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You cannot install some updates or programs in Windows XP

  • Article

This article offers you some advanced manual methods that can be used to fix some problems that prevent you from installing some updates or programs.

Original KB number:   822798

Symptoms

When you try to download an ActiveX control, install an update to Windows or to a Windows component, install a service pack for Windows or for a Windows component, or install a Microsoft or third-party software program, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:​​​​​​​

Note

These problems may occur for these reasons.

  • You receive the following error message when you try to install a program or update:

    Digital Signature Not Found
    The Microsoft digital signature affirms that software has been tested with Windows and that the software has not been altered since it was tested.
    The software you are about to install does not contain a Microsoft digital signature. Therefore, there is no guarantee that this software works correctly with Windows.
    Name of software package
    If you want to search for Microsoft digitally signed software, visit the Windows Update Web site at http://update.microsoft.com to see if one is available.
    Do you want to continue the installation?

    If you click More Info, you receive the following message:

    Microsoft Windows
    The signature on the software package you want to install is invalid. The software package is not signed properly.

    After you click OK in the first error message dialog box, you receive a message that states that the installation was successful, or you receive the following error message:

    Name of Update Package
    The cryptographic operation failed due to a local security option setting.

  • When you try to install an update or to install a service pack, you receive an error message that is similar to one of the following:

    • Error 1

      Name of Update Package
      Setup could not verify the integrity of the file Update.inf. Make sure the Cryptographic service is running on this computer.

    • Error 2

      Failed to install catalog files.

    • Error 3

      The software you are installing has not passed Windows Logo testing to verify its compatibility with Windows XP. (Tell me why this testing is important.)
      This software will not be installed. Contact your system administrator.

    • Error 4

      The software you are installing has not passed Windows Logo testing to verify its compatibility with this version of Windows. (Tell me why this testing is important.)

  • When you try to install a Windows XP service pack, you receive an error message that is similar to the following:

    Service Pack 1 Setup could not verify the integrity of the file. Make sure the Cryptographic service is running on this computer.

  • When you attempt to install Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) 2.8, you receive an error message that is similar to the following:

    INF Install failure. Reason: The timestamp signature and/or certificate could not be verified or is malformed.

  • The %WINDIR%\System32\CatRoot2\Edb.log may grow to 20 megabytes (MB) even though the file is typically less than 1 MB.

  • When you try to install a package from the Windows Update Web site or from the Microsoft Update Web site, you receive a message that is similar to the following:

    The software has not passed Windows logo testing and will not be installed.

  • When you examine the %systemroot%\Windowsupdate.log file, you see an entry for one of the following errors:​​​​​​​

    • 0x80096001
    • 0x80096005
    • 0x80096010
    • 0x800B0001
    • 0x800B0003
    • 0x800B0004
    • 0x800B0109
    • 0x8007f0da
    • 0x8007f01e

  • When you use Microsoft windows update on a Windows XP-based computer, the update process fails, and you receive a 0x8007f007 error message. This may occur regardless of what type of update you select.

  • The Svcpack.log file may contain entries that are similar to the following

937.406: GetCatVersion: Failed to retrieve version information from C:\WINDOWS\system32 \CatRoot{F750E6C3-38EE-11D1-85E5-00C04FC295EE}\Tmp.0.scw.cat with error 0x57 937.437: GetCatVersion: Failed to retrieve version information from C:\WINDOWS\Tmp.0.scw.cat with error 0x80092004 940.344: InstallSingleCatalogFile: MyInstallCatalog failed for Tmp.0.scw.cat; error=0xfffffbfe. 940.344: DoInstallation:MyInstallCatalogFiles failed:STR_CATALOG_INSTALL_FAILED
955.125: UnRegisterSpuninstForRecovery, failed to delete SpRecoverCmdLine value, error 0x2
955.125: DoInstallation: Failed to unregistering spuninst.exe for recovery.
962.656: DeRegistering the Uninstall Program -> Windows Server 2003 Service Pack, 0
962.656: Failed to install catalog files. 1448.406: Message displayed to the user: Failed to install catalog files.
1448.406: User Input: OK
1448.406: Update.exe extended error code = 0xf01e
1448.406: Update.exe return code was masked to 0x643 for MSI custom action compliance.

