Windows Update Failures

[marshd1000]

I have Windows XP and I am having problems.  It is telling me that I am low on Disc space and at the same time it is wanting me to run Windows Updates.  Well, every time I try to run the updates, almost everything that is part of the update is failing.  I am not a tech geek.  What do I do?  Going to the Microsucks site doesn't help as I try to do what it says and my computer won't let me!  Arrgh!!!!1

[tomgallagher]

I know this may sound obvious but maybe you should delete some old or useless stuff. I'm sure that MS didn't fill up your hard drive.

[andrew]

Forget about the Windows update for now.   Free up disk space by deleting files and then empty your recycle bin.   Go to Windows Explorer and right-click on your C-drive and hit properties to see the percentage used and free.  You'll have to keep deleting files (or uninstalling software) until you get a reasonable amount of free space.

You may want to run a Disk Defragmenter afterward (Start/Programs/Accessories/Disk Defragmenter).   

Now, you can run Windows Update.

[tomgallagher]

I use CCleaner (known on the street as Crap Cleaner..LOL) for deleting useless files, cleaning up my registry and defragmenting every couple of weeks.

[IRONHORSE]

Another option for you may be to buy a second hard drive, if you consider everything on your C: drive "irreplacable." You can move all your  MP3's, Documents, Pictures, Video's, etc. - to your new "D:" drive and reserve your C: drive for your Operating System only.

Hard drives are pretty much dirt cheap these days, and there is no such thing as "too much storage space." If you have a tech savvy friend, ask for help in determining what kind of Hard Drive you need for your computer (IDE, EIDE, SATA, and so on.) The older the technology, the cheaper the price tag!  


P.S. ( I won't say it Fr8... I won't...  )

[-Doug-]

This is why I love my mac!   

[Sgt. Pate]

Sometimes the updates won't install from the Windows update but if you go to Microsoft and download them, then run them from your PC, then they do install.  But by all means, try CCleaner first!  

[tomgallagher]

Another option for you may be to buy a second hard drive, if you consider everything on your C: drive "irreplacable." You can move all your  MP3's, Documents, Pictures, Video's, etc. - to your new "D:" drive and reserve your C: drive for your Operating System only.

Hard drives are pretty much dirt cheap these days, and there is no such thing as "too much storage space." If you have a tech savvy friend, ask for help in determining what kind of Hard Drive you need for your computer (IDE, EIDE, SATA, and so on.) The older the technology, the cheaper the price tag! 


P.S. ( I won't say it Fr8... I won't...  )

Right, if everything on your hard drive is considered irreplaceable than by all means go to a 2nd hard drive. That is what I did.

[bartman]

I have Windows XP and I am having problems.  It is telling me that I am low on Disc space and at the same time it is wanting me to run Windows Updates.  Well, every time I try to run the updates, almost everything that is part of the update is failing.  I am not a tech geek.  What do I do?  Going to the Microsucks site doesn't help as I try to do what it says and my computer won't let me!  Arrgh!!!!1

This is a joke right?

This is like your dealership saying you need to return your Toyota for an update to fix a stuck gas pedal problem but you can't go to the dealership because your car is warning you, you are out of gas and cannot make it to the gas station let alone the dealership, what should you do.

No offense but if you are really serious, I would suggest you get a Mac.

I got a kick out of this site and video, it probably sells more Macs than the apple ads. (Warning this site contains humor, if you have no sense of it don't go,  Also it contains inappropriate language probably not safe for young children) watch the videos.
http://maddox.xmission.com/c.cgi?u=macs_cant

[jamesh75]

I have Windows XP and I am having problems.  It is telling me that I am low on Disc space and at the same time it is wanting me to run Windows Updates.  Well, every time I try to run the updates, almost everything that is part of the update is failing.  I am not a tech geek.  What do I do?  Going to the Microsucks site doesn't help as I try to do what it says and my computer won't let me!  Arrgh!!!!1

No offense but if you are really serious, I would suggest you get a Mac.

How exactly is getting a Mac going to fix the problem of the hard drive being full?  You can fill up the hard drive on a Mac just as fast as you can on a Windows machine.  I'm not dissing Mac because when I bought my new laptop, I thought about buying one.  But it was the fact the the Mac was $1000 more than the HP I bought, with similar specs.

[bartman]

No offense but if you are really serious, I would suggest you get a Mac.

How exactly is getting a Mac going to fix the problem of the hard drive being full?[/quote]
It was a litte dark sarcasm aimed at a previous post. Perhaps it was not obvious enough.
Whenever a person has a problem with a PC, someone always suggests to get a mac.
But even if a Mac truly was easier, as you noted, you are going to pay a hefty price for one.
But I would rather not fuel the PC/Mac debate. People get emotional about it and to me
it is just a tool. Buy the one you like and can afford.

[jamesh75]

Sorry Bartman, I guess I just hadn't had enough coffee yet today.  I get it now, I'm just a little slow today.

[D.A.L.U.I.]

[T]o me it is just a tool. Buy the one you like and can afford.

A voice of reason among the noisy crowd--I don't get the cult business.  We have them in our company, pulling out the Mac's like they're some magic device.  It's a matter of capability & price, and there are many who don't see enough capability to justify the price. 

[-Doug-]

First let me apologize for making my mac comment. I was hastily written and an immature response to the question that was originally asked.

Along with what others have stated, I would suggest running disk clean up as well. That is a good way to get rid of a lot of bloat (temp files, etc.). 

A external hard drive, also as others stated, is a good idea. I just got a 1 TB external hard drive for =~$150.00. I partitioned it so some of it is for day-to-day storage of media (pics, videos, and music) as they tend to be space hungry files. The other part of the drive is strictly for back ups.

Again, sorry for bringing up the Mac vs. PC issue.

[bartman]

Perhaps I was too hard on the original poster. I work in the computer industry and if I am installing a program or update and it fails then the OS tells me I am out of disk space it is obvious to me that there are not enough resources (drive space) to install the program/update. To someone that does not have the advantage of working with computers as I do it may not so obvious. Sorry about that, other posters here gave you some good advise on how to make more room on your hard drive to allow you to run the update.