Windows XP update question

[ms_mom67]

I have been trying to update windows XP. service pack 1.
I can download it fine.But when it comes to installing it , it stops and says it can not finsh because something with the update.inf is not right. And to check the cryptographic service provider. I have no idea what they are talking about.I emailed microsoft but have not heard back from them. My computer is a HP is that helps.

[Colibri]

I can't answer your question specifically, but I just received this message which one of my colleagues has sent around to everyone at my office. Perhaps it is related.

Following [our IT office's] advice, I allowed my Windows XP to install a security upgrate sent by Microsoft. The result was that when I rebooted my computer, Windows refused to start. Checking the Microsoft site on a different computer, I found that the problem is caused by the incompatibility of two Windows files with different versions. Microsoft even admits that this could be caused by an upgrade. Their advice is to use the original XP disk to reinstall the files. But my computer, like many others, came with Windows installed, and a set of "restore system" disks that reformat your hard drive before doing anything else. I had to find another Windows XP disk, install it in a different directory, then rescue my original XP from the "last good" files it had created before the upgrade. This, of course, after trying many other things with "safe start" etc. All in all, it took 12 hours of work, and I am counting myself lucky in having been able to save my original files and programs. I am sending this to all of you, because I think that much valuable time can be saved by avoiding to install these upgrades. Microsoft poses a greater danger than the hackers from whom the upgrades are intended to protect.

[Nanoda]

It looks like you want to take a close look at MS KB 813442 (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;813442).

Basically, click start, run, type "regsvr32 softpub.dll Wintrust.dll Initpki.dll Dssenh.dll Rsaenh.dll Gpkcsp.dll Sccbase.dll Slbcsp.dll Mssip32.dll Cryptdlg.dll", click ok.

Then try again. And remember, if you bought XP, you get... um... 2(?) free "incidents", basically calls in to tech support. :)