Hey folks.

I have here a custom built PC running Windows 2000 SP1. The system was covered with spyware and viruses. After a thorough cleaning, I went to Windows update to install SP4. A few minutes into it, the install dies and I get this box:

Service Pack 4 setup error

An error in updating your system has occurred.

All you can do is click OK.

I have been researching this for days. Here is my SVCPACK log file (complete):

Service Pack started with following command line: /Z
***
DoInstallation: CleanPFR failed: 0x2
***
IncludeDirectoryIdFromInfSection: No DirId found for: DontRemoveOnUninst.DirId
***
CreateUninstall = 0,Directory = C:\WINNT\$NtServicePackUninstall$
***
ref tag c:\winnt\driver cache\i386\sp2.cab does not exist
***
ref tag c:\winnt\servicepackfiles\i386\sp2.cab does not exist
***
ref tag c:\winnt\servicepackfiles\i386\wms4.cab does not exist
***
ref tag c:\winnt\servicepackfiles\i386\wms41.cab does not exist
***
ref tag c:\winnt\servicepackfiles\i386\ins.cab does not exist
***
ref tag c:\winnt\servicepackfiles\i386\ins1.cab does not exist
***
AnalyzePhaseZero used 0 ticks
***
AnalyzePhaseOne: used 182002 ticks
***
AnalyzePhaseTwo used 9443 ticks
***
AnalyzePhaseThree used 0 ticks
***
AnalyzePhaseTwo used 0 ticks
***
AnalyzePhaseThree used 0 ticks
***
ScanReferenceCabinet used 3314 ticks
***
ScanReferenceCabinet used 1512 ticks
***
ScanReferenceCabinet used 1412 ticks
***
ScanReferenceCabinet used 1342 ticks
***
ScanReferenceCabinet used 1072 ticks
***
ScanReferenceCabinet used 1182 ticks
***
ScanReferenceCabinet used 1151 ticks
***
ScanReferenceDirectory used 20 ticks
***
ScanReferenceDirectory used 20 ticks
***
ScanReferenceDirectory used 992 ticks
***
ScanReferenceCabinet used 3285 ticks
***
ScanReferenceCabinet used 30 ticks
***
ScanReferenceDirectory used 10 ticks
***
ScanReferenceDirectory used 150 ticks
***
ScanReferenceDirectory used 10 ticks
***
ScanReferenceDirectory used 30 ticks
***
ScanReferenceDirectory used 10 ticks
***
ScanReferenceDirectory used 10 ticks
***
ScanReferenceDirectory used 10 ticks
***
ScanReferenceDirectory used 20 ticks
***
ScanReferenceDirectory used 10 ticks
***
ScanReferenceDirectory used 10 ticks
***
ScanReferenceDirectory used 10 ticks
***
ScanReferenceDirectory used 10 ticks
***
ScanReferenceDirectory used 20 ticks

***
ScanReferenceDirectory used 10 ticks
***
ScanReferenceCabinet used 1743 ticks
***
ScanReferenceCabinet used 20 ticks
***
AnalyzePhaseFive used 17415 ticks
***
AnalyzePhaseSix used 82919 ticks
***
AnalyzeComponents used 291820 ticks
***
Downloading 85 files
***
bPatchMode = TRUE
***
Inventory complete: ReturnStatus=0, 294243 ticks
***
Num Ticks for invent : 294413
***
Allocation size of drive D: is 4096 bytes, free space = 2732244992 bytes
***
Allocation size of drive C: is 512 bytes, free space = 7543106048 bytes
***
Drive C: free 7193MB req: 0MB w/uninstall 0MB
***
Drive D: free 2605MB req: 48MB w/uninstall 0MB
***
Download complete
***
Num Ticks for download : 57833
***
Cabinet build used 21802 ticks
***
Cabinet build used 2854 ticks
***
Cabinet build used 3164 ticks
***
CabinetBuild complete
***
Num Ticks for Cabinet build : 27830
***
Starting process: msiinst.exe /delayrebootq
***
Working directory: C:\WINNT\System32\msiinst.tmp
***
Return Code = 18
***
DoInstallation:RunInfProcesses Failed
***
Service Pack 4 Setup encountered an error: An error in updating your system has occurred.
***
VerifySize: Unable to verify size: Source = NULL: c:\winnt\oem42.cat
***
An error in updating your system has occurred.
***
Message displayed to the user: An error in updating your system has occurred.
***
User Input: OK
***

END----

OK, I will post Hijackthis log if desired.

I have tried everything. SFC, uninstalling and reinstalling all updates, installing the service packs one at a time (2-4 - 2 installs fine. 3 does the same thing as 4). Windows 2000 repair install, etc, etc......

I am desperate here. This is really above me I guess. I CANNOT format this box.

Thanks. I will supply any more needed info.

Right now I am sitting here with service pack one installed, and NO other updates on this box.

Thanks guys (and gals),

JAKKWB

Looks like it is trying to find a SP2 uninstall file and can't find it. <??>

98% of the population is asleep. The other 2% are staring around in complete amazement, abject terror, or both.

Sounds like the cleaning wasn't complete. I'm curious as to why you say you can't format it. Do you mean you're unable to? Or is there some reason why you don't want to?

Soylent Green is PEOPLE!!!

No original/legitimate CD's for software? I can't imagine another reason and that may well be what it takes to fix this!

You can avoid many of these Windows problems with Linux. Linspire eases the transition for new users