Microsoft Stealth Update and Windows XP repair don't mix

Microsoft did more than send a stealth update to XP users - it sent a buggy stealth update.

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Let's start with a fully patched XP system

This gallery relates to the following story: Microsoft Stealth Update and Windows XP repair don't mix.

Repairing the XP installation

This gallery relates to the following story: Microsoft Stealth Update and Windows XP repair don't mix.

Repairing the XP installation

This gallery relates to the following story: Microsoft Stealth Update and Windows XP repair don't mix.

Repairing the XP installation

This gallery relates to the following story: Microsoft Stealth Update and Windows XP repair don't mix.

Windows Update DLL files rolled back

This gallery relates to the following story: Microsoft Stealth Update and Windows XP repair don't mix.

Starting the update process

This gallery relates to the following story: Microsoft Stealth Update and Windows XP repair don't mix.

Continuing with the update process

This gallery relates to the following story: Microsoft Stealth Update and Windows XP repair don't mix.

Initial updates come in file ... but this brings in the updated Windows Update files

This gallery relates to the following story: Microsoft Stealth Update and Windows XP repair don't mix.

Windows Update files now updated

This gallery relates to the following story: Microsoft Stealth Update and Windows XP repair don't mix.

Starting the Windows Update process again ...

This gallery relates to the following story: Microsoft Stealth Update and Windows XP repair don't mix.

Downloads come in OK ...

This gallery relates to the following story: Microsoft Stealth Update and Windows XP repair don't mix.

... but the downloaded updates fail to install

This gallery relates to the following story: Microsoft Stealth Update and Windows XP repair don't mix.

All 80 updates failed to install

This gallery relates to the following story: Microsoft Stealth Update and Windows XP repair don't mix.

Testing two fixes

This gallery relates to the following story: Microsoft Stealth Update and Windows XP repair don't mix.

We begin by manually registering the Windows Update DLL files

This gallery relates to the following story: Microsoft Stealth Update and Windows XP repair don't mix.

Now try to update the system again

This gallery relates to the following story: Microsoft Stealth Update and Windows XP repair don't mix.

This time the updates install properly

This gallery relates to the following story: Microsoft Stealth Update and Windows XP repair don't mix.

All 80 updates installed properly this time

This gallery relates to the following story: Microsoft Stealth Update and Windows XP repair don't mix.

We roll back the system and try the second fix - instralling an older version of the Windows Update files

This gallery relates to the following story: Microsoft Stealth Update and Windows XP repair don't mix.

Installation of the old files begins ...

This gallery relates to the following story: Microsoft Stealth Update and Windows XP repair don't mix.

... and the process completes successfully

This gallery relates to the following story: Microsoft Stealth Update and Windows XP repair don't mix.

OK, let's start the update process again ...

This gallery relates to the following story: Microsoft Stealth Update and Windows XP repair don't mix.

... it worked!

This gallery relates to the following story: Microsoft Stealth Update and Windows XP repair don't mix.