hELP: Windows update and other issues

[willthisnamedo]

hi guys,

Was hoping one of you XP gurus could help me with a couple of issues that seemed to be related to one another.

I originally had two new installations of XP on the C: and E: partition until I reformatted the e: partition to wipe one XP installation. However, when I boot up i still get two windows XP OS to choose from, and Id like to remove the one that doesn't work because I reformatted the e: partition


However, the main problem is i cant upated the windows installation on the C: partition. Ive tried doing an windows update through Microsoft explorer, and ive also downloaded SP1 and tried to install it manually but it just unexpectedly quits. what ive noticed is that it seems to be writing the temp update files to the E: partition ... which i presume is causing the error.

Its got me stumped. any help much appreciated.

thanks

Rich

[ESALADUANE]

To get rid of the unwanted 2nd choice:


1. Click Start > Run
2. In the Open: line type msconfig and click OK to open System Configuration Utility
3. Select the tab labeled BOOT.INI
4. Click the button labeled Check All Boot Paths

A dialog box will open detailing the location of any invalid operating system locations.

5. Confirm you want to remove the entry and reboot the system.

[willthisnamedo]

thanks mate .. fixed the first problem

I still cant update windows. If i try to install sp1 manually it still extracts the files to e: partition for some reason. Even if i moved the files to c and run the update from these the update dialog box soon 'crashes' and dissapears. Strangely, the same thing happens when I run the msconfig too. the dialog box will just close automatically after say 10 seconds. I had to be real quick to make your change otherwise it closes down on me.

I also get a 'system shutdown' message at random times:

"windows must now restart because the remote procedure call (RPC) service terminated unexpectedly ...."

It then reboots on me after 30 seconds

[ESALADUANE]

Try this.

Go to C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\Catroot2 and delete or move or rename the "Catroot2" folder ( Windows will automatically recreate a new Catroot2 folder).

Once you've removed the corrupted Catroot2 folder, return to Windows Update and try the download again.

[willthisnamedo]

Carrot 2 has been deleted and recreated.... still no joy with update.

The WUTemp is for some reason created on the e: partition and the installation just seems to crash after a few seconds into the process. Bit like the msconfig box will just dissapear on me after 10 seconds for no reason.

[ESALADUANE]

Have you done a virus scan? There are several virus' floating around that have been affecting msconfig, regedit and Task Manager. McAfee has created a page of various tools to identify and remove them. Take a look at this page (particularly at Fixswen.inf and Stinger 2.18). But, do a virus scan first.

Free on-line virus scan:
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

McAfee's Avert Stinger page:
http://vil.nai.com/vil/averttools.asp

[willthisnamedo]

I havent run the virus scan yet because its a brand new installation of XP on c: and e: ... but I will do it any way.

Would this cause files to be extracted to the e: partition though?

[ESALADUANE]

No. I suggested the virus scan because of msconfig abruptly closing, which is a symptom of some virus related problems that have been showing up for the last couple of weeks. If you have a virus, lets take care of that first. The fact that you have a new installation doesn't matter - you can get hit the second you connect to the internet if you're not protected. I'm hoping you have a firewall and an anti-virus program running.

[willthisnamedo]

thanks again

Dont have firewall or virus sanner so ran the online scanner and found 6 related virus

worm nachi b
worm agobot

Ive ran my computer for 3 yeards without a hitch and without firewall or virus scanner. Im suprised imy brother has all this 'sh*t' straight after new installation???

anyway, stinger removed a couple fo the infected files. Ill run the scanner again and see whats left.

[ESALADUANE]

I suggest that you put up your firewall (first thing) and download an anti-virus program. Here's a free one called AVG.
http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php


Enabling the Windows XP firewall
1. Click Start, Settings, Control Panel and open Network Connections.
2. Within the Network Connections window right click the Local Area Connection and select properties.
3. Within the Local Area Connection Properties window click the Advanced tab.
4. Finally, check the "Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing access to this computer from the Internet" option

[willthisnamedo]

Your a legend mate ... i think im slowly getting there.

[ESALADUANE]

Here is an alternative place to get your critical updates from (in case you still can't get Windows Update to work). This is a rollup of most of what you need combined into one download.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en


The list of what you'll be downloading is here:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=826939

[willthisnamedo]

Its updating fine now ... problem was some virus that was closing down dialog boxes after a few seconds. This meant i couldnt go into regedit or install virus scanner, or update windows. I couuldnt even end task becasue there were two processes working in tandem and seemlingly recreating each other immeditely.

Eventually solved the virus by renaming the files in windows so i could shut them down without them being recreated and then get into regedit to remove the entries.

Now update is working

[ESALADUANE]

Glad you've got it.

[willthisnamedo]

One other question:

I rename 3 files in system32 (netsvc.exe, wmpupdate.exe and wmpupdate.poly) before i ran the virus scanner and i think it deleted these files as they were infected.

Everything seems to be working fine but was wondering if i need these files?