I recently reformatted a HD for a friend. I loaded XP w/ sp2. I went to update it at windows update. First it validated the OS. Then before it would download any updates it wanted me to install the windows update download software. I did it and and all other updates after that would not install. I went to microsofts support page and downloaded and installed the .net framework 3.0 and installer 3.1. Still nothing. I went to the internet options and deleted the history and cookies. Still nothing. I went in and did a repair on the OS with the disk and it took me back to where I had started. It told me that I had to install update installer before I could get updates. I did just that and now I am right back where I started with all installations failing to install!!!! Anybody have any other ideas?

Will this install?

http://download.microsoft.com/download/c/c...835-x86-ENU.exe

I also have a rpoblem with my machine where updates under 1mb in size just refuse to install telling me "<filename. is not a valid Win32 application"

any ideas?

I actually had been reading some other threads with similar problems and found one that talked about a programon Majorgeeks.com. I went to major geeks and downloadedthe program and ran it. Now the updates are installing just fine. I never got a chance to run this file.

Adrenalin, here is a link to the file that worked for me. Let me know if it works for you.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4899.html