Cause

These problems may occur in any of the following situations:

  • Log file or database corruption exists in the %Systemroot%\System32\Catroot2 folder.
  • Cryptographic Services is set to disabled.
  • Other Windows files are corrupted or missing.
  • The timestamp signature or certificate could not be verified or is malformed.
  • The hidden attribute is set for the %Windir% folder or one of its subfolders.
  • The Unsigned non-driver installation behavior Group Policy setting (Windows 2000 only) is set to Do not allow installation or Warn but allow installation, or the Policy binary value is not set to 0 in the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Non-Driver Signing
  • The Enable trusted publisher lockdown Group Policy setting is turned on, and you do not have the appropriate certificate in your Trusted Publishers certificate store. This Group Policy setting is located under User Configuration, under Windows Settings, under Internet Explorer Maintenance, under Security, under Authenticode Settings in the Group Policy MMC snap-in.
  • You are installing Internet Explorer 6 SP1, and the 823559 (MS03-023) security update is installed.
  • The software distribution folder is corrupted.

Method 1: Rename the Edb.log file

Rename the Edb.log file, and then try to install the program again. To rename the Edb.log file, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd in the Open box, and then click OK.

    Note

    On a Windows Vista-based computer, click Start, type cmd in the Start Search text box, right-click cmd.exe, and then click Run as administrator.

  2. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press Enter:

    ren %systemroot%\system32\catroot2\Edb.log *.tst

Method 2: Temporarily turn off Trusted Publishers Lockdown and install the appropriate certificates to your trusted publishers certificate store

You can continue to use the Enable trusted publisher lockdown Group Policy setting, but you must first add the appropriate certificates to your Trusted Publishers certificate store. To do this, turn off the Enable trusted publisher lockdown Group Policy setting, install the appropriate certificates in your Trusted Publishers certificate store, and then turn the Enable trusted publisher lockdown Group Policy setting back on. To install the appropriate certificate for Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Internet Explorer product updates, follow these steps:

  1. Download the Microsoft product update that you want to install from the Microsoft Download Center, from the Windows Update Catalog, or from the Microsoft Update.

    For more information about how to download product updates from the Microsoft Download Center, view how to obtain Microsoft support files from the Online Services Catalog.

    For more information about how to download product updates from the Windows Update Catalog, view how to download updates that include drivers and hotfixes from the Windows Update Catalog.

  2. Extract the product update package to a temporary folder. The command-line command that you use to do this depends on the update that you are trying to install. View the Microsoft Knowledge Base article that is associated with the update to determine the appropriate command-line switches that you will use to extract the package. For example, to extract the 824146 security update for Windows XP to the C:\824146 folder, run Windowsxp-kb824146-x86-enu -x:c:\824146. To extract the 828750 security update for Windows XP to the C:\828750 folder, run q828750.exe /c /t:c:\828750.

  3. Right-click the KB Number.cat file from the product update package in the temporary folder you created in step 2, and then click Properties.

    Note

    The KB Number.cat file may be in a subfolder. For example, the file may be in the C:\824146\sp1\update folder or in the C:\824146\sp2\update folder.

  4. On the Digital Signatures tab, click the digital signature and then click Details.

  5. Click View Certificate, and then click Install Certificate.

  6. Click Next to start the Certificate Import Wizard.

  7. Click Place all certificates in the following store, and then click Browse.

  8. Click Trusted Publishers, and then click OK.

  9. Click Next, click Finish, and then click OK.

Method 3: Verify status of all certificates in certification path and import missing or damaged certificates from another computer

To verify certificates in the certificate path for a Windows or Internet Explorer product update, follow these steps:

Step 1: Verify Microsoft certificates

  1. In Internet Explorer, click Tools, and then click Internet Options.

  2. On the Content tab, click Certificates.

  3. On the Trusted Root Certification Authorities tab, double-click Microsoft Root Authority. If this certificate is missing, go on to step 2.

