Problems Accessing Windows Update
A HelpWithWindows TechFile
If you're having problems accessing the Windows Update site, follow the instructions at this Microsoft Knowledge Base Article No. 193657.
The least you should do before trying any other suggestions below is to follow the instructions in the Microsoft Knowledge Base Article No. 193657 and delete your History, Cookies and Downloaded Program Files.
Windows Update Not Working after Internet Explorer 5 Upgrade
If you upgraded to Internet Explorer 5, and get an error message:"You have an older version of Internet Explorer 5 and Internet Tools. If you would like to download additional components from the Windows Update catalog, you must first upgrade to the latest version."
Check this page: Windows Update Not Working after Internet Explorer 5 Upgrade.
You get the "Cannot Display Page" error
On the "Cannot Display Page" it lists some solutions to this problem, but if Windows Update was working for you, and you didn't change your security settings, try the last suggestion, downloading the critical component installer and then retry entering the Windows Update site.
If you choose Run this program from its current location, the installer will automatically install the critical components onto your system. If you choose Save this program to disk, you will be prompted for a directory to download the installer. When download is completed, double-click advpack.exe to install the critical components.
Also consider adding http://*.conxion.com and http://*.microsoft.com to your Trusted sites zone under Internet Options > Security in Internet Explorer.
Select View > Internet Options > Security > Custom Settings and select the following:
|
ActiveX Controls and Plug-ins
Java
Scripting
|
Downloads
User Authentication
Miscellaneous
|
Update your Scripting engines:
- Windows Script 5.6 - for Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition, and Windows NT 4.0
- Windows Script 5.6 - for Windows 2000 and XP
If you get an error that the program you downloaded could not install:
- Right-click the Java.inf file in \Windows\Inf\ folder, and choose Install from the context menu
- Find the file Msjava.dll on the Win98 CD, and extract it to your \Windows\System folder
- Restart Windows
Make sure that you are not running any programs when you access the Windows Update site. Press [Ctrl] + [Alt] + [Del]. This will bring up a Close Program box. You should only have Explorer and Systray running (if you are connected to the Internet, you also have Rnaapp running). Stop all other tasks by pressing the End Task button.
Remove any references to failed installations from the WULog.txt file, which is located in your \Windows folder.
Microsoft has updated the Windows update, and now a new folder is created under your Program Files called WindowsUpdate. In this folder you will also find the new history file, called wuhistv3.log.
You can view entries in this file by right-clicking on the file, and choosing Open Width..., and selecting Notepad (or you can use this tip to add Notepad to your Send To folder. Once you've done this, you'll have the option to "Send" the file to Notepad, by right-clicking on it, and choosing Send To > Notepad).
Windows Update Link on Windows 98 Start Menu Does Not Work
When you select Start and then click Windows Update, you may be unable to connect to the Windows Update Web site. At the same time, you may be able to connect to the Windows Update Web site by typing http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com in the Address Bar of Internet Explorer.
Note: If you are trying to access the Windows Update Web site from a network, you may need to contact your System Administrator to have this option installed.
If you can't connect to the Windows Update Web site from the Start menu, the link may be corrupted. Here is how to fix it:
- Select Start, and right-click on Windows Update and choose Delete from the context menu
- Select Start > Settings and click Taskbar & Start Menu
- Select the Start Menu Programs tab
- Click Add > Browse
- Locate the wupdmgr.exe file from your \Windows directory, select it, and click Open. If you are unable to locate the file, you may need to reinstall it. See below for instructions
- Click Next
- Select the Start Menu folder then click Next
- Change the name of the shortcut from wupdmgr.exe to Windows Update
- Click Finish
Now try selecting Start and then clicking Windows Update.
If you are still unable to connect to the the Windows Update Web site, the wupdmgr.exe file may be missing or corrupted. To reinstall the wupdmgr.exe file:
- Insert your Windows 98 CD in the the CD-ROM drive
- If a list of Windows 98 options are displayed automatically, then choose Browse this CD. If this list is not displayed, open Windows Explorer and then select your CD-ROM drive to display the list of options
- Double click the Win98 folder
- Locate the Win98_43.cab file and double-click it
- Right-click the wupdmgr.exe file and select Extract
- When you are prompted to choose a location to save this file, choose your Windows folder and click OK
Error Message: An Unknown Error Has Occurred During Installation
When you are downloading a component from the Windows Update site, you may receive the following error message:
An unknown error has occurred during installation.
