XP - Windows Update will not load

I have now two computers which have loaded (clean load on formatted hard drive) on XP Pro Service Pack 3, neither of which will load Windows Update.

Basically, I select to update Windows and the screen just stays blank for the longest time, then it comes up with an error that the page cannot be displayed.

I have spent some days on this, trying everything I could find online relating to this, to try and fix this problem - including:

Running scripts to register DLLs
Reloading BITS
Changing/adding registry entries
Playing around with the Proxy Server settings

I find it hard to believe that I cannot get to Windows Update at all. I never had this problem before, but now the CDs have SP3 and these computers will not load up the Windows Update web site, never mind seeing any updates that may need to be installed.

I don't know if there is any help for this, I seem to be one of many, many users who have this problem. But it sure would be nice if the updates worked.

 

As a matter of interest can you get the Microsoft Catalog site here?

 

Yes I can get to that site. I had to uninstall IE8 to get it to work (so back on IE6 which is on the SP3 CD).

 

Have you tried all of these?

1. Have you activated XP?

2. Check that the firewall is not blocking the download.

3. Go to Internet Options > Security Tab, click 'Trusted sites' icon, click Sites then uncheck 'Require server verification' and add these two entries http://*.windowsupdate.microsoft.com and http://*.windowsupdate.com.
Click Close, Apply and OK.

4. I haven’t tried it but Dial-a-fix is a highly regarded program here

 

XP has been activated.

Tried without antivirus installed, tried with firewall off, with antivirus, with firewall, in domain, in workgroup, etc.

Added those two entries again (had done so in previous build), same result.

Dial-A-Fix has been run, in both regular mode and aggressive mode.

I wish I knew Macs

Thanks for the suggestions. Sooner or later, one might work!

 

Hi, ctit. Welcome to Windows BBS!

If you click Start > Run and type [FONT= "Courier New"]windowsupdate.log[/FONT] in the "Open" field and then click OK, your Windows Update log should open in Notepad.

The more recent Windows Update events should be listed toward the end of that log. Perhaps there are some identified errors (and specific error codes) which will help you search for a specific fix.


EDIT: BTW, the windowsupdate.log file is probably located in your WINDOWS folder (in case you'd prefer to pull it up via Windows Explorer).

 

Okay, I came in today and ran windows update - this is the log from today's "run" only. Rather than trying to pick the info that is causing the problem, since I do not know what is causing the problem, I am posting all the data (it does not seem too long to me, but sorry if it is).



