[MiKTeX] weird error when checking for updates..

[Evan C. <eva...@gm...>]

Hi --

Never seen this error before (in the *many* years I've been using 
MikTex). When I try to check for updates, I get an error message that

"The package definition file could not be parsed".

The 'data' in the window in the error popup points at a .tpm file

Data: path="C:\Users\ec123\AppData\Local\Temp\mik10113\cellprops.tpm", 
column="1124", line="2"

I can successfully rebuild the package DB, and rebuild formats, etc,  
but checking for updates always throws this error (doesn't matter which 
repo I try).


My guess is that something in AppData got corrupted, somehow. I 
routinely backup the local folder I install MikTeX into, but not the 
AppData (meaning, I can't simply role back to an earlier state of the 
installation).


Suggestions? [Other than the Draconian one of 'fresh install' ;-]

Thanks in advance...