Win Update help needed pls

Am running XP Home - SP2 - with all updates installed, I think! (most recent
one being KB910437 on 13th Dec 05)
I have Win Update set to :- Notify but don't download or install. (I'm one
who likes to run like this and am vigilant)
In Services. Auto Update is set to 'Automatic' and is started.

The icon I have on my desktop which points to
'%SystemRoot%\system32\wupdmgr.exe' has worked until now. When I select it
now, I get the timer showing for a split second then nothing happens. Same
if I choose links via control panel to go to M/S update site.

I have put another icon on desktop which points to
http://update.microsoft.com/windowsu....aspx?ln=en-us and which
works just fine, but I'd rather know what is amiss with "the proper one".

I have used Ewido recently which identified 11 suspect files which are
removed but none of them seem to refer to this issue

I have trawled for help on this but haven't found what I am sure is there
somewhere, and so, would appreciate some guidance.

dfrog

"dfrog" <dfrog@lineone.net.invalid> wrote in message
news:%23$hUAwsDGHA.3528@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> Am running XP Home - SP2 - with all updates installed, I think! (most
> recent one being KB910437 on 13th Dec 05)
> I have Win Update set to :- Notify but don't download or install. (I'm one
> who likes to run like this and am vigilant)
> In Services. Auto Update is set to 'Automatic' and is started.
>
> The icon I have on my desktop which points to
> '%SystemRoot%\system32\wupdmgr.exe' has worked until now. When I select it
> now, I get the timer showing for a split second then nothing happens. Same
> if I choose links via control panel to go to M/S update site.
>
> I have put another icon on desktop which points to
> http://update.microsoft.com/windowsu....aspx?ln=en-us and
> which works just fine, but I'd rather know what is amiss with "the proper
> one".
>
> I have used Ewido recently which identified 11 suspect files which are
> removed but none of them seem to refer to this issue
>
> I have trawled for help on this but haven't found what I am sure is there
> somewhere, and so, would appreciate some guidance.
>
> dfrog

Still not resolved yet.
Also discovered that "review your update history" on the Microsoft update
site leads me to a blank page now. Am unable to find reference to this
problem on Microsoft site but I'm sure it must be there.
Can find installed updates via C:\Windows\$hf_mig$ but still want to fix
this blip.
dfrog

"dfrog" <dfrog@lineone.net.invalid> wrote in message
news:%23$hUAwsDGHA.3528@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> Am running XP Home - SP2 - with all updates installed, I think! (most recent
> one being KB910437 on 13th Dec 05)
> I have Win Update set to :- Notify but don't download or install. (I'm one
> who likes to run like this and am vigilant)
> In Services. Auto Update is set to 'Automatic' and is started.
>
> The icon I have on my desktop which points to
> '%SystemRoot%\system32\wupdmgr.exe' has worked until now. When I select it
> now, I get the timer showing for a split second then nothing happens. Same
> if I choose links via control panel to go to M/S update site.


What if anything changes in %windir%\WindowsUpdate.log
when you do this?

To supplement that diagnostic you might like to try running FileMon
with the following filter: SoftwareDistribution;update;CatRoot
Notice that the update portion of the filter will capture writes
to the WU log and you can actually use them (via timestamp
and record length) to correlate with the text in the WU log.
A similar technique can be used with RegMon to integrate
registry accesses into the diagnosis. In both cases using
their Clock Time and Show Milleseconds option makes
this analysis easier.

Since you have a case which works you can additionally
create two otherwise identical traces and compare them
for differences without even necessarily understanding
what each is saying separately.


HTH

Robert Aldwinckle
---


>
> I have put another icon on desktop which points to
> http://update.microsoft.com/windowsu....aspx?ln=en-us and which
> works just fine, but I'd rather know what is amiss with "the proper one".
>
> I have used Ewido recently which identified 11 suspect files which are
> removed but none of them seem to refer to this issue
>
> I have trawled for help on this but haven't found what I am sure is there
> somewhere, and so, would appreciate some guidance.
>
> dfrog
>
>

"dfrog" <dfrog@lineone.net.invalid> wrote in message news:etJS934DGHA.2036@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl
....
> Also discovered that "review your update history" on the Microsoft update
> site leads me to a blank page now. Am unable to find reference to this
> problem on Microsoft site but I'm sure it must be there.


