Windows Update Failures

[marshd1000]

OK, I have had the problem in the past and I DID delete history, etc and get rid of programs.  When I did that in the past, it still would not let me do the updates and it would still say that I was running out of disc space.  But yesterday I just deleted history and cookies.  I think that it may have took.  But I don't know as I am on the work computer right now and won't be on my laptop until tomorrow.  But thanks to everyone for the advice.  And to Bartman, you were a little bit harsh but all is well.  I was serious in what I posted.  I am not a computer whiz, just comfortable enough to do basic things on the internet, etc.  I have not taken computer classes and I don't know squat about code, etc.

[Rusty Shackleford]

I have Windows XP and I am having problems.

 

The second part of that sentence was unnecessary as it was automatically assumed by the first part.

It is telling me that I am low on Disc space and at the same time it is wanting me to run Windows Updates.

 

Is it just me or does no one ever see their PC's bugs and design shortcomings fixed after a Windows Update?  At any rate, you should free up space on your harddrive.

First, you might want to try clearing out your web browser's cache of old things it's downloaded.  If you're using Internet Explorer it's probably in the option "Tools--> Delete Browsing History" and use it to delete as much as you can.

Second, you might want to uninstall software you never use.  To do this go to "Start Button--> Control Panel-->Add / Remove Programs"  (I think that's where it is because I'm using Vista and it's different).  Just delete anything you don't use and know what it is.  Don't delete anything if you don't know what it is!

Third, defragment your harddrive.  Go to "Start Button--> My Computer" and in the window that appears find the (C:) entry in the tree control that shows up on the left.  Right click on it and select "Properties".  In that window select the "Tools"tab and defragment should be in there somewhere.  This will free up a little space, but mainly it will put things on the disc in a more organized way.  You might want to do this a couple times.

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?

 

Do you really need the update?  Usually Microsoft will only fix errors that can cause them to get sued by the government or a major corporation, and that means the errors it fixes are the ones related to security threats or make it vulnerable to viruses.  Microsoft never fixes anything that makes the Windows experience so miserable.  Just ask all the users of Microsoft's XBOX 360 video game console.  Ask them how many 360's they've owned because of the widespread hardware failures in the design that Microsoft refused to resolve for over 2 years! 

Going to the Microsucks site doesn't help as I try to do what it says and my computer won't let me!  Arrgh!!!!

That's better than my experience.  Usually going to the Microsoft website will not yield any answers at all, and on the rare occasion that they do they usually don't work.  Their tech support is bad even for the usual bad support tech companies provide.  Another problem is asking for answers on nerd forums because nerds, in their twisted attempt to feel smug and superior, will usually give you an answer that's either:
1) So vague that it's a useless tease
2) Something that just doesn't work

Nerds write bugs.  They are incapable of fixing them or even understanding why users get so annoyed with them.

[bartman]

OK, I have had the problem in the past and I DID delete history, etc and get rid of programs.  When I did that in the past, it still would not let me do the updates and it would still say that I was running out of disc space.  But yesterday I just deleted history and cookies.  I think that it may have took.  But I don't know as I am on the work computer right now and won't be on my laptop until tomorrow.  But thanks to everyone for the advice.  And to Bartman, you were a little bit harsh but all is well.  I was serious in what I posted.  I am not a computer whiz, just comfortable enough to do basic things on the internet, etc.  I have not taken computer classes and I don't know squat about code, etc.

Ok, so you are serious.

First if you are getting a warning about disk space, click on start, click on my computer, find your hard drive usually C: and right click it, then click on properties. See how much drive space you have left. That would let you know if it is really a space issue. Free space is pink, used space is blue, on the pie chart if all you see is blue, then you have a drive space issue.

Second, click start, right click my computer, click manage, click on the plus sign next to event viewer, click on system, then look and see if you see any red x's they are errors. Read through them and see if there is anything about updates, disk space or errors that might help and list them here.

Third, I did a search on microsofts support site about your issue, since your explaination of the issue is very vague I got some hits that don't mean much but some that would help you with disk space issues. Look through these.
http://support.microsoft.com/search/default.aspx?query=windows+update+drive+space&catalog=LCID%3D1033&mode=r

If you find any errors in your system event log post them here which could give us more information.

[bartman]

The second part of that sentence was unnecessary as it was automatically assumed by the first part.
Really? If most XP and windows users were having all these problems over the last 10 years, a majority of people would have migrated away from windows and gone to what they saw was a better OS, say mac or linux and windows would start to disappear, this has not happened so I dismiss your assertion due to lack of evidence.

It is telling me that I am low on Disc space and at the same time it is wanting me to run Windows Updates.

 

Is it just me or does no one ever see their PC's bugs and design shortcomings fixed after a Windows Update?  At any rate, you should free up space on your hardwire.

I cannot speak for anyone else but it does seem like it is just you. Yes, I see bug fixes from MS fix problems all the time. If they did not fix problems, why would they waste time  and money having employees fix problems in the OS and put that money in their pockets.

