Bob wrote:
> I have Windows XP Home SP2.
>
> I did a Windows Update and it wanted me to install Framework 3.5 SP1
> before doing any other updates.
>
> On the first Restart after installation, it said there was a problem
> with my logon profile (possibly corrupt), and it logged me on with a
> temporary profile. The desktop was completely different from my
> usual desktop. I restarted again and didn't have a problem with my
> profile. I saw my usual desktop.
>
> However, every time right after logging in, I also saw a Windows
> Installer dialog saying that the feature I was trying to install was
> not available and to insert the "Update Manager" disk and click OK.
> I clicked Cancel several times before the dialog would go away.
>
> I tried various things to eliminate the dialog, but nothing worked.
> Sometimes if I stayed in the Windows session for more than a few
> minutes, it would come back, and again I'd have to click Cancel
> multiple times to eliminate it.
>
> I then tried "repairing" 3.5 SP1, which supposedly put it back to
> its "original state," whatever that was. That didn't help.
>
> I then removed 3.5 entirely. I didn't realize, though, that MS had
> also installed 3.0 as part of going to 3.5 (apparently I had been at
> 2.0). So, I hadn't removed 3.0, just 3.5. In any event, the
> Windows Installer dialog wouldn't go away.
>
> Finally, I did a Restore back to just before I installed 3.5. That
> got rid of 3.0 and got rid of the Windows Installer dialog. I
> believe I am back to 2.0 now.
>
> I have looked all over for a problem similar to mine. I found two
> instances. In one, the recommendation was to do some very
> time-consuming complicated things, including removing Framework
> completely. Far too much work. I'd rather just stay with 2.0. I
> should have never upgraded in the first place.
>
> The second was easier. They just said to remove ISUSPM from the
> System Configuration Utility. The person reporting the problem said
> that worked.
>
> Even assuming I could just uncheck ISUSPM and the problem would have
> gone away, what was causing InstallShield to think something was
> amiss? (I don't particularly feel like reinstalling 3.5. It took a
> VERY long time to do.)
>
> Thanks for any help.
First, IMHO, you should have gone to SP3 long ago. Not that it would have
helped in this situation (although it might have considering how many
hundreds of updates you are missing because you are SP2 and not SP3 and the
fact that SP2 is no longer supported - nor is the WIndows XP installations
that are only installed up to that level) - but you are behind in patches
for no good reason other than probably FUD.
Now - what needs to be done is a bit of a cleanup, a repair of all of your
..NET stuff (1.1, 2.0, 30., 3.5 and soon 4.0 - none have been cumulative in
every way - sometimes you need one or the other depending on what software
you have and what it was written for), windows update repairs and - as I
said, IMHO - you should get SP3 installed.
This will take time, effort and your full attention at times - but in the
end you should have a fully patched WIndows XP machine that probably runs
better than the first day you received it.
Make sure your backups are current. Lightning does strike in one place
twice, computers are prone to mistakes, even more so when used by people.
Backups are not required, not having them is unwise at best. An image of
your computers hard drive before you start is even better.
Reboot and logon as administrative user.
Fix your file/registry permissions...
Ignore the title and follow the sub-section under "Advanced Troubleshooting"
titled, "Method 1: Reset the registry and the file permissions"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949377
*will take time
** Ignore the last step - you'll install SP3 shortly, but not now.
Reboot and logon as administrative user.
Download/install this:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301
After installing, do the following:
Start button --> RUN --> type in:
"%ProgramFiles%\Windows Installer Clean Up\msizap.exe" g!
--> Click OK.
(The quotation marks and percentage signs and spacing should be exact.)
Reboot and logon as administrative user.
Download, install, run, update and perform a full scan with the following
(freeware version):
SuperAntiSpyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/
Reboot and logon as administrative user.
Download, install, run, update and perform a full scan with the following
(freeware version):
MalwareBytes
http://www.malwarebytes.com/
Reboot and logon as administrative user.
