XP Updates
 

XP SP3
I am consistently having an update fail with the message "cannot install SQL server 2005 express edition SP3" and the code is 0x05. I cannot find anything on Google or MS about this - any ideas?

Try downloading SQL Express SP3 directly from:

Download details: SQL Server 2005 Express Edition SP3

This will allow you to manually run the install which is much more successful in personal experience.

Another trick to try and solve automatic update issues is:

Go to Control Panel -> Services
Stop the Automatic Updates service
Navigate to c: \windows\SoftwareDistribution
Delete everything inside that location
Start the Automatic Updates service

This basically has the effect of clearing out the downloaded updates and resetting the database of installed updates. Hence when you restart the service the database and associated file structures are recreated, and Windows re-evaluates the need to download and install relevant patches.

Thanks guys:
gg- had already tried that - no luck.
MB - same result after that

Puzzle is that I went to try and un/reinstall SQL Server Express and it is not there! Possibly a clue:ugh:,but why the update prompt? Do I have a 'dirty' registry perhaps?

EDIT: Hot on its heels - Cannot install Security Update for SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 2 (KB970895)" Strange.

EDIT 2: Google indicates I am not alone.