If you click Back and then click Download again, you may receive the following error message:
Explorer:
This program has performed an illegal
operation and will be shutdown.
If you click Details, you see the following information:
Explorer caused an exception C0010000H in module
MSJAVA.DLL at 015F:xxxxx.
This behavior can occur if Software Builders International's NetZIP is installed and enabled.
To resolve this:
- Right-click the NetZIP icon in your Tray, and then click Disable
- Download the component(s) from the Windows Update site
- After the download from the Windows Update site is finished, right-click the NetZIP icon, and then click Enable
For Windows Update to function properly with NetZIP installed, NetZIP must be disabled before you enter the Windows Update site.
Below is a list of Microsoft Knowledge Base Articles which might assist you further (also incldes Microsoft Update articles):
| 187876 - | Not Enough Free Disk Space to Install UpDate Components |
| 188207 - | Windows Update Web Site Prompts for Password |
| 188244 - | Windows Update Wizard Only Works with Internet Explorer |
| 189306 - | How the Windows Update Tool Determines if an Update Is Valid |
| 189525 - | How to Remove the Windows Update Tool in Windows 98 |
| 189569 - | Games Pack Not Listed in Add/Remove Programs Dialog Box |
| 190140 - | Err Msg: THEMES Caused an Invalid Page Fault in Module... |
| 190414 - | Err Msg: The Path <Web Address> Does Not Exist or Is Not a... |
| 191106 - | DirectX 6.0 Err Msg: Your Operating System Is Windows 98 |
| 191582 - | Theme Folder Remains After Uninstall |
| 193385 - | Problems When Viewing or Downloading From Windows Update |
| 193576 - | Err Msg: An Unknown Error Has Occurred During Installation |
| 193691 - | Windows Update Link on Windows 98 Start Menu Does Not Work |
| 193701 - | Blank Page When You Try to Access Windows Update |
| 194174 - | Windows Update Does Not Continue After Clicking Product Updates |
| 194796 - | How to Determine Your Installed Windows 98 Updates |
| 194847 - | Windows Update Wizard Uninstall Documentation Error in Help |
| 195933 - | Cannot Disable Task Scheduler |
| 196052 - | Invalid Page Fault Error Message When Updating Device Driver |
| 216299 - | Download Button Unavailable on Windows Update Web Site |
| 217115 - | "Invalid Syntax" Connecting to Microsoft Windows Update Web Site |
| 217116 - | "Permission Denied" Error Message When You Access Windows Update Web Site |
| 223012 - | Download Button Appears Dimmed After Choosing Components to Download |
| 224420 - | Description of the Windows Critical Update Notification Utility |
| 228548 - | Err Msg: Windows Update Was Disabled by Your System Administrator |
| 230054 - | Can Not Access Windows Update When Using Netscape as the Default Browser |
| 230318 - | You Cannot Save Changes to Critical Update Notification Settings |
| 230793 - | "New Version of Critical Update Notification Now Available" Message Appears |
| 231580 - | "Error Downloading Component" Error Message from Windows Update If You Have GetRight Installed |
| 231917 - | Blank Page Appears When You Use Windows Update |
| 232772 - | Device Driver Is Not Downloaded from the Windows Update Web Site |
| 234272 - | You receive the "Thank you for your interest in Windows Update" error message when you try to connect to the Windows Update Web site |
| 235263 - | How To Use the Personalize Button on the Windows Update Site |
| 237820 - | Windows Update Site Appears in a Different Language |
| 241122 - | Application Error When You Click Product Updates |
| 241234 - | Third Party Products That Conflict with Windows Update |
| 241783 - | You receive error messages when you use Windows Update through a proxy server or a firewall |
| 241876 - | Windows Update Web Site May Not Download Components in English After Upgrading to Internet Explorer 5 |
| 243433 - | The Yes and No Buttons Are Missing from the End User License Agreement |
| 243787 - | Error Message: Cannot Display Page |
| 245121 - | Security Warning: Do You Want to Install and Run C:\\WindowsUpdate\ident.cab? |
| 245142 - | Error 403 "Access Denied/Forbidden" |
| 248439 - | Using Stepping Mode to Diagnose Download and Installation Failures |
| 250288 - | Windows Update Web Page Is Displayed in Wrong Language |
| 253791 - | The option to search Microsoft Windows Update is not available in the Update Device Driver Wizard |
| 255500 - | You may receive a "Microsoft Office 2000 SR-1 Update did not complete successfully" error message when you click "Update Windows" in Office 2000 Service Release 1 (SR-1) Update |
| 255824 - | Adobe FrameMaker Windows 2000 Update Causes "Digital Signature Unfound" Error Message |
| 256962 - | Windows Update Site Incorrectly Identifies Windows 2000 Retail as Beta |
