automatic Updates Service


Click on Start, Run
Type the following command and press Enter

services.msc


Double-click on the Automatic Updates option in the Name column
Click on the Start button under Service Status to restart the service
Select Automatic under Startup Type to start the service each time Windows starts
Click Ok
Close the Services Window

Download the Latest Version of Windows Update Agent


Click on the following link to download the latest version of the Windows Update Agent and save it to your desktop.

Download Windows Update Agent

Warning:

If you receive a message stating the Update Agent is already installed follow these extra steps:

Click Start, Run
Click the Browse button
Navigate to where you saved WindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe on your desktop and click it one time
Click on the Open button
On the Open line, go to the end of the command. After the last quotation mark type the following

/wuforce


The line should look something like the following now:

"C:\Documents and Settings\username\Desktop\WindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe" /wuforce

Click Ok and install the Update Agent

Download and Install the KB927891 Update


Click on the following link to download the KB927891 Update for Windows XP or click here to read more about the update

Download KB927891 Update for Windows XP


Restart your computer and try downloading and installing any Windows XP Updates again


Windows Updates Download but Won't Install after Repair Install of Windows XP

A new problem has appeared recently since Microsoft has changed their Windows Update files. The problem appears after a repair install of Windows XP has been performed. The "new" Windows Update features a file called wups2.dl that was not present in the Windows XP found on the CD used to perform the repair install. This file remains on the hard drive but the registry entries for it are missing after a repair install. This causes the Windows updates to download but fail to install properly.

If you experience this problem, follow these steps to re-register the file wups2.dll in Windows XP

1. Stop the Windows Automatic Updates Service via the command prompt


Click on Start, Run
Type CMD and Click Ok
At the command prompt, type the following command, then press Enter

net stop wuauserv


2. Re-Register the WUPS2.DLL file


Still at the command prompt, type the following command and press Enter

regsvr32 %windir%\system32\wups2.dll


3. Restart the Automatic Updates Service


At the command prompt, type the following commands, pressing Enter after each.

net start wuauserv
exit


4. Restart your computer, and run Windows Update again. This time the updates should download and install properly.