  4. On the General tab, make sure that the Valid from dates are 1/10/1997 to 12/31/2020.

  5. On the Certification Path tab, verify that This certificate is OK appears under Certificate Status.

  6. Click OK, and then double-click the NO LIABILITY ACCEPTED certificate.

  7. On the General tab, make sure that the Valid from dates are 5/11/1997 to 1/7/2004.

  8. On the Certification Path tab, verify that either This certificate has expired or is not yet valid or This certificate is OK appears under Certificate Status.

    Note

    Although this certificate is expired, the certificate will continue to work. The operating system may not work correctly if the certificate is missing or revoked. For more information, view Required trusted root certificates.

  9. Click OK, and then double-click the GTE CyberTrust Root certificate. You may have more than one of these certificates with the same name. Check the certificate that has an expiration date of 2/23/2006.

  10. On the General tab, make sure that the Valid from dates are 2/23/1996 to 2/23/2006.

  11. On the Certification Path tab, verify that This certificate is OK appears under Certificate Status.

    Note

    Although this certificate is expired, the certificate will continue to work. The operating system may not work correctly if the certificate is missing or revoked.

  12. Click OK, and then double-click Thawte Timestamping CA.

  13. On the General tab, make sure that the Valid from dates are 12/31/1996 to 12/31/2020.

  14. On the Certification Path tab, verify that This certificate is OK appears under Certificate Status.

Step 2: Import missing or damaged certificates

If one or more of these certificates are missing or corrupted, export the missing or corrupted certificates to another computer, and then install the certificates on your computer. To export certificates on another computer, follow these steps:

  1. In Internet Explorer, click Tools, and then click Internet Options.
  2. On the Content tab, click Certificates.
  3. On the Trusted Root Certification Authorities tab, click the certificate that you want to export.
  4. Click Export, and then follow the instructions to export the certificate as a DER encoded Binary x.509(.CER) file.
  5. After the certificate file has been exported, copy it to the computer where you want to import it.
  6. On the computer where you want to import the certificate, double-click the certificate.
  7. Click Install certificate, and then click Next.
  8. Click Finish, and then click OK.

Method 4: Clear temporary file and restart hotfix installation or service pack installation

To clear the temporary file and restart the hotfix installation or the service pack installation, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.

  2. At the command prompt, type the following commands. Press Enter after each command.

    net stop cryptsvc
ren %systemroot%\System32\Catroot2 oldcatroot2
net start cryptsvc
exit

  3. Remove all the tmp*.cat files in the following folders:

    • %systemroot% \system32\CatRoot{127D0A1D-4EF2-11D1-8608-00C04FC295EE}
    • %systemroot% \system32\CatRoot{F750E6C3-38EE-11D1-85E5-00C04FC295EE}

    If no files that start with tmp exist in this folder, do not remove any other files. The .cat files in this folder are necessary for installing hotfixes and service packs.

    Important

    Do not rename the Catroot folder. The Catroot2 folder is automatically recreated by Windows, but the Catroot folder is not recreated if the Catroot folder is renamed.

  4. Delete all the oem*.* files from the %systemroot% \inf folder.

  5. Restart the failed hotfix installation or service pack installation.

Method 5: Empty the software distribution folder

  1. Click Start, click Run, type services.msc, and then click OK.

    Note

    On a Windows Vista-based computer, click Start, type services.msc in the Start Search box, right-click services.msc, and then click Run as administrator.

  2. In the Services (Local) pane, right-click Automatic Updates, and then click Stop.

  3. Minimize the Services (local) window.

  4. Select all the contents of the Windows distribution folder, and then delete them.

    Note

    By default, the Windows distribution folder is located in the drive :\Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder. In this location, drive is a placeholder for the drive where Windows is installed.

  5. Make sure that the Windows distribution folder is empty, and then maximize the Services (local) window.

  6. In the Services (Local) pane, right-click Automatic Updates, and then click Start.

  7. Restart the computer, and then run Windows Update again.

Method 6: Perform an in-place upgrade

If all these methods do not resolve your problem, you may have to perform an in-place upgrade.

Data collection

If you need assistance from Microsoft support, we recommend you collect the information by following the steps mentioned in Gather information by using TSS for deployment-related issues.