Looks like more of a browser issue.
What does View Source show for your "blank page"?



> Can find installed updates via C:\Windows\$hf_mig$ but still want to fix this blip.
> dfrog
>

"dfrog" <dfrog@lineone.net.invalid> wrote in message
news:%23Fe5mUfEGHA.4036@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl
....
> Just found
> http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.co...ndows%20Update
> and followed the instructions there for manually installing Windows Update
> Controls for XP but the process has made no difference.
> I noticed the "v4" bit but presume that the M/S site is up to date (current
> Update site has a "v6" in it)


I think for your case that Torgeir's tip about downloading and installing
WindowsUpdateAgent20-x86.exe would be more appropriate.
Notice also that there is an associated switch (/wuforce) which could
be used if necessary.

http://www.microsoft.com/communities...074&sloc=en-us

(web interface to newsgroups search for
torgeir wuforce
)


HTH

Robert
---

"Robert Aldwinckle" <robald@techemail.com> wrote in message
news:%23x$3MhiEGHA.1736@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
> "dfrog" <dfrog@lineone.net.invalid> wrote in message
> news:etJS934DGHA.2036@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl
> ...
>> Also discovered that "review your update history" on the Microsoft update
>> site leads me to a blank page now. Am unable to find reference to this
>> problem on Microsoft site but I'm sure it must be there.
>
>
> Looks like more of a browser issue.
> What does View Source show for your "blank page"?
>
>
>
>> Can find installed updates via C:\Windows\$hf_mig$ but still want to fix
>> this blip.
>> dfrog

Robert

Hope I'm doing the right thing here, 'fraid the View Source I don't
understand but here it is for the blank page:-

<html dir='ltr'>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="PICS-Label" content='(PICS-1.1
"http://www.rsac.org/ratingsv01.html" l gen true comment "RSACi North
America Server" by "inet@microsoft.com" on "1997.06.30T14:48-0500" r (n 0 s
0 v 0 l 0))' />
<meta http-equiv='Content-Type' content='text/html;charset=windows-1252' />
<meta http-equiv='MSThemeCompatible' content='yes' />
<title>Microsoft Windows Update</title>
<link rel='shortcut icon' href='shared/images/banners/favicon.ico'
type='image/x-icon'/>
<meta name='MSSmartTagsPreventParsing' content='yes' />
<meta name='ROBOTS' content='NOINDEX'>
<!--Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.-->
<script language='javascript' type='text/javascript'>
window.onerror = new Function('Message' ,'sURL' ,'sLine' , 'return true;')
</script>
<script language='JScript' type='text/javascript'
src='shared/js/tgar.js'></script>
<script language='JScript' type='text/javascript'
src='shared/js/content.js'></script>
<link rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' href='shared/css/hcp.css' />
<link rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' href='shared/css/content.css' />
<style type='text/css'>button {padding: 0px 14px 1px 14px;width:
80px;height: 21px;overflow: visible;line-height: 15px;cursor:
default;}</style>
<script language='JScript' type='text/javascript'
src='shared/js/history.js'></script>
<script language="vbscript">
Function vbsDateAdd(iInterval,sDate)
If Not IsDate(sDate) Then
vbsDateAdd = ""
Else
vbsDateAdd = DateAdd("n",iInterval,sDate)
End If
End Function
</script>
</head>
<body class="history" onload = "fnInitHistory(4,-1);">

<table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0
style="position:relative;left:-16;top:-10;">
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="top" width=290><img
src="shared/images/bannersmu/en/hdr_options_left.jpg"></td>
<td align="left" valign="top" width=100%
style="background-image:url(shared/images/banner-bg.jpg);background-repeat:repeat-x"></td>
<td align="left" valign="top" width=100><img
src="shared/images/bannersmu/en/banner-right.jpg"></td>
</tr>
</table>

<table id="tbHistory" border="0" cellspacing="0"
style="height:88%;width:97%;table-layout:auto">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td id="Title" style="height:75px;vertical-align:top;" colspan=2 >
<div id="eNoUpdatesAvailable"
style="display:none;height:75px;overflow:auto">
<span class="sys-font-heading3 sys-rhp-color-title">Review your
Update History</span><br />
You have not yet installed updates from this website or by turning
on automatic updating on your computer. To select and install updates now,
go to our Home page.