Do you really need the update?  Usually Microsoft will only fix errors that can cause them to get sued by the government or a major corporation, and that means the errors it fixes are the ones related to security threats or make it vulnerable to viruses.

Really? I have seen service packs not only fix problems but add features, remember when USB came out?

Microsoft never fixes anything that makes the Windows experience so miserable.
Really? If the experience was so miserable, you would see a mass exodus to mac or linux. That just hasn't happened, macs has barely put a dent in windows market share in America only 8 percent now and less in the last 10 year, yet the Ipod is hugely popular 73 percent market share in a short amount of time

Just ask all the users of Microsoft's XBOX 360 video game console.  Ask them how many 360's they've owned because of the widespread hardware failures in the design that Microsoft refused to resolve for over 2 years!  
Really? I bought a 360 for myself and my nephews, both experienced the red ring of death after the warranty was up. Microsoft being a very customer service oriented company fixed both boxes at no charge even long after warranty was over and has continued to fix thousands of 360s long after the warranty,  that is because they are committed to customer service and when they make mistakes, they fix them... so much for Microsoft not fixing things.. I have not had a probelm with either of these units after they were fixe. This is not true of all computer hardware vendors

That's better than my experience.  Usually going to the Microsoft website will not yield any answers at all, and on the rare occasion that they do they usually don't work.

Really? When I worked in support, I used the microsoft site all the time and resolved thousands of issues with those articles. You have to be willing to read and understand the article and you have to be able to follow instructions

Their tech support is bad even for the usual bad support tech companies provide.  Another problem is asking for answers on nerd forums because nerds, in their twisted attempt to feel smug and superior, will usually give you an answer that's either:
1) So vague that it's a useless tease
2) Something that just doesn't work

Really? I have not experienced this and I have worked with MS support people all the way up to the engineering level, that is not my experience. Have you really called Microsoft? What are your case numbers? Perhaps they can be looked up to see the issue. Did you take the time to submit negative feedback when the call screeners called you back for customer survey?

Nerds write bugs.  They are incapable of fixing them or even understanding why users get so annoyed with them.

Really?Nerds write bugs? are you saying on purpose? Again that is not reality, bugs usually come from poorly written code, in essence, the "nerds" not doing their job to the best of their ability allow problem code to slip by.

I don't think Microsoft does everything right. I wish they would write better code from the beginning and not get it mostly right and fix all the bugs they did not catch in hot fixes and service packs, but that is their business model and many software companies have addopted that model and have been very successful.


Your blanket statements are pretty appalling. Your use of words like "nerds" is derogatory. Your experiences are limited buy your inability or unwillingness to resolve problems, use reason and logic to understand how software and software companies do business.

You have a real chip on your shoulder there. If the Microsoft experience is so bad, go to another OS, and move on. Your bitterness will only hurt you in the end, your anger is evident, you need to move on so you can be at peace with yourself and computers.

Anger and bitterness are the dark path.. "Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will."  

[tomgallagher]

OMG, somebody that makes sense. Well said Bartman. I personally have refused to get into it with the "I Hate Microsoft" addicts. They are hopeless. 

[marshd1000]

Just wanted you to all know, I am on my laptop this morning and I am NOT having problems!  The updates must have occured and it is not saying that my disc space is low!

[aarrggh]

   boys- boys- boys


                 

[tomgallagher]

Just wanted you to all know, I am on my laptop this morning and I am NOT having problems!  The updates must have occured and it is not saying that my disc space is low!

Good for you Marsh.

[bartman]

Just wanted you to all know, I am on my laptop this morning and I am NOT having problems!  The updates must have occured and it is not saying that my disc space is low!

I a glad your problem is resolved. Please do check your hard drive space as I suggested previously, even though it may not be warning you, you may still have a shortage of space that may in the future cause you other problems when updating or installing new software.

[andrew]

Marsh - glad your machine is stable again. 

Regarding all the Microsoft-bashing, I can't resist commenting.  I've been a software engineer for almost 30 years (C, C++, C#.net, and Java).  I've worked with most (Apple excluded)  of the large software development tool vendors (IBM, MS, Sun, Oracle ...)   While none of them are perfect, I have to say that Microsoft has always impressed me most regarding the tools they've made available for software development. 

But, as they've cut costs, sending a lot of work offshore, the quality of both their products and support has gone way down, but all of the vendors are doing it now.

I'm certainly not trying to pitch MS as the answer-all (they piss me off too, regularly), but at the same time wanted to give them a plug for the fine job they've done with many of the software development tools I use on a daily (and nightly) basis.

[marshd1000]

After I posted this morning, my laptop started acting up again.  I am at work so I will have to check on things this evening!

[IRONHORSE]

After I posted this morning, my laptop started acting up again.  I am at work so I will have to check on things this evening!

marsh, please resist the urge to use your laptop as a soccer ball-  I guarantee it won't work after that!

