# Windows Update problem

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-update-problem/54068>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 11, 2001, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-update-problem/54068 "2001-02-11T21:44:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![sethdallob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@sethdallob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sethdallob)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2001, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-update-problem/54068/1 "2001-02-11T21:44:45Z")

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This problem has happened ever since I got my new computer - lets just say I _hate_ WinMe with a passion and leave it at that.

I go to Windows Update to download the IE 5.5 SP1, and the computer downloads it, tries to install, then this error comes up:

“A previous program installation was never completed. You need to restart your computer to complete that installation before running Internet Explorer Setup. Setup will now close.”

Any ideas?

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**Author:** ![mblackwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5fc32e/32.png) [@mblackwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mblackwell)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2001, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-update-problem/54068/2 "2001-02-11T22:04:03Z")

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You could try restarting the computer. 😃

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![sethdallob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@sethdallob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sethdallob)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2001, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-update-problem/54068/3 "2001-02-11T23:15:21Z")

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Thank you for the insight.

It happens every time I attempt it, even off of a fresh reboot. It’s happened since I opened the box.

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**Author:** ![hardcore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@hardcore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hardcore)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2001, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-update-problem/54068/4 "2001-02-12T03:08:15Z")

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You can start by looking at some of these knowledgebase articles and see if they help:

[Q221863](http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q221/8/63.ASP)  
[Q222945](http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q222/9/45.ASP)  
[Q234983](http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q234/9/83.asp)  
[Q214643](http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q214/6/43.ASP)

In general, you should start your search [here](http://search.microsoft.com/us/SearchMS25.asp) and input the text of the error message. Microsoft has some of the best online help available, and it is quite likely that someone has experienced a similar problem before.

Hope this helps. Good luck.