You cannot install updates after you install or repair Windows XP

Consider the following scenarios.

Scenario 1

After you repair a Windows XP installation by using the Windows XP CD, you try to install updates by using one of the following methods:

• Windows Update Web site
• Microsoft Update Web site
• Automatic Updates feature

In this scenario, you receive a message that the update is not installed successfully. Additionally, the update is not displayed in the Update History section of the Windows Update Web page.

Scenario 2

After you perform a new installation of Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), you visit the Windows Update Web site directly. Then, you try to install the Windows XP Service Pack (SP3) update by using one of the following methods:

• Windows Update Web site
• Microsoft Update Web site
• Automatic Updates feature

In this scenario, you receive a message that the update was not installed successfully. Additionally, the update is not displayed in the Update History section of the Windows Update Web page.

Scenario 1

This problem occurs because the Windows XP repair operation replaces certain Windows system files. When you repair a Windows installation by using a Windows XP CD, the repair operation performs both of the following operations:

• All Windows system files, including the Windows Update files are replaced by the corresponding files from the Windows XP CD.
  
  
• The repair operation restores the Windows registry.

The Wups2.dll file is included in the latest version of Windows Update, but it was not available in the release version of Windows XP. Therefore, after the repair operation is complete, the following situation exists:

• The Wups2.dll file remains on the computer.
• The registry entries that correspond to this file are missing.

Because the registry files that correspond to the Wups2.dll file are missing, update installations are unsuccessful.

Scenario 2

This problem occurs when the latest Windows Update client is installed, and then you install Windows XP SP3 before restarting the computer. Therefore, the new Wups2.dll file is not enabled (registered). When Windows XP SP3 is installed, the system does not detect the Wups2.dll file. Then, the system sets the registry to point to the original Wups.dll file version that is included in Windows XP SP2. Because the registry files that correspond to the Wups2.dll file are missing, update installations are unsuccessful.

To resolve this problem, use one of the following methods.

Method 1: Register the Wups2.dll file

To register the Wups2.dll file in Windows, follow these steps:

1. Stop the Automatic Updates service. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. Open the Command Prompt window. To do this, click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
   2. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
      net stop wuauserv
2. Register the Wups2.dll file. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
      regsvr32 %windir%\system32\wups2.dll
      
      
      Note For a computer that is running Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
      regsvr32 %windir%\syswow64\wups2.dll
   2. Click OK if you receive a verification message.
3. Start the Automatic Updates service. To do this, type the following command at the command prompt, and then press ENTER:
   net start wuauserv
4. Exit the Command Prompt window. To do this, type exit at the command prompt, and then press ENTER.

Method 2: Download and install the Windows Update Agent

For more information about how to download the latest version of Windows Update Agent, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:


For an x86-based computerDownload the windowsupdateagent30-x86.exe package now. (http://download.windowsupdate.com/windowsupdate/redist/standalone/7.4.7600.226/windowsupdateagent30-x86.exe)

For an x64-based computerDownload the windowsupdateagent30-x64.exe package now. (http://download.windowsupdate.com/windowsupdate/redist/standalone/7.4.7600.226/windowsupdateagent30-x64.exe)

For an Itanium-based computerDownload the windowsupdateagent30-ia64.exe package now. (http://download.windowsupdate.com/windowsupdate/redist/standalone/7.4.7600.226/windowsupdateagent30-ia64.exe)

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

For more information about a related scenario, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For more information about contacting support, visit the following Microsoft Web sites: Next steps

If these steps did not resolve the problem, you can use the Microsoft Customer Support Services Web site to find other solutions to your problem. Some services that the Microsoft Customer Support Services Web sites provide include the following:

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