| 259173 - | General Protection Faults Occur in Internet Explorer 5.01 After You Remove Internet Explorer 5.5 |
| 262264 - | "Page Cannot be Displayed" or "Timeout" Error Messages When Browsing Internet |
| 267838 - | "Add a Component" Is Unavailable in Add/Remove Programs for Internet Explorer 5.5 |
| 268021 - | Cannot Start Windows Update Shortcut by Using The "Run as" Command |
| 275645 - | How to Troubleshoot Automatic Updates in Windows Millennium Edition |
| 283146 - | The AutoUpdate Remind Me Later Dialog Box Does Not Appear |
| 283151 - | Disabling AutoUpdate Service in Control Panel Does Not Shut Down the Service |
| 283288 - | You receive a "Your organization has decided to provide software updates internally" error message when you try to access the Windows Update page |
| 283639 - | Back and Cancel Buttons Unavailable in Automatic Updates Setup Wizard |
| 286405 - | When You Try to Access Windows Update Web Site Through Internet Explorer, Error Message Cites HTTP Error 403 |
| 291360 - | Download Button Does Not Work |
| 292547 - | Windows Update Stops Responding After You Click the Product Updates Link |
| 299672 - | Microsoft Virtual Machine Updates Are Available Only from Windows Update |
| 312955 - | Windows Update May Not Work in Windows XP If an Authenticating Web Proxy Is Used |
| 313191 - | Windows Update Catalog Is Not Available on Windows NT 4.0-Based Computers |
| 315297 - | "Installation Failure. Unknown Error (-2147024770)" Error Message When You Try to Use Windows Update |
| 315496 - | Unable to Download from the Windows Update Web Site |
| 316524 - | "Administrators Only" error message when you attempt to use the Windows Update site |
| 316540 - | Error Message Appears When You Use the Windows Update Site |
| 317228 - | "Unknown Error (-2147024770)" Error Message Occurs When You Try to Install a Windows Update |
| 318892 - | Search for Updates Loops (Repeats) and Windows Update Fails |
| 319109 - | Windows Update Site Lists Updates That You Already Installed |
| 319585 - | "Software update incomplete" error message when you visit the Windows Update Web site |
| 320464 - | HOW TO: Turn Off Windows Update in Windows 2000 |
| 323166 - | HOW TO: Download Windows updates and drivers from the Windows Update Catalog |
| 323564 - | Cannot Install Updates Using Terminal Server |
| 324200 - | Critical Update Notification from Windows Update Not Functioning |
| 324208 - | Cannot find Automatic Update Version 2.2 on the Windows Update Web Site |
| 324513 - | "Administrators Only" Error Message When You Try to Use the Windows Update Web Site with Windows 2000 |
| 326253 - | You cannot view updates on the Windows Update site using secure socket layer |
| 326596 - | Error 0x80190194 Is Logged in the Windows Update.log File When the Client Queries "/autoupdatedrivers/getmanifest.asp" |
| 326686 - | "Windows Update was disabled by your system administrator" error message |
| 329553 - | Cannot Obtain Device Driver Updates from the Windows Update Web Site |
| 330026 - | Windows Update Installs MSXML 4.0 SDK Documentation in Error |
| 331663 - | The Windows Update Web Site and the Automatic Updates Feature Prompt You to Install MS02-013 but Not MS02-052 |
| 332210 - | Slovak and Slovenian Enabled Languages Are Not Supported in Windows Update or Automatic Update |
| 555331 - | Procedure to manually Re-Install Automatic Update Client |
| 555356 - | Automatic Update client tends to update from WindowsUpdate rather than SUS |
| 555527 - | Error: "You must be running a Microsoft Windows operating system in order to use Windows Update" |
| 811269 - | Windows Update Is Not Installed |
| 812956 - | Windows Update scan for updates stops responding at 0% |
| 814033 - | Cannot install driver updates from the Windows Update Web site |
| 817144 - | "Thank You for Your Interest in Windows Update" Message When You Connect to the Windows Update Web Site |
| 817287 - | Windows Update 643 Error and the Catalog Database |
| 817691 - | Windows Server 2003 Stops Responding During the Windows Update Process |
| 826715 - | Windows Update Message "No Updates Available", and You Cannot Log on to Microsoft .NET Passport |
| 826716 - | You Cannot Download Updates from Windows Update Web Site After You Accept the License Agreement |
| 829778 - | Security update for Windows (819696) is re-offered even though DirectX 9.0b is installed |
| 829786 - | You receive an error message when you try to install Windows XP updates from the Windows Update Web site |
| 830039 - | "You did not accept the license agreement for this item" error message when you download updates from the Microsoft Windows Update Web site |
| 830066 - | Windows Update reports that new updates are not available, although your computer is not up to date |
