Usually, Microsoft's Windows Update patches, hot fixes and service packs download and install without a problem. If you have Windows XP set to automatically download and install these updates, you may not notice the process until you experience installation issues. Windows Update may repeatedly attempt to install the same update or may fail to install updates. Software incompatibilities, temporary files that do not get deleted following installation and other problems may cause installation issues.
Instructions
- 1
Click on "Start," then click on "All Programs." Select "Windows Update."
2Click on the "Review your update history" link.
3Find a red X in the status column and click it. Highlight the error number with your mouse, then hold down the "Ctrl" button and the "C" key at the same time to copy the number. You may also write down the number.
4Click on "Find Solutions."
5Click on the "Type keywords here" field. Hold down the "Ctrl" button and the "V" key at the same time. You may also manually type the error number if you wrote it down. Press the "Enter" key.
6Follow the steps presented by the troubleshooter.
7Search for your Windows Update installation error number in the Microsoft Knowledge Base if you still can't fix your problem. Please see Resources.
