KB960089 and KB955706 still unable to install

[BigPecs8]

About 6 months of being unable to install these updates and I'd say about 100
log files in the hotfix folder - see copy and paste below.

And, no, I won't be submitting a problem report to MS. Already been there
and done that. The Indian tech dept's solution was to send me to an
alternate "pay for support" site.

And BTW, if a solution is provided, can I safely delete these 100+ files
under the hotfix folder?

Thanks in Advance!

Time: 08/02/2009 10:14:54.265
KB Number: KB955706
Machine: DESKTOP
OS Version: Microsoft Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3 (Build 2600)
Package Language: 1033 (ENU)
Package Platform: x86
Package SP Level: 3
Package Version: 4035
Command-line parameters specified:
/quiet
/allinstances
Cluster Installation: No

**********************************************************************************
Prerequisites Check & Status
SQLSupport: Passed

**********************************************************************************
Products Detected Language Level Patch Level
Platform Edition
Express Database Services (SQLEXPRESS) ENU SP2 2005.090.3068.00
x86 EXPRESS
Express Database Services (SQLExpress) ENU SP3
x86 EXPRESS

**********************************************************************************
Products Disqualified & Reason
Product Reason

**********************************************************************************
Processes Locking Files
Process Name Feature Type User Name
PID

**********************************************************************************
Product Installation Status
Product : Express Database Services (SQLEXPRESS)
Product Version (Previous): 3068
Product Version (Final) :
Status : Failure
Log File : C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Setup
Bootstrap\LOG\Hotfix\SQL9Express_Hotfix_KB955706_SQLEXPR.EXE
SQL Express Features :
SQL_Data_Files,SQL_Engine,SQL_Replication,SQL_SharedTools
Error Number : 3417
Error Description : Unable to install Windows Installer MSI file
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Product : Express Database Services (SQLExpress)
Product Version (Previous):
Product Version (Final) : 4035
Status : Success
Log File : C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Setup

[ANONYMOUS]

Perhaps you don't need these updates. However, problems with
installation of updates generally stems from corrupted Windows Software
Distribution folder (C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution). Now the easiest
way to solve this is to delete everything from this folder and then
reboot the system so that fresh files are re-created. The problem is
that one file is always in use by Windows so you can't delete
everything unless you know how.

I find it easier to reboot the system in safe mode and then delete the
entire contents from the said folder. Do you want to try this before we
do anything else.

Do you know how to reboot in safe mode? If not can you google for it?
Let me know if you need further assistance.

Hope this helps.

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Try posting here instead:

SQL Server Setup & Upgrade
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/sqlsetupandupgrade/threads/
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002