Microsoft KB Archive/248439

= WINUP: Using Stepping Mode to Diagnose Download and Installation Failures =

PSS ID Number: 248439

Article Last Modified on 12/16/2002

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Windows Update

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This article was previously published under Q248439



SUMMARY
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, see the following resources:


 * "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe.
 * "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

This article describes how to install Windows Update components in "stepping" mode. This is also known as a debug installation. When you use stepping mode, Setup stops and displays a dialog box after each step. The results are written to the Active Setup Log.txt file. Analyzing the results of a stepping mode installation helps you determine at which point a download or installation fails so you can troubleshoot appropriately.



MORE INFORMATION
WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

NOTE: It's recommended that you back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).

For information about how to edit the registry, see the following resources:
 * "Changing Keys and Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe)
 * "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" Help topic in Regedt32.exe
 * "Edit Registry Data" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

To start stepping mode, you will need to add a string value to the registry:
 * 1) Click Start, then click Run and type regedit.

If you are using Windows NT or Windows 2000, type regedt32.
 * 1) Once Registry Editor has opened, navigate to the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Active Setup.

To navigate to a given key, click the "+" next to the HRoot (in this case the HRoot is HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE), then click the "+" next to each subsequent subkey.
 * 1) Click Active Setup to bring up the associated string values in the right pane of Registry Editor.
 * 2) Right-click the right pane and select New, then select String Value.
 * 3) In the Name field type SteppingMode and press Enter.
 * 4) Double-click the new value to add value data: In the box provided, type Y.

Once you have turned on Stepping Mode, you can proceed with normal download and installation from the Windows Update site. During the download and installation process you will be prompted with a dialog box after each step. You must click OK in each dialog box to continue with the setup.
 * 1) Navigate to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Active Setup key.
 * 2) Highlight the SteppingMode string value.
 * 3) Right-click the value name and choose Modify.
 * 4) Change the value data to N and click OK.

Keywords: kbwindowsupdate KB248439

Technology: kbWinUpdate kbWinUpdateSearch

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