</div>
<div id="eUpdatesAvailable"
style="display:none;height:75px;overflow:auto">
<span class="sys-font-heading3 sys-rhp-color-title">Review your
Update History</span><br />
If an update failed to install, click the Failed icon <img
align=middle src='shared/images/status_failed.gif'/> to learn how to solve
the problem.<br /><br/>
Note: To remove an update, go to <b>Add and Remove Programs</b> in
your Control Panel.
</div>
</td>
</tr>

<tr id="ePrint" style="visibility:hidden;">
<td valign="bottom"
style="height:45px;width:70%;"><b>Key:</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<img
align=middle
src='shared/images/status_successful.gif'/>&nbsp;=&nbsp;Succeeded&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nb sp;&nbsp;<img
align=middle
src='shared/images/status_cancelled.gif'/>&nbsp;=&nbsp;Cancelled&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nb sp;&nbsp;<img
align=middle src='shared/images/failed-sm.gif'/>&nbsp;=&nbsp;Failed</td>
<td valign="bottom"
style="height:30px;text-align:right;padding-right:5px;padding-bottom:5px;"
><span style="padding:1px;"></span><a href="javascript:window.print();"
class="sys-link-normal">Print Current</a> | <a
href="javascript:fnPrintAll();" class="sys-link-normal">Print All</a></td>
</tr>


<tr>
<td id="eSortTableHeaderContainer"
style="background-color:#4165AF;visibility:hidden;" colspan=2 >
<table cellspacing='0' class='sys-table-header-bgcolor1' >
<colgroup>
<col style='width: 16%;' />
<col style='width: 39%;' />
<col style='width: 13%;' />
<col style='width: 17%;' />
<col style='width: 15%;' />
</colgroup>
<tbody id='eSortTableHeader' firstrow='0' applystyles='false'>
<tr>
<td nowrap='1'><a href='' onclick='fnStartSort(0);return false;'
title='Sort by Product Name' class='sys-table-color-border
sys-font-body-bold'>Product <img id='eCol0'
src='shared/images/sorttabled.gif'/></a></td>
<td nowrap='1' style='border-left: 1px solid white;'><a href=''
onclick='fnStartSort(1);return false;' title='Sort by Update Name'
class='sys-table-color-border sys-font-body-bold'>Update <img id='eCol1'
src='shared/images/sorttabled.gif'/></a></td>
<td nowrap='1' style='border-left: 1px solid white;'><a href=''
onclick='fnStartSort(2);return false;' title='Sort by Status'
class='sys-table-color-border sys-font-body-bold' sortby = 'value'>Status
<img id='eCol2' src='shared/images/sorttabled.gif'/></a></td>
<td nowrap='1' style='border-left: 1px solid
white;border-right-width:0px'><a href='' onclick='fnStartSort(3);return
false;' title='Sort by Date' class='sys-table-color-border
sys-font-body-bold' sortby='value'>Date <img id='eCol3'
src='shared/images/sorttabled.gif' /></a></td>
<td nowrap='1' style='border-left: 1px solid white;border-right:3px
solid #6681D9'><a href='' onclick='fnStartSort(4);return false;' title='Sort
by Source' class='sys-table-color-border sys-font-body-bold'>Source <img
id='eCol4' src='shared/images/sorttabled.gif'/></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td id="eSortTableContainer"
style="padding-top:0px;padding-bottom:0px;visibility:hidden;" valign="top"
colspan=2 >
<table cellspacing="0" border="0" >
<colgroup>
<col style="width: 16%;" />
<col style="width: 39%;" />
<col style="width: 13%;" />
<col style="width: 17%;" />
<col style="width: 15%;" />
</colgroup>
<tbody id="eSortTable">
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td id="ePagingContainer" style="height:40px;"valign="top" colspan=2>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan=2>
<iframe id="ePrintAllFrame" name="ePrintAllFrame" src="blank.aspx"
scrolling="yes" frameborder="1" width="0" height="0"
style="overflow-y:auto;"></iframe>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<iframe name='eReporting' src='blank.aspx' noresize='yes' height='0px'
width='0px' style='display:none;' />
</body>
</html>

