[Ford Prefect]

I have a Windows update that keeps reappearing no matter how many times I try to download and install it. I wouldn't care except that in order to register my computer on my school's network, I have to have all updates installed. Thus, I have no internet until I can fix this problem. I'm running Windows 2000, and the update is some security patch for Outlook Express, which I don't even frigging use.

[karajorma]

Install it manually from the windows update site rather than from the automatic download icon in your systray.

I've had updates that continually failed from the sytray suddenly work from the site. No idea why.

[Nix]

How do they know what updates you have installed to be let on the network?  Do they scan something, or just look at the Windows Update page?  Can you "hide" the update if someone's looking at it in order to verify what you have installed?  They might be smart enough to look into the updates you've hidden from the front page.  Also, if the windows update has a KB number on it, type that in microsoft's search box on thier knowledge base and try installing the update manually.  If it doesnt stick, try reinstalling Outlook Express if you can.  (I honestly dont know if you can or not since it's sorta included, maybe perhaps through the Control Panel-Add/Remove Programs-Windows Components?) then reinstall. 

[Ford Prefect]

Kara: I've tried downloading it directly from the site; it doesn't seem to make a difference.

Nix: The network has a program that scans my computer for all the required antivirus and Windows downloads. If it finds something missing, there's no way I can get onto the network.

[vyper]

Well, that's taking network security to a new level of paranoia.

[karajorma]

Well, that's taking network security to a new level of paranoia.

One I like though Unprotected PCs are a real menace.

Have you tried uninstalling or reinstalling Outlook Express from control Panels >> Add/remove programs >> Windows Components.

[Nix]

Wow, that's something I'd love to have back when I was installing Netware on student computers for network access.  I had to add the machine to the isolated LAN, run scans on the drive, and then, if I was lucky, make sure the machine passed min. sys requirements and pass it on.  This all was before Windows XP came out tho. 

Anywho, here's another suggestion.  Since you haven't used Outlook Express, use it once.  Run it and create the user data file by giving it a bogus email address or something.  Then the update might apply.  I know I cannot synchronize my PPC with Outlook unless it's been run once.  (Runonce).  Might be helpful? I dunno..

[Ford Prefect]

Problem solved. (By use of a Firefox extension. Let's just say the network got the finger.)

The funny thing is, I think this update that Microsoft is trying to give me is for Windows XP, but I'm running Windows 2000. Thanks, Microsoft-- you blow.

[Descenterace]

Well, that's taking network security to a new level of paranoia.

It's standard at Bristol Uni. They use various ActiveX and Java apps to check you've got all the updates, but only during the registration process.
This is why having a Linux webserver between my Windows box and the wall socket is so nice. I register from the Linux machine (using Elinks, of course), then use NAT to put the Windows system online, and there's not a damn thing ResNet can do about it.

It also renders the Windows Firewall unnecessary, since my standard Linux firewall config is "deny absolutely everything we didn't initiate" and NAT takes care of everything else.