Auto update wont give up

marleyboy

All last night my pc insisted on installing an auto update, no sooner would it complete, it would do it all over again, this repeated cycle went on all night up until I shut down for bed, before it shuts down it opted to do another one.

Now I have booted up today, before it booted it insisted on doing a CHK disk, found nothing and booted..........but sure enough, there it is, that annoying little "update", that I know is going to keep repeating itself in 5 minute intervals for the rest of the day\week\month

Initializing installation... done!
Installing Security Update for Windows XP (KB977914) (update 1 of 1)...

I should add that it always updates successfully before doing it all over again.

Will this ever give up the ghost?, is there a way to stop it without interrupting the normal "auto update" procedure?, What the heck is it playing at?

Lil306

I believe if the local installation source is corrupted you can get that problem. I don't think it's as simple as deleting the source media, you have to run a command or tool IIRC to force Windows to redownload it

Also.... consider look at your computer event logs (system) , it may be giving a reason at the time of failure as to why it's happening. It will probably be registered against an event like WSUS.

Lil306

Have a read through the other suggestions first aswell.. I'd try the option in control panel if possible before doing the below option

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070531183238AAXoaqS

Select show Hidden files in explorer.
C:/windows
1. the first file contains all the updates. $hf_mig$. If you know/want open the folder/click the Update folder. Installation should take place.
2. Check the $ uninstall file for relevant update say KB917734 ( for WMP8) appears.
3. Unselect Auto update.
4. Go to Update site and see whether the same update appears again.
5. if not you can delete it from $hf_mig$.
( just in case it is needed move it to /UPD's not required.)
Para two : If you are not sure of 1 & 2 &5, try 3 & 4 . Restore Auto update. Uncheck show hidden folders.

glenwheeler

Could you not just turn the updater off? Automatic updates are a pain and at times you dont know what windows is installing epsecially if you have it all set top auto download auto install. I'd just turn it off if that helps?

marleyboy

I dont really want to turn updater off because critical security updates are vital for XP.

I have followed Lil306 advice, but alas the issue still presented itself, worse still was that it does not appear under add\remove, even with the updates in view. In the end I opted to untick the update manually, choosing to ignore it (something I am concerned about as its classed as critical).

Lil306

Was the folder present inside the hg_mfg (or whatever it was called)

You could try double clicking on the uninstaller in there if it's present?