"Robert Aldwinckle" <robald@techemail.com> wrote in message
news:u77fNhiEGHA.1736@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
> "dfrog" <dfrog@lineone.net.invalid> wrote in message
> news:%23Fe5mUfEGHA.4036@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl
> ...
>> Just found
>> http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.co...ndows%20Update
>> and followed the instructions there for manually installing Windows
>> Update
>> Controls for XP but the process has made no difference.
>> I noticed the "v4" bit but presume that the M/S site is up to date
>> (current
>> Update site has a "v6" in it)
>
>
> I think for your case that Torgeir's tip about downloading and
> installing
> WindowsUpdateAgent20-x86.exe would be more appropriate.
> Notice also that there is an associated switch (/wuforce) which could
> be used if necessary.
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/communities...074&sloc=en-us
>
> (web interface to newsgroups search for
> torgeir wuforce
> )
>
>
> HTH
>
> Robert


Robert,
I got the " Install is not needed since W U Agent is already installed" and
am struggling to do the right thing with adding the switch. If I try to add
it to the .exe I get a warning about instability and if I then persue thro'
this I'm asked what I want to use to open it, need a bit more help here.
dfrog

"Robert Aldwinckle" <robald@techemail.com> wrote in message
news:ez0UMhiEGHA.1736@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
> "dfrog" <dfrog@lineone.net.invalid> wrote in message
> news:%23$hUAwsDGHA.3528@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
>> Am running XP Home - SP2 - with all updates installed, I think! (most
>> recent
>> one being KB910437 on 13th Dec 05)
>> I have Win Update set to :- Notify but don't download or install. (I'm
>> one
>> who likes to run like this and am vigilant)
>> In Services. Auto Update is set to 'Automatic' and is started.
>>
>> The icon I have on my desktop which points to
>> '%SystemRoot%\system32\wupdmgr.exe' has worked until now. When I select
>> it
>> now, I get the timer showing for a split second then nothing happens.
>> Same
>> if I choose links via control panel to go to M/S update site.
>
>
> What if anything changes in %windir%\WindowsUpdate.log
> when you do this?


ROBERT,
nothing at all happens in WindowsUpdate.log when I select this icon or any
of the links to Windows Update.

but WindowsUpdate.log shows what I think are the right things when I use the
other desktop Icon that I had added, in fact this later attempt has just
shown me KB912919 to download.
I'm on new ground at this stage and am going to persue the next bit of your
helpful message (gulp)
Thanks for your help
dfrog



> To supplement that diagnostic you might like to try running FileMon
> with the following filter: SoftwareDistribution;update;CatRoot
> Notice that the update portion of the filter will capture writes
> to the WU log and you can actually use them (via timestamp
> and record length) to correlate with the text in the WU log.
> A similar technique can be used with RegMon to integrate
> registry accesses into the diagnosis. In both cases using
> their Clock Time and Show Milleseconds option makes
> this analysis easier.
>
> Since you have a case which works you can additionally
> create two otherwise identical traces and compare them
> for differences without even necessarily understanding
> what each is saying separately.
>
>
> HTH
>
> Robert Aldwinckle
> ---
>
>
>>
>> I have put another icon on desktop which points to
>> http://update.microsoft.com/windowsu....aspx?ln=en-us and
>> which
>> works just fine, but I'd rather know what is amiss with "the proper one".
>>
>> I have used Ewido recently which identified 11 suspect files which are
>> removed but none of them seem to refer to this issue
>>
>> I have trawled for help on this but haven't found what I am sure is there
>> somewhere, and so, would appreciate some guidance.
>>
>> dfrog
>>
>>
>
>