Download and run the MSRT manually:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx
You may find nothing, you may find only cookies, you may think it is a
waste of time - but if you do all this and report back here with what you
do/don't find as you are doing all of it - you are adding more pieces to
the puzzle and the entire picture just may become clearer and your
problem resolved.
Reboot and logon as administrative user.
Download/Install the latest Windows Installer (for your OS):
( Windows XP 32-bit : WindowsXP-KB942288-v3-x86.exe )
http://www.microsoft.com/downloadS/...6F-60B6-4412-95B9-54D056D6F9F4&displaylang=en
Reboot and logon as administrative user.
Download the latest version of the Windows Update agent from here (x86):
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=91237
.... and save it to the root of your C
drive. After saving it to the root
of the C
drive, do the following:
Close all Internet Explorer windows and other applications.
Start button --> RUN and type in:
%SystemDrive%\windowsupdateagent30-x86.exe /WUFORCE
--> Click OK.
(If asked, select "Run.) --> Click on NEXT --> Select "I agree" and click on
NEXT --> When it finishes installing, click on "Finish"...
Reboot and logon as administrative user.
Visit this web page:
How do I reset Windows Update components?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058
.... and click on the "Microsoft Fix it" icon. When asked, select "RUN",
both times. Check the "I agree" box and click on "Next". Check the box
for "Run aggressive options (not recommended)" and click "Next". Let
it finish up and follow the prompts until it is done.
Reboot and logon as administrative user.
You should now perform a full CHKDSK on your system drive (C
...
How to scan your disks for errors
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315265
* will take time and a reboot
Reboot and logon as administrative user.
You should now perform a full Defragment on your system drive (C
...
How to Defragment your hard drives
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314848
* will take time
Reboot and logon as administrative user.
Now for SP3...
1) Download the full SP3 installation file.
Windows XP Service Pack 3 Network Installation Package for
IT Professionals and Developers (works just as well for you.)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=5B33B5A8-5E76-401F-BE08-1E1555D4F3D4
You are just saving it right now - not running it yet.
2) Ensure your hardware drivers are up to date (from the hardware
manufacturer's respective web pages.) Never get hardware drivers
for hardware that was not created/sold by Microsoft from Microsoft.
3) Reboot right before you try to install SP3.
4) Disconnect from the internet before installing (physically disconnect -
pull the network cable or disable the router/modem.)
5) Uninstall any and all third-party firewall applications (ZoneAlarm, etc)
and utilize the built-in Windows Firewall only.
6) Disable your antivirus and antispyware applications when you are about to
install SP3. Usually right-click on the icon in the taskbar gives you
a choice to do so.
Install SP3 by running the downloaded executable. Reboot when requested to
do so. Logon and let the machine 'settle' for about 10 minutes. Reboot.
Give it 5 minutes after logon to 'settle' - reboot.
After that - there will be more updates.
Log on as an user with administrative rights and open Internet Explorer
and visit
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and select to do a
CUSTOM scan...
Every time you are about to click on something while at these web pages -
first press and hold down the CTRL key while you click on it. You can
release the CTRL key after clicking each time.
Once the scan is done, select just _ONE_ of the high priority updates
(deselect any others) and install it.
Reboot again.
If it did work - try the web page again - selecting no more than 3-5 at a
time. Rebooting as needed.
The Optional Software updates are generally safe - although I recommend
against the "Windows Search" one and any of the "Office Live" ones or
"Windows Live" ones for now. I would completely avoid the
Optional Hardware updates. Also - I do not see any urgent need to install
Internet Explorer 8 at this time.
Seriously - do all that. This is like antibiotics - don't skip a single
step, don't quit because you think things will be okay now - go through
until the end, until you have done everything given in the order given. If
you have a problem with a step come ask and let someone here get you
through that step. If you don't understand how to do a step, come back and
ask here about that step and let someone walk you through it.
Then - when done - let everyone here know if it worked for you - or if you
have more issues.
--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html