| 830086 - | "Windows Update has encountered an error and cannot display the requested page" error message when you scan for updates |
| 833766 - | You receive a 0x800A01AD error message while you access the Windows Update Web site |
| 836914 - | You cannot save your Personalize Windows Update settings |
| 836917 - | Windows Update Web site offers Windows 98 updates for Windows XP computer |
| 836923 - | You receive the 0x80070485 initialization error message while the Windows Update Web site is loading |
| 836927 - | Option to accept the End User License Agreement (EULA) is unavailable for Windows Update |
| 836928 - | You receive error message 0x8007007e when you try to install updates from the Windows Update Web site |
| 836929 - | Windows Update download does not start in Windows 98 |
| 836933 - | You cannot use Windows Update to install critical updates on your Exchange 2000 server |
| 836936 - | Download does not start after you accept the EULA on the Windows Update Web site |
| 836937 - | You receive error message 0x80070643 when you try to install updates for Windows XP from the Windows Update Web site |
| 836938 - | You cannot install Security Update, February 13, 2002 from the Windows Update Web site |
| 836939 - | You receive a "Network problems are preventing connection to the Windows Update servers" error message when you try to install updates |
| 836940 - | You receive an "Initialization Error 0x80070002" error message when you try to connect to the Windows Update Web site |
| 836941 - | You receive an "Error 0x80072EE2" or "Initialization Error 0x80072F76" error message when you try to use Windows Update |
| 836942 - | You receive a "Your current security settings prohibit running ActiveX controls on this page" message when you try to use Windows Update |
| 836948 - | You receive Initialization error 0x800a01b6 while the Windows Update Web site is loading |
| 836954 - | You receive a "Windows Update Web site is not available" message when you try to open the Windows Update Web site in Windows XP or Windows 2000 |
| 836955 - | "Thank you ... Windows Update site no longer offers updates for your computer" message when you visit the Windows Update Web site |
| 836960 - | Windows Update stops at the "Checking for the latest version of the Windows Update software" screen |
| 836961 - | You receive an "Initialization error 0x800A1391" error message and the Windows Update Web site does not appear |
| 836969 - | You receive an "Error 0x800A138F" error message when you scan for updates on the Windows Update Web site |
| 836973 - | No updates appear when you scan for updates on the Windows Update Web site |
| 836982 - | You receive a "0x8007045A ERROR_DLL_INIT_FAILED" error message when you use the Windows Update Web site |
| 836984 - | You receive an "Initialization error 0x801901F6" error message while the Windows Update Web site is loading |
| 836985 - | You receive Initialization error 0x80072F78 while the Windows Update Web site is loading |
| 836987 - | You cannot gain access to the Windows Update Web site |
| 883280 - | Windows Update or the Windows Automatic Updates feature may repeatedly offer the MS04-003 security update in Knowledge Base article 832483 as a critical update for your computer |
| 883614 - | You receive a "Windows Update has encountered an error and cannot display the requested page" error message when you try to install an update |
| 883820 - | You receive an "Internal Server Error" error message or a blank page when you click links on the Windows Update Web site from you Windows XP Service Pack 2-based computer |
| 883821 - | You may receive an error message when you search for available updates on the Windows Update Web site |
| 883822 - | You receive a "The necessary services are disabled or unavailable" error message when you connect to the Microsoft Windows Update Web site |
| 883823 - | You receive a script error message when you connect to the Microsoft Windows Update Web site |
| 883824 - | When you try to install an update to Windows XP Service Pack 2 or to Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005, you may receive a "0x8007F0F4" error |
| 883825 - | You receive a "0x80070020 The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process" error message when you try to download an update from Windows Update |
| 883826 - | The language settings on the Windows Update Web site are not saved |
| 883827 - | You receive the "The following updates failed to install" error message when you use Windows Update Version 5 |
| 883828 - | You are redirected to Windows Update version 4 when you try to connect to Windows Update version 5 |
| 883829 - | When you click the "Failed" link on the View Installation History page in Windows Update, the Windows Update home page appears |
