IBM/Lenovo version of Windows XP for T41 Thinkpad

[Goto-]

Hi,

I recently purchased IBM/Lenovo(whichever supplies it) 5 CD installations discs of Windows XP for the T41 Thinkpad and after installing I can't get it to update.

That and I discovered that the BITS service may be corrupt because in services msc in the description column next to the BITS listing it has weird symbols "@%SystemRoot%..." that none of my other XP laptops have. Here are pictures after running a Windows Update Fix it and a Services Fix it but nothing has been fixed that allows the machine to update:

http://postimg.org/image/bnkk0nvc1/

http://postimg.org/image/86n3bflnl/

This is obviously a manufacturers software mess up and when I tried to get help from IBM, who I purchased it from, I was asked to contact Lenovo and of course Lenovo wanted me to contact IBM or call their paid help line.

Regardless, does anybody know of a solution of how to fix this muck up other than installing a Microsoft version of XP?

Sadly, they don't accept returns even thought they sold me software that doesn't work ....

[RealBlackStuff]

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/prot ... 76d03575e4

Probably you are missing Service Packs 1, 2 and 3, plus another ca. 150 updates.

FYI: Windows XP will no longer be supported after April 2014.
I'd look into Linux instead, or get a newer laptop...

[rkawakami]

Welcome to thinkpads.com!

I've installed XP onto several older Thinkpads from the factory restore disk sets and have not yet had a problem with downloading and installing system updates. It's been a couple of years since I did one for the T41, but if the factory image is indeed pre-Service Pack 1, then the first thing you should do after installing the OS and before going online is to install SP2 and SP3. You should then be able to download and install the dozens of updates issued since the release of SP3. I believe that Microsoft does not have a copy of the SP2 install on their site anymore but you can find one here:

http://windows-xp-service-pack.en.softonic.com/download

Since I don't like to use any "download managers", I clicked on the "Alternative Windows XP Service Pack download" link. This Microsoft site has some important information about SP2:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/libr ... 57009.aspx

Of particular attention is the MD5 checksum for the WindowsXP-KB835935-SP2-ENU.exe file: 59a98f181fe383907e520a391d75b5a7 I would verify that what you download matches this checksum. I use WinMD5 to do this. SP3 is still available online from here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322389

[Goto-]

I guess I should have mentioned that I had installed SP3 before attempting to update windows(came with SP2 so I am confused how it differs, maybe when the reinstallation discs were purchased) using a SP3 disc purchased through Microsoft years ago.

When trying to update I can get it to search my computer but it won't show any results, meaning, it will scan and show the green bar indefinitely(I say this after 1hr 15min of waiting with no results)

After installing SP3 then installing IE 8 I usually have had no problems using the Windows Update site, but recently regardless what version of XP I use (I say this as I just tried a fresh XP install on a different laptop using that manufacturers version so XP) I get the indefinite green bar while waiting for XP to search for updates.

Any other suggestions?
Is this something new? I had just recently(Sept 2013) installed Windows XP with SP3 then IE8 and had no problems updating on my non IBM laptop and wonder what changes MS update site could have made since then.

[Goto-]

After the sixth attempt to figure out how to get Windows XP to update .... install SP3, install newer version of Windows Installer manually found here http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946928, install IE 8, reboot ...

I don't know if the order of doing things matters but it works now

Thanks for the help

[jonzilla]

There are widespread problems with the update service for WinXP right now, coincidentally just a few months before it goes EOL. While there are some workarounds, I have found that the best course is to just install updates using the WSUS offline updater: http://www.wsusoffline.net/