Windows Update Cannot or Unable to Download and Install All Critical Updates

In Windows XP, user attempt to download and install high priority, important or critical Microsoft security updates from Windows Update or Microsoft Update, however, Windows Update cannot and fails to download and install all selected updates. Windows Update can correctly scan and search the computer to check for available updates though, causing display of tens of updates on screen that remain unable to be installed.

Some of the updates stuck and unable to be downloaded and installed may include the list below, which will be shown if you reinstall Windows XP prior to SP2:

Security Update for Windows XP (KB896423)
Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer 7 for Windows XP (KB933566)
Cumulative Security Update for Outlook Express for Windows XP (KB929123)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB935840)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB935839)
Update for Windows XP (KB927891)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB890046)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB920213)
Update for Windows XP (KB930916)
Update for Windows Media Format 11 SDK for Windows XP (KB929399)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB931784)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB930178)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB931261)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB932168)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB925902)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB928255)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB928843)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB927802)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB924667)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB927779)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB918118)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB926436)
Update for Windows XP (KB931836)
Security Update for Internet Explorer 7 for Windows XP (KB929969)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB923980)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB926255)
Security Update for Windows Media Player 6.4 (KB925398)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB924270)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB923414)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB923191)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB924191)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB922819)
Update for Windows XP (KB922582)
Update for Windows XP (KB916595)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB919007)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB920685)
Update for Windows XP (KB920872)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB920670)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB920683)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB914388)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB911280)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB914389)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB918439)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB913580)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB917953)
Update for Windows XP (KB900485)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB908531)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB911562)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB911927)
Security Update for Windows Media Player Plug-in (KB911564)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB908519)
Update for Windows XP (KB910437)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB904706)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB905749)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB900725)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB902400)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB901017)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB905414)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB893756)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB899591)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB899587)
Update for Windows XP (KB894391)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB896358)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB890859)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB901214)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB896428)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB885835)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB888302)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB891781)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB873339)
Critical Update for Windows XP (KB886185)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB885836)
Critical Update for Office XP on Windows XP Service Pack 2 (KB885884)

The issue appears to be related to corrupted or invalid entries in the registry causing Windows Update and Microsoft Update unable to download and install the selected critical high priority updates onto the system. To fix and resolve the unable to update Windows problem, try to use third part utilities such as CCleaner and Dial-a-fix.

Firstly, download and install CCleaner from ccleaner.com, and then restart computer in “Safe Mode”, and perform scans on all settings, namely Analyze Windows and Applications in Cleaner and Scan for Issues in Registry. Select and check all check marks. Run the Cleaner and fix all found issues, and re-scan and clean the system until no more issue is found, as some registry reference link may be found to be invalid on subsequent scans after the reference key is removed on prior scan.

If CCleaner doesn’t help to fix the problem of unable to download updates from Windows Update, download and install Dial-a-fix (DAF) from wiki.djlizard.net/Dial-a-fix, a tool that packages all known fixes gleaned from Microsoft Knowledgebase articles, Microsoft MVPs, and support forums to fix Windows Update errors and problems with Automatic Updates, SSL, HTTPS, and Cryptography service (signing/verification) issues, COM/ActiveX object errors and missing registry entries. Again, reboot the computer and boot into Safe Mode, and then run Dial-a-fix with all the functions activated. During the process, the application may appear to be hanging or not responsive, this is normal behavior.

After fixing the computer system, restart computer and boot up normally, and then try to update Windows XP with Windows Update or Microsoft Update again.