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Office 2003 security updates KB934041, KB934180 fail
I cannot get two of the latest batch of security updates for Office 203 to install: KB934180 and KB934041 in a Windows XP Pro SP2 system. For each, repeated attempts with Automatic Update give error messages, "Failed". Manual attempts to install after separately downloading the .exe installers give error message "Unable to apply", even when I tried this in Safe Mode.
The other critical updates in the same batch were apparently installed OK. And all other updates from Microsoft are applied (as verified by Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer 2.0.1).
Any ideas? I couldn't find anything on Microsoft's site. (Too soon for bugs to have come to their attention?)
The other critical updates in the same batch were apparently installed OK. And all other updates from Microsoft are applied (as verified by Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer 2.0.1).
Any ideas? I couldn't find anything on Microsoft's site. (Too soon for bugs to have come to their attention?)
ASKER
An Office Detect and repair and then a reboot still gives the same result: the two updates fail to be applied.
(I didn't do complete virus or spyware scans yet, as my system is continuously monitored by an AV program, two anti-spyware programs, and a software firewall -- and behind a hardware firewall. I'll do those checks in due course (AV alone takes several hours). But this is a very unlikely factor.
(I didn't do complete virus or spyware scans yet, as my system is continuously monitored by an AV program, two anti-spyware programs, and a software firewall -- and behind a hardware firewall. I'll do those checks in due course (AV alone takes several hours). But this is a very unlikely factor.
If you have an XP CD carry out a System File Check just in case you have a corrupt Windows installation. Doesn't take long.
Run System File Checker to restore and repair all Windows files.
Start > Run > Type "sfc /scannow" without the quotes.
Click OK.
Have your Windows CD ready to insert if prompted when repair is necessary.
This is worth doing every couple of weeks as part of your regular maintenance.
Run System File Checker to restore and repair all Windows files.
Start > Run > Type "sfc /scannow" without the quotes.
Click OK.
Have your Windows CD ready to insert if prompted when repair is necessary.
This is worth doing every couple of weeks as part of your regular maintenance.
Check the file C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistrib ution\repo rtingEvent s.log in case anything of interest there. It's sorted by date so scroll to the bottom.
ASKER
I checked c:\windows\SoftwareDistrib ution\Repo rtingEvent s.log and of course I do see there the repeated entries of failure to install the two Office 2003 updates I listed. The failure entries end with:
error 0x80070643: Security Update for Office 2003 (KB934180)
error 0x80070643: Security Update for Word Viewer 2003 (KB934041)
error 0x80070643: Security Update for Office 2003 (KB934180)
error 0x80070643: Security Update for Word Viewer 2003 (KB934041)
ASKER
Is it REALLY safe to use sfc? I am loathe to run sfc, lest it "restore" Windows system files that are deliberately overwritten by essential utilities, e.g., Norton Systemworks, Zone Alarm Pro, Spysweeper, Diskeeper.
You may want to try the steps suggested in:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304498
and/or
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/906602
for this error (0x80070643)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304498
and/or
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/906602
for this error (0x80070643)
I've used SFC hundreds of times on dozens of PCs without a problem. I use Systemworks. SFC is smart enough to distinguish between updated files and originals on the CD.
Updated files, for instance those required for SP2 where your CD is SP1, are retained in your Windows folder. SFC figures this out.
When inexplicable things happen, I give SFC a 50/50 chance of repairing. Next step is a Repair installation.
In my case, I use Acronis True Image. When something like this happens I do a restoration from an image.
If everyone had imaging software EE would halve its traffic.
:o)
Updated files, for instance those required for SP2 where your CD is SP1, are retained in your Windows folder. SFC figures this out.
When inexplicable things happen, I give SFC a 50/50 chance of repairing. Next step is a Repair installation.
In my case, I use Acronis True Image. When something like this happens I do a restoration from an image.
If everyone had imaging software EE would halve its traffic.
:o)
ASKER
No luck after using sfc /scannow and reboot: Still the two Office 2003 updates fail to install. (That was after complete system AV scan and anti-spyware scans, and after chkdsk, too, for good measure.)
ASKER
In desperation, I uninstalled Office 2003 and ran Microsoft's Windows Install Clean-up utility. Then I re-installed Office 2003 and applied SP1 and SP2, which I had previously downloaded. So far so good...
But, when I tried to run Microsoft Update, it just sat there for around half an hour searching for updates and never finished: eventually I got an error page saying there was a problem with the page.
Am I cursed??
But, when I tried to run Microsoft Update, it just sat there for around half an hour searching for updates and never finished: eventually I got an error page saying there was a problem with the page.
Am I cursed??
ASKER
Perhaps the problem with Microsoft Update was that the whole bunch of Office updates were waiting in the Automatic Updates item in the system tray. I installed these, including -- hooray! -- the one I could not previously install.
ASKER
So with my "drastic" work-around -- uninstall Office 2003, clean up, re-install, then udpate -- this question should be closed.
Sounds fair to me. :o)
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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Run "detect and repair" from the help menu in any office application.
Do a complete virus and spyware scan.
Reboot.
Try again.