It is clear that you have significant permission issues in your registry. I do not know what caused this.
There is a "shotgun" approach we may need to take, but I'm not willing to recommend it right at the moment until I research the issue a little more and talk with my friends here at WTT.
I'll get back with you on this.
Hi Viewer.. After reviewing one of the tools in Dial-A-Fix, I believe it has the capability to restore default registry and file permissions if they have gotten corrupt or messed up.
Lets do this..
Open Dial-A-Fix again.. (To perform the next steps, you will have to have extracted both dial-a-fix.exe and secedit.exe to a folder on your computer if you are using XP home)
Click the little "hammer" icon to open the tools menu. Click "Repair Permissions" in the list and click "GO." The procedure will take a while to complete.
When finished, reboot your computer, and attempt to run dial-a-fix again. But, this time, check the "DirectX" option in section 5 and click "GO." When it finishes, select all in 1, 2 and 3 again and click "GO." See if those errors are still present that you mentioned. If not, reboot your computer, and try the windows update installation again.
Please use the information in that Microsoft article to try and repair file/registry permissions using that method. And then try running stages 1,2 and 3 in dial-a-fix again. Eventually we should get rid of those "OLE errors." And, hopefully you will be able to install your windows update.
I recommend that you set a restore point at least before performing the above instructions.
A better registry backup should probably be performed before we mess something up good.
Here's some ideas:
Please read and perform one of the following methods to produce a backup of your registry BEFORE proceeding with any registry modifications.
How to backup the windows registry:
Method 1: Using ERUNT (Preferred method)
Using the third party software called ERUNT you can back up your registry and can also configure automated registry backups to help ensure your system's integrity. This is the preferred method to perform a registry backup and instructions can be found in the first portion of the following post: Read by clicking HERE.
Method 2: Using System Restore
Windows Vista
Click Start, type systempropertiesprotection in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER. Note: If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Allow.
Wait for Windows to search for available disks and most recent restore points. In the System Properties dialog box, on the System Protection tab, click Create,
Type a name for the restore point (preferably something recognizable you can easily go back to and find) and then click Create.
After the restore point has been created successfully, click OK two times. Note: If System Restore is turned off, click to select the local disk, click Apply and then click Create.
Windows XP
Click Start, click Run, type %SystemRoot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe, and then click OK.
On the Welcome to System Restore page, click Create a restore point, and then click Next .
On the Create a Restore Point page, type a name for the restore point (preferably something recognizable you can easily go back to and find) and then click Create.
After the restore point has been created, click Close. Note: If System Restore is turned off, you receive a message that asks whether you want to turn on System Restore now. Click Yes. Then, in the System Properties dialog box, click to clear the Turn off System Restore check box, click OK, and then repeat this step.
Method 3: Using REGEDIT
Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
In the Registry Editor, click File, click Export, choose a location to save the registry (Preferably on your desktop) and choose a name (Preferably using the date… i.e. regbackup012308.reg).
Near the bottom of the window, in the Export Range box, click All, then click Save.
If you encounter any problems following these instructions, please STOP and report back here for assistance before continuing further. You may now continue with the instructed registry modifications.
After following these instructions, I wasn't bugged about the Genuine Advantage Validation Tool at all. I was able to get straight to the list of available updates. Was it able to quietly install the tool?
I also seem to be having Windows Update problems with the Media Center PC. Is the VAIO situation considered resolved and should I start a new topic for the Media Center PC?