"dfrog" <dfrog@lineone.net.invalid> wrote in message
news:%23en9%23mjEGHA.1028@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
>
> "Robert Aldwinckle" <robald@techemail.com> wrote in message
> news:u77fNhiEGHA.1736@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl
....
>> I think for your case that Torgeir's tip about downloading and
>> installing
>> WindowsUpdateAgent20-x86.exe would be more appropriate.
>> Notice also that there is an associated switch (/wuforce) which could
>> be used if necessary.
>>
>> http://www.microsoft.com/communities...074&sloc=en-us
>>
>> (web interface to newsgroups search for
>> torgeir wuforce
>> )
>>
>>
>> HTH
>>
>> Robert
>
>
> Robert,
> I got the " Install is not needed since W U Agent is already installed" and
> am struggling to do the right thing with adding the switch. If I try to add
> it to the .exe I get a warning about instability and if I then persue thro'
> this I'm asked what I want to use to open it, need a bit more help here.
> dfrog



When you are having syntax problems it is a good idea to post the entire
string or expression that you are trying to use. Possible explanations
from what you are hinting at would be that:
1. You downloaded into a directory which has a space in its path name.
In that case you would need to enclose the entire file name in double
quotes.
2. You are not leaving a space between the file name and the switch.

Alternatively (assuming you were doing this in the Run... dialog)
you could do it in a cmd window with the current directory set
to where the downloaded file is located. Then you wouldn't need
to use quotes regardless of the characteristics of the path name.
But you would still need to leave at least one space before the
switch. <w>

Etc.


HTH

Robert
---

"Robert Aldwinckle" <robald@techemail.com> wrote in message
news:udp%2375kEGHA.208@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> "dfrog" <dfrog@lineone.net.invalid> wrote in message
> news:%23en9%23mjEGHA.1028@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
>>
>> "Robert Aldwinckle" <robald@techemail.com> wrote in message
>> news:u77fNhiEGHA.1736@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl
> ...
>>> I think for your case that Torgeir's tip about downloading and
>>> installing
>>> WindowsUpdateAgent20-x86.exe would be more appropriate.
>>> Notice also that there is an associated switch (/wuforce) which could
>>> be used if necessary.
>>>
>>> http://www.microsoft.com/communities...074&sloc=en-us
>>>
>>> (web interface to newsgroups search for
>>> torgeir wuforce
>>> )
>>>
>>>
>>> HTH
>>>
>>> Robert
>>
>>
>> Robert,
>> I got the " Install is not needed since W U Agent is already installed"
>> and
>> am struggling to do the right thing with adding the switch. If I try to
>> add
>> it to the .exe I get a warning about instability and if I then persue
>> thro'
>> this I'm asked what I want to use to open it, need a bit more help here.
>> dfrog
>
>
>
> When you are having syntax problems it is a good idea to post the entire
> string or expression that you are trying to use. Possible explanations
> from what you are hinting at would be that:
> 1. You downloaded into a directory which has a space in its path name.
> In that case you would need to enclose the entire file name in double
> quotes.
> 2. You are not leaving a space between the file name and the switch.
>
> Alternatively (assuming you were doing this in the Run... dialog)
> you could do it in a cmd window with the current directory set
> to where the downloaded file is located. Then you wouldn't need
> to use quotes regardless of the characteristics of the path name.
> But you would still need to leave at least one space before the
> switch. <w>
>
> Etc.
>
>
> HTH
>
> Robert


Yes it did help, thank you Robert,
Followed your cmd window note and managed to 'force' the install.
Unforunately it didn't make any difference to my issue, whenever I use the
desktop icon or any links in Control Panel to
'%SystemRoot%\system32\wupdmgr.exe', nothing happens - no change to
WindowsUpdate.log. I'm still at a loss, and disappointed not to have
mastered this, but maybe should accept that I can update/check history using
other methods.
Thanks to you though, I am a little further along my learning curve.
regards
dfrog