I'm new here. Really need update help

XP Pro, SP3, updated up to a few weeks ago, T42 Thinkpad.
Windows version 5.1, (Build 2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.090206-1234 : Service Pack 3)

Months ago I got a Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 installation including
update KB963707 which latter is now at issue.

Subsequent to that update I had a hard drive problem and had to copy my
system to a new hard drive. (Something may have been scrambled in that
process.)

Since then every time I do updates (never automatically) KB963707 fails to
update. Repeated attempts on any occasion fail as well.

I was advised to remove KB963707 and reinstall it, but removal fails as
well, giving me this error:

----------------
This patch package could not be opened. Verify that the patch package
exists and that you can access it, or contact the application vendor to
verify that this is a valid Windows Installer patch package.
----------------

Repeated attempts always give the same error.

If anything I've written here sounds intelligent, rest assured I am NOT good
at digging out and/or remembering technical details. I have no clue where
said patch package is or should be, let alone how to verify it. I do
suspect it may not be in the right place.

I tried removing the entire 3.5 SP1 package and got this error:

-----------------
The Windows Installer package:

c:\windows\microsoft.net\framework\v3.5\microsoft .net framework 3.5
sp1\vs_setup.msi
could not be opened.

Choose Retry to try again. Choose Cancel for exit setup.
-----------------

Again, repeated attempts always give the same result.

I've tried various NG's for help and the best I can get is an infuriating
crop of, "I never have that problem here."

Days ago I went for another update, selecting the Express protocol (High
priority updates). Out of the pack, 3 of the updates failed, including the
one described above. It took out my broadband connection (Comcast) and I
uninstalled everything from that session, reinstating my broadband
connection.

Oddly: The Update page listed 12 updates. 3 failed. 10 showed up in my
Add/Remove population. Not my kind of math.

I've tried to be clear and as complete as I can muster at the moment.

Please help me out here. Is there even a starting point?

--
JimL

 

JimL wrote:<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> XP Pro, SP3, updated up to a few weeks ago, T42 Thinkpad.
> Windows version 5.1, (Build 2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.090206-1234 : Service Pack
> 3)
>
> Months ago I got a Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 installation including
> update KB963707 which latter is now at issue.
>
> Subsequent to that update I had a hard drive problem and had to copy my
> system to a new hard drive. (Something may have been scrambled in that
> process.)
>
> Since then every time I do updates (never automatically) KB963707 fails to
> update. Repeated attempts on any occasion fail as well.
>
> I was advised to remove KB963707 and reinstall it, but removal fails as
> well, giving me this error:
>
> ----------------
> This patch package could not be opened. Verify that the patch package
> exists and that you can access it, or contact the application vendor to
> verify that this is a valid Windows Installer patch package.
> ----------------
>
> Repeated attempts always give the same error.
>
> If anything I've written here sounds intelligent, rest assured I am NOT
> good at digging out and/or remembering technical details. I have no clue
> where said patch package is or should be, let alone how to verify it. I
> do suspect it may not be in the right place.
>
> I tried removing the entire 3.5 SP1 package and got this error:
>
> -----------------
> The Windows Installer package:
>
> c:windowsmicrosoft.netframeworkv3.5microsoft .net framework 3.5
> sp1vs_setup.msi
> could not be opened.
>
> Choose Retry to try again. Choose Cancel for exit setup.
> -----------------
>
> Again, repeated attempts always give the same result.
>
> I've tried various NG's for help and the best I can get is an infuriating
> crop of, "I never have that problem here."
>
> Days ago I went for another update, selecting the Express protocol (High
> priority updates). Out of the pack, 3 of the updates failed, including
> the one described above. It took out my broadband connection (Comcast)
> and I uninstalled everything from that session, reinstating my broadband
> connection.
>
> Oddly: The Update page listed 12 updates. 3 failed. 10 showed up in my
> Add/Remove population. Not my kind of math.
>
> I've tried to be clear and as complete as I can muster at the moment.
>
> Please help me out here. Is there even a starting point?<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->


I would not say that you are 'new' - I have seen (still see) your postings
in these and other similar newsgroups. ;-)

You have added to your description of your problem. That's good.

Here's my suggestion - follow through to the end. Do everything - whether
or not you have/think you have done it before. Step-by-step - as shown. It
*will* take time and patience and effort on your part- but you should be
better off when you are done.

1. Delete the registry key for the extension.
- Log on with an account that has Administrator permissions.
- Click Start --> click Run --> type:
cmd
--> and then press ENTER.
- At the command prompt, type:

reg DELETE "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Mozilla\Firefox\Extensions" /v
"{20a82645-c095-46ed-80e3-08825760534b}" /f

2. Reboot the computer.

3. In the Firefox user agent, reset the changes that you made in step 1. To
do this, follow these steps:
- Start Firefox, type about:config in the Firefox address bar.
- Scroll down or use Filter to find the following preference item:

general.useragent.extra.microsoftdotnet

- Right-click this item, and then click Reset.
- Restart Firefox

4. Reboot the computer.

5. Remove the .NET Framework extension files. To do this, follow these
steps:
- Log on with an account that has Administrator permissions.
- Click Start --> click Run --> type:
explorer
--> and then press ENTER.
- Open the following folder:

%SYSTEMDRIVE%\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v3.5\Windows Presentation
Foundation\DotNetAssistantExtension\

- Delete the DotNetAssistantExtension folder and all its contents

6. Reboot.

Follow that up with the following...

Download/install this:


After installing, do the following:

Start button --> RUN --> type in:
"%ProgramFiles%\Windows Installer Clean Up\msizap.exe" g!
--> Click OK.
(The quotation marks and percentage signs and spacing should be exact.)

