Hearsay caused by hysteria due to user error. Plus people have messed with a lot of different game files without knowing with they were doing or backing it up and then went kermitflailing when the patch wouldn't install.

If you can't patch it is most likely due to some file the game originally installed that you either directly or indirectly (via some mod/patch/crack/trainer bla bla) modified or deleted. If you aren't sure what you changed from the default base install I suggest you just reinstall the game. It will give you the option to keep your saves and custom content when you uninstall so you won't lose any of that.