| 885819 - | You experience problems when you access the Windows Update Version 5 Web site through a server that is running ISA Server |
| 888303 - | Windows Update Services cannot download large Windows update files in Windows Server 2003 |
| 892311 - | Automatic Update Client polls the Windows Update Web site instead of the local SUS server for updates |
| 892894 - | How to turn off the Windows Update feature in Windows XP |
| 896226 - | You cannot download updates when you access the Windows Update Web site from a Windows XP-based computer that is behind a firewall or a proxy server |
| 896227 - | Windows Update stops responding if you click Install to download and install updates for Windows XP or Windows 2000 |
| 900936 - | You may receive a "0x8024402C" error message when you scan for updates on the Windows Update Web site |
| 901037 - | How to enable and to disable Microsoft Update |
| 910336 - | You receive a "0x80070002" or "0x80070003" error code after you download an update from Windows Update, from Microsoft Update, or from Windows Server Update Services |
| 910337 - | You may receive an error message that contains the "0x8DDD0018" code or the "0x80246008" code when you try to download updates from the Microsoft Windows Update Web site or from the Microsoft Update Web site |
| 910338 - | Error message when you visit the Windows Update Web site or the Microsoft Update Web site: "0x800A0046" |
| 910339 - | How to troubleshoot Windows Update or Microsoft Update when you are repeatedly offered an update |
| 910340 - | Updates are not downloaded or the "Automatic Updates" icon does not display the status of downloads when you enable the Automatic Updates service |
| 910341 - | Error messages that you may receive when you try to download and install updates from the Windows Update Web site, from the Microsoft Update Web site, or from a WSUS server: "0x800704DD," "0x80240020," or both |
| 910359 - | You receive a "0x800A01AE" error message or a "0x080070570" error message when you try to connect to the Windows Update Web page or to the Microsoft Update Web page in Windows Server 2003 or Windows XP |
| 914224 - | Error that you see in the upper-right corner when you visit the Windows Update Web site on a Windows XP-based computer: "[Error number: 0x8DDD0004]" |
| 914227 - | Error message when you scan for updates on a Windows XP Service Pack 2-based computer: "Error number: 0x8DDD0004" |
| 914810 - | The Automatic Updates service may stop responding |
| 916089 - | FIX: When you run Windows Update to scan for updates that use Windows Installer, including Office updates, CPU utilization may reach 100 percent for prolonged periods |
| 916246 - | You cannot install software update 898461 in Windows XP |
| 916248 - | Error message when you try to download updates from the Microsoft Windows Update Web site or from the Microsoft Update Web site on a Windows XP-based computer: "0x80070003" |
| 916251 - | You receive an error message when you try to download updates from the Windows Update Web site or from the Microsoft Update Web site, or when you try to start the Background Intelligent Transfer Service |
| 916257 - | After you install the update that is described in Knowledge Base article 828026 on a Windows XP-based computer, Windows Update detects and installs the update every time that you visit the Windows Update Web site |
| 916259 - | The Windows Update Web site and the Microsoft Update Web site do not scan for updates when you repair a failed installation of Windows XP Service Pack 2 or of Windows XP Service Pack 1 |
| 922374 - | You cannot turn on automatic updates when you try to configure Windows Automatic Updates in Windows XP |
| 921050 - | Error message when you try to update a Windows XP-based computer: "0x80072EE4" |
| 922377 - | Error message when you try to install the .NET Framework 1.1 Service Pack 1 Update from the Windows Update site on a Windows XP-based computer: "Updates were unable to be successfully installed" |
| 923257 - | Error message that you may receive when you install the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool and the update for Office 2003 Alternative User Input: "The memory could not be written" |
| 931127 - | You receive an error message in the WindowsUpdate.log file when you use a utility that calls the CopyToCache method in Windows Update or in Microsoft Update |
| 931275 - | Windows Update automatically downloads and installs updates when you connect to the Internet for the first time |
| 931712 - | The "Windows Features" dialog box is empty in Windows Vista, or you receive an error message that includes the following code when you try to use Windows Update: "0x80073712" |
Frequently Asked Questions about Windows Update