By the way, my suggestion of a second Hard Drive won't work with a laptop (unless you want to buy a removable USB hard drive - we bought one not long ago, 1 Terabyte, and not overly costly, either,) although you might be able to locate a larger hard drive and transfer your files.

[tomgallagher]

Ain't computers great.....

[Rusty Shackleford]

Really?Nerds write bugs? are you saying on purpose? Again that is not reality, bugs usually come from poorly written code, in essence, the "nerds" not doing their job to the best of their ability allow problem code to slip by.

I don't think Microsoft does everything right. I wish they would write better code from the beginning and not get it mostly right and fix all the bugs they did not catch in hot fixes and service packs, but that is their business model and many software companies have addopted that model and have been very successful.


Your blanket statements are pretty appalling. Your use of words like "nerds" is derogatory. Your experiences are limited buy your inability or unwillingness to resolve problems, use reason and logic to understand how software and software companies do business.

You have a real chip on your shoulder there. If the Microsoft experience is so bad, go to another OS, and move on. Your bitterness will only hurt you in the end, your anger is evident, you need to move on so you can be at peace with yourself and computers.

Anger and bitterness are the dark path.. "Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will."  

Actually I was in the software development industry for 13 years and got more and more disgusted with it with each passing year.  So if you have a problem with my so-called "blanket" statements then perhaps you should take your comments to Microsoft and tell them to stop creating an atmosphere where such a blanket statement can apply so well.

Though I think it's laughable that someone would defend the industry with such passion, I will address a couple things you brought up. 

The first is your comments on the fact that people would migrate away from Windows if it was as bad as I suggest.  If people would suddenly choose quality McDonalds would go out of business tomorrow.  People don't always make quality the paramount factor when determining a product choice, and when it comes to the computer industry there are a number of reasons why people, like me, continue to stick with Windows.  If the quality of Windows wasn't so poor those Mac vs. PC commercials wouldn't ring so true (FYI: I am not a Mac fanboy and it might be just as bad for all I know)

The second is that you completely missed the boat on my XBOX 360 statement.  The point is not how well Microsoft handled your specific problem, it's the fact that Microsoft allowed your problem to exist in the first place.

You said you bought a 360 for you and your nephews.  I assume you are referring to two separate 360s since you later used the word "both".  Here's my point:  Within weeks of the release of the 360 reports of this bug were widespread.  It persisted for years.  This was clearly a design flaw but Microsoft did not fix the flaw in the design for years.  And I know!  I was sitting on the sidelines waiting for the design fix for a long, long time before I finally gave up.  Go to IGN.com and read up on the reports of this problem (including their accounts of people who went through this process multiple times)  Had Microsoft's customer support TRULY been great, they'd have immediately changed the 360's design for all units created thereafter, replaced any old 360s in store inventory, and recalled the remaining 360s after Christmas '05.

Instead, Microsoft clearly took their philosophy of software design and applied it to a physical hardware product and got burned bad.  I forget the numbers, but I think the repair process cost them over a billion dollars.  At one point they even ran out of boxes for the return units and yet they continued to refuse fixing the design of the 360!  THAT'S how engrained poor quality is within Microsoft's culture.

And another thing, does it not bother you that you bought two of these things and both had the same fatal error?  BTW: I believe the "good" service Microsoft provided was due precisely to what I mentioned before - fear of being sued.  With such limited variations for the 360, it's hard for them to hide behind blaming the user or blaming hardware components like they do with PC bugs.



If you're the kind of guy who can let product defects and design flaws not get in your way of enjoying whatever product it is, then more power to you.  But the problem with your attitude is that it encourages others to halfass their products.   I don't know why the tech industry believes it should be exempt from the responsibility of quality products, but when I encounter things like this I often find ways to raise hell otherwise it's not going to stop.


BTW: Thankfully, I wrote this in Firefox because I wouldn't even have been able to IE8.  In IE8 because text box often go haywire once the text exceeds the height of the text box.   Let's see if IE9 fixes it.

[FR8TRAIN]

After I posted this morning, my laptop started acting up again.  I am at work so I will have to check on things this evening!

marsh, please resist the urge to use your laptop as a soccer ball-  I guarantee it won't work after that!

By the way, my suggestion of a second Hard Drive won't work with a laptop (unless you want to buy a removable USB hard drive - we bought one not long ago, 1 Terabyte, and not overly costly, either,) although you might be able to locate a larger hard drive and transfer your files.

I have to agree with Scott, buy a second HD even if you are using a laptop. Especially if you are currently using WINDOZE. A removable 1 Terabyte, USB version is the best. This way if you decide to use your current laptop as a boat anchor, you can still preserve your data for transfer to your brand new PC running LINUX. 

If you are using WINDOZE, then my suggestion is that you back-up and defrag your hard drive at least once a month to prevent the situations that are occurring. I know that is is no consolation but, at least you will have taken all of the steps that Microsoft suggests to ensure a proficient operating system...LOL

Friendly advice from FR8TRAIN