I have the "looping updater" problem too. I've read this entire thread and tried everything suggested. I've re-installed wow reader 3 times (even made sure to delete any leftover files), updated .NET to SP1, downloaded the wowreader.exe as suggested and disabled my firewall and still the same problem.
Patch.log says this:
Patch log - 09/01/2006 17:51:33
Executable: wowreader.exe, 1.0.2195.15178
Application Directory: C:\Program Files\WowReader
OS: Microsoft Windows NT 5.1.2600.0
Runtime: v1.1.4322
Runtime Directory: C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v1.1.4322\
DownloadFile: patch.xml (patch)
DownloadFile: Current Proxy Address Setting:
and startup.log says this:
Application Directory: C:\Program Files\WowReader
OS: Microsoft Windows NT 5.1.2600.0
Runtime: v1.1.4322
Runtime Directory: C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v1.1.4322\
Normal startup.
Starting Updater to check for new updates.
Updater says to restart, using _wowreader.exe
WowReader starting up: 09/01/2006 17:51:23
Executable: _wowreader.exe, 1.0.2195.15178
Application Directory: C:\Program Files\WowReader
OS: Microsoft Windows NT 5.1.2600.0
Runtime: v1.1.4322
Runtime Directory: C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v1.1.4322\
Startup by updater detected, trying to replace old wowreader.exe
Trying copy...
Copy completed. Restarting as new wowreader.exe
WowReader starting up: 09/01/2006 17:51:23
Executable: wowreader.exe, 1.0.2195.15178
Application Directory: C:\Program Files\WowReader
OS: Microsoft Windows NT 5.1.2600.0
Runtime: v1.1.4322
Runtime Directory: C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v1.1.4322\
Normal startup.
Found old _wowreader.exe, deleting.
Found old wowreader.old, deleting.
Starting Updater to check for new updates.
Updater says to restart, using _wowreader.exe
WowReader starting up: 09/01/2006 17:51:27
Executable: _wowreader.exe, 1.0.2195.15178
Application Directory: C:\Program Files\WowReader
OS: Microsoft Windows NT 5.1.2600.0
Runtime: v1.1.4322
Runtime Directory: C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v1.1.4322\
Startup by updater detected, trying to replace old wowreader.exe
Trying copy...
Copy completed. Restarting as new wowreader.exe
WowReader starting up: 09/01/2006 17:51:27
Executable: wowreader.exe, 1.0.2195.15178
Application Directory: C:\Program Files\WowReader
OS: Microsoft Windows NT 5.1.2600.0
Runtime: v1.1.4322
Runtime Directory: C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v1.1.4322\
Normal startup.
Found old _wowreader.exe, deleting.
Found old wowreader.old, deleting.
Starting Updater to check for new updates.
Updater says to restart, using _wowreader.exe
WowReader starting up: 09/01/2006 17:51:30
Executable: _wowreader.exe, 1.0.2195.15178
Application Directory: C:\Program Files\WowReader
OS: Microsoft Windows NT 5.1.2600.0
Runtime: v1.1.4322
Runtime Directory: C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v1.1.4322\
Startup by updater detected, trying to replace old wowreader.exe
Trying copy...
Copy completed. Restarting as new wowreader.exe
WowReader starting up: 09/01/2006 17:51:30
Executable: wowreader.exe, 1.0.2195.15178
Application Directory: C:\Program Files\WowReader
OS: Microsoft Windows NT 5.1.2600.0
Runtime: v1.1.4322
Runtime Directory: C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v1.1.4322\
Normal startup.
Found old _wowreader.exe, deleting.
Found old wowreader.old, deleting.
Starting Updater to check for new updates.
It just continues on in that fashion no matter how long I leave it.