Reboot.

Download, install, run, update and perform a full scan (separately) with the
following two applications (freeware versions are the ones to use for this):

SuperAntiSpyware


MalwareBytes


After performing a full scan with one and then the other and removing
whatever they both find completely, you may uninstall these products,
if you wish.

Download and run the MSRT manually:


Reboot.

Download/Install the latest Windows Installer (for your OS):
( Windows XP 32-bit : WindowsXP-KB942288-v3-x86.exe )


Reboot.

and...

Download the latest version of the Windows Update agent from here (x86):

.... and save it to the root of your C:\ drive. After saving it to the root
of the C:\ drive, do the following:

Close all Internet Explorer windows and other applications.

Start button --> RUN and type in:
%SystemDrive%\windowsupdateagent30-x86.exe /WUFORCE
--> Click OK.

(If asked, select "Run.) --> Click on NEXT --> Select "I agree" and click on
NEXT --> When it finishes installing, click on "Finish"...

Reboot.

Then follow the instructions here:

How do I reset Windows Update components?


Reboot.

CHKDSK
How to scan your disks for errors

* will take time and a reboot

Defragment
How to Defragment your hard drives

* will take time

Reboot.

Log on as an user with administrative rights and open Internet Explorer
and visit and select to do a
CUSTOM scan...

Every time you are about to click on something while at these web pages -
first press and hold down the CTRL key while you click on it. You can
release the CTRL key after clicking each time.

Once the scan is done, select just _ONE_ of the high priority updates
(deselect any others) and install it.

Reboot again.

If it did work - try the web page again - selecting no more than 3-5 at a
time. Rebooting as needed.

The Optional Software updates are generally safe - although I recommend
against the "Windows Search" one and any of the "Office Live" ones or
"Windows Live" ones for now. I would completely avoid the
Optional Hardware updates. Also - I do not see any urgent need to install
Internet Explorer 8 at this time.

Seriously - do all that. This is like antibiotics - don't skip a single
step, don't quit because you think things will be okay now - go through
until the end, until you have done everything given in the order given. If
you have a problem with a step come ask and let someone here get you
through that step. If you don't understand how to do a step, come back and
ask here about that step and let someone walk you through it.

Then - when done - let everyone here know if it worked for you - or if you
have more issues.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

 

1. Before doing anything else, write down the .NET Framework versions which
are already installed:

How to determine which versions of the .NET Framework are installed and
whether service packs have been applied


2. Now see Resolution Method 2 in...

When you try to install an update for the .NET Framework 1.0, 1.1, 2.0, 3.0,
or 3.5, you may receive Windows Update error code "0x643" or Windows
Installer error code "1603" (ignore the title, if need be)


After running the appropriate eeded tool, (re)install all .NET Framework
versions manually using the download links on the page then run Windows
Update manually to install security updates for same.

NB: If you've removed .NET Framework 3.5 SP1, reinstalling it will also
install .Net Framework 2.0 SP2 and 3.0 SP2.

IMPORTANT! => If you've removed .NET Framework 3.5 SP1, reinstall your .NET
Framework versions in the following order:

1. .Net Framework 3.5 SP1, then...
2. .Net Framework 1.1, then...
3. .Net Framework 1.1 SP1

NB: KB923100 references this page:
. Please read
ALL of it as well as the related page
before using the .NET
Framework Cleanup Tool.

3. Check-in at Windows Update and install any critical security updates
offered.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002



JimL wrote:<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> XP Pro, SP3, updated up to a few weeks ago, T42 Thinkpad.
> Windows version 5.1, (Build 2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.090206-1234 : Service Pack
> 3)
>
> Months ago I got a Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 installation including
> update KB963707 which latter is now at issue.
>
> Subsequent to that update I had a hard drive problem and had to copy my
> system to a new hard drive. (Something may have been scrambled in that
> process.)
>
> Since then every time I do updates (never automatically) KB963707 fails to
> update. Repeated attempts on any occasion fail as well.
>
> I was advised to remove KB963707 and reinstall it, but removal fails as
> well, giving me this error:
>
> ----------------
> This patch package could not be opened. Verify that the patch package
> exists and that you can access it, or contact the application vendor to
> verify that this is a valid Windows Installer patch package.
> ----------------
>
> Repeated attempts always give the same error.
>
> If anything I've written here sounds intelligent, rest assured I am NOT
> good
> at digging out and/or remembering technical details. I have no clue where
> said patch package is or should be, let alone how to verify it. I do
> suspect it may not be in the right place.
>
> I tried removing the entire 3.5 SP1 package and got this error:
>
> -----------------
> The Windows Installer package:
>
> c:windowsmicrosoft.netframeworkv3.5microsoft .net framework 3.5
> sp1vs_setup.msi
> could not be opened.
>
> Choose Retry to try again. Choose Cancel for exit setup.
> -----------------
>
> Again, repeated attempts always give the same result.
>
> I've tried various NG's for help and the best I can get is an infuriating
> crop of, "I never have that problem here."
>
> Days ago I went for another update, selecting the Express protocol (High
> priority updates). Out of the pack, 3 of the updates failed, including
> the
> one described above. It took out my broadband connection (Comcast) and I
> uninstalled everything from that session, reinstating my broadband
> connection.
>
> Oddly: The Update page listed 12 updates. 3 failed. 10 showed up in my
> Add/Remove population. Not my kind of math.
>
> I've tried to be clear and as complete as I can muster at the moment.
>
> Please help me out here. Is there even a starting point? <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->