September 08, 2008, 10:03 AM — Windows Update occasionally gets a bee under its bonnet and simply refuses to work. Really, should that surprise anyone?
Unfortunately, unlike some other Windows problems, this one seldom goes away on its own. You have to fix it. And the exact cause isn't always easy to diagnose and fix.
I'll start with some solutions to a very specific, very common, XP-specific Windows Update problem. Then I'll tell you where to go for additional advise.
If you're running Windows XP, and Windows Update tells you that one or more updates couldn't successfully install, try my handy-dandy repair batch file. Actually, I've written two batch files; one for the 32-bit version of XP, and another for the 64-bit version. Simply download and run the appropriate one.
Unfortunately, when you try to download a batch file in Firefox, it displays the contents of the file (plain, ASCII text) rather than actually downloading it. The easiest workaround (other than using Internet Explorer) is to copy the text to Notepad and save it as a file with the .bat extension rather than the default .txt.
When you run the batch file and it displays a message box, click OK.
If the batch file doesn't work, try the Windows Update Agent. You can download versions for the 32-bit version of XP, the 64-bit version, and the Itanium. Once you've downloaded the file:
1. Click Start, then Run, then the Browse button.
2. Locate and double-click the file you just downloaded. Doing so will insert the path and file name into the run box.
3. Enter the text /wuforce (be sure to enter a space before the slash) after the file name. Press ENTER and follow the wizard.
If your not using XP, or if neither of those fixes work, you might try downloading the problematic update manually, then installing it off of your hard drive. I doubt it will work, but it's worth a try. In Internet Explorer (not Firefox), go to the Microsoft Update Catalog to find and download the problem updates.
Finally, there's the Windows Update Troubleshooter, where you stand a good chance there of finding the cause of and solution for your particular problem. Once again, this Web page really doesn't like any browser except Internet Explorer.
There's a separate Vista Troubleshooter. Amazingly, this one works just fine in Firefox.
Email your technology questions to me at answer@pcworld.com, or post them to a community of helpful folks on the PCW Answer Line forum.
