* Windows Update Error * (XP Home SP1)

Dell Inspiron 5100, new. Setting up and configuring for family member. Went to Windows Update and after selecting 'Scan for updates', was greeted with error message and unable to review what is needed. I found this odd. Went to Windows Update on my computer, same ISP - no problem.

I know there have been some posts, but nothing seems definitive. The site has been this way for over a week now. I went to the catalog, but I really am not going to troll through hundreds of hotfixes and guess which may or may not be needed on the new unit to bring it up to date.

The first thing I did was check my HOSTS file knowing well that MS is using the server service of 'akamai.net' and that akamai serves up huge portions of advertising, so they are typically added to the HOSTS file. MS is using 'a248.e.akamai.net' to serve up the WU page. I have checked for expired certificates, checked for akamai in the restricted zone, reregisterd the crypt service and a bevy of DLLs. I see lots of posts for those who have come across a fix that may seem to work, but there seems to be no rhyme, reason, or consistency and unfortunately, none have worked for this unit yet.

I did a xp+home+ "windows+update+error" Google and went through nearly all 729 links. You can find the sum of all available fixes, including the one and only from the MS WU Troubleshooting page for this error in 14+ levels spelled out here ==> Windows Update Failure - Error Code 0x800A138F.

Now the error code 0x800A138F is a general error code which points to the real error code Error 0x800C0005 in my Windows Update.log and that code means "Cannot locate the Internet server or proxy server" which is where I am now stuck as I have exhausted attempts of the known remedies for the scenario on the Dell and haven't located anything that addresses the specific second error code.

Windows Update Error w/ code screenshot

 

Try disabling any type of spyware blocking program - I had a similar problem and I run a program called Spyblocker - when I closed this program, I got to windows update and scanned with no problems. Worth a try.

 

Hi BruceKrymow

Did you run across this page wiith over 60 suggestions. The page starts with numerous M$KB to the subject. Go past all the blue or large print, stop when you get to the small black print. There you will find the 60 plus procedure list to drill through. The page is primary w98, but many suggestions are still valid.

 

Hello Bruce,

Have you tried to get rid of the current Hosts file altogether by renaming it as per Newt's suggestion in this thread http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=22486 instead of looking for specific IP lines?

Regards - Charles

 

@Marty ~ No spyblock ware.

@Dennis ~ Link already included in the link of initial post.

@Charles ~ Jolly good suggestion! I had searched for the 'a248.e.akamai' server and was not present, but renaming HOSTS allowed WU to work, so further investigation pulled up the numeric URL for 'a248.e.akamai' per Sam Spade. Deleted it, put HOSTS file back and back in bid'ness! I wasted many hours w/ complicated attempts to fix this - thanks for the suggestion.

 

Bruce - I think you might do well, and especially on a PC belonging to someone else but where you'll probably get called as 1st line tech support, to shut off the M$ update scanning feature and load BigFix to take care of updates.

The consumer version is free and the app works well. I use it at home on both our PCs. Interesting that the wife's PC always receives notification about new updates several hours before I do but both of us get them quicker than the M$ update notifications.

You set it for the OS and applicable updates are a simple one-click install for the user.