2009-08-07 11:45:35-0400 1124 728 Service Main starts
2009-08-07 11:45:35-0400 1124 728 Using BatchFlushAge = 6539.
2009-08-07 11:45:35-0400 1124 728 Using SamplingValue = 53.
2009-08-07 11:45:35-0400 1124 728 Successfully loaded event namespace dictionary.
2009-08-07 11:45:38-0400 1124 728 Successfully loaded client event namespace descriptor.
2009-08-07 11:45:38-0400 1124 728 Successfully initialized local event logger. Events will be logged at C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\ReportingEvents.log.
2009-08-07 11:45:38-0400 1124 728 Successfully initialized NT event logger.
2009-08-07 11:45:38-0400 1124 728 Successfully initialized event uploader 0.
2009-08-07 11:45:38-0400 1124 728 Successfully initialized event uploader 1.
2009-08-07 11:45:38-0400 1124 728 WU client with version 5.4.3790.5512 successfully initialized
2009-08-07 11:45:38-0400 1124 728 Service status is now SERVICE_RUNNING
2009-08-07 11:46:30-0400 1124 728 start delayed initialization of WU client
2009-08-07 11:46:31-0400 1752 6dc Trying to make out of proc datastore active
2009-08-07 11:46:31-0400 1752 6dc Out of proc datastore is now active
2009-08-07 11:46:31-0400 1124 728 Client Call Recorder finished delayed initialization
2009-08-07 11:46:31-0400 1124 728 Setting next AU detection timeout to 2009-08-07 15:46:31
2009-08-07 11:46:31-0400 1124 728 AU finished delayed initialization
2009-08-07 11:46:31-0400 1124 728 AU received event of 1
2009-08-07 11:46:31-0400 1124 728 WU client succeeds CClientCallRecorder::BeginFindUpdates from AutomaticUpdates with call id {D39DB5DB-7901-47E0-9A99-C43015677A76}
2009-08-07 11:46:31-0400 1124 638 WU client executing call {D39DB5DB-7901-47E0-9A99-C43015677A76} of type Search Call
2009-08-07 11:46:31-0400 1124 638 Checking for different Redirector at: http://download.windowsupdate.com/msdownload/update/v5/redir/wuredir.cab
2009-08-07 11:46:32-0400 1124 638 Successfully refreshed Redirector cab.
2009-08-07 11:46:36-0400 1124 638 Send failed with hr = 80072f78.
2009-08-07 11:46:36-0400 1124 638 SendRequest failed with hr = 80072f78. Proxy List used: <(null)> Bypass List used : <(null)>
2009-08-07 11:46:39-0400 1124 638 Send failed with hr = 80072f78.
2009-08-07 11:46:39-0400 1124 638 SendRequest failed with hr = 80072f78. Proxy List used: <(null)> Bypass List used : <(null)>
2009-08-07 11:46:43-0400 1124 638 Send failed with hr = 80072f78.
2009-08-07 11:46:43-0400 1124 638 SendRequest failed with hr = 80072f78. Proxy List used: <(null)> Bypass List used : <(null)>
2009-08-07 11:46:46-0400 1124 638 Send failed with hr = 80072f78.
2009-08-07 11:46:46-0400 1124 638 SendRequest failed with hr = 80072f78. Proxy List used: <(null)> Bypass List used : <(null)>
2009-08-07 11:46:46-0400 1124 638 DownloadFileInternal failed for http://update.microsoft.com/v8/windowsupdate/SelfUpdate/wuident.cab: error 0x80072f78
2009-08-07 11:46:46-0400 1124 638 IsUpdateRequired failed with error 0x80072f78
2009-08-07 11:46:46-0400 1124 638 OS Version = 5.1.2600.3.0.65792
2009-08-07 11:46:47-0400 1124 638 Computer Brand = LENOVO
2009-08-07 11:46:47-0400 1124 638 Computer Model = 7279B1U
2009-08-07 11:46:47-0400 1124 638 Bios Revision = 5HKT36AUS
2009-08-07 11:46:47-0400 1124 638 Bios Name = 08.00.15.LENOVO BIOS Rev: 5HKT36A01.0.2009.0306.185332
2009-08-07 11:46:47-0400 1124 638 Bios Release Date = 2009-03-06T00:00:00
2009-08-07 11:46:47-0400 1124 638 Locale ID = 1033
2009-08-07 11:46:47-0400 1124 638 ClientVersion: iuengine.dll = 5.4.3790.5512
2009-08-07 11:46:47-0400 1124 638 ClientVersion: wuapi.dll = 5.4.3790.5512
2009-08-07 11:46:47-0400 1124 638 ClientVersion: wuauclt.exe = 5.4.3790.5512
2009-08-07 11:46:47-0400 1124 638 ClientVersion: wuauclt1.exe = 5.4.3790.5512
2009-08-07 11:46:47-0400 1124 638 ClientVersion: wuaucpl.cpl = 5.4.3790.5512
2009-08-07 11:46:47-0400 1124 638 ClientVersion: wuaueng.dll = 5.4.3790.5512
2009-08-07 11:46:47-0400 1124 638 ClientVersion: wuaueng1.dll = 5.4.3790.5512
2009-08-07 11:46:47-0400 1124 638 ClientVersion: wuauserv.dll = 5.4.3790.5512
2009-08-07 11:46:47-0400 1124 638 ClientVersion: wucltui.dll = 5.4.3790.5512
2009-08-07 11:46:47-0400 1124 638 PT: Using serverID {9482F4B4-E343-43B6-B170-9A65BC822C77}
2009-08-07 11:46:47-0400 1124 638 PT: Using server URL https://update.microsoft.com/ClientWebService/client.asmx
2009-08-07 11:46:47-0400 1124 638 PT: Calling GetConfig on server
2009-08-07 11:46:47-0400 1124 638 Add header for accept-encoding: xpress succeeded
2009-08-07 11:46:48-0400 1124 728 AU received event of 1
2009-08-07 11:46:48-0400 1124 728 Forced install timer expired for scheduled install
2009-08-07 11:46:48-0400 1124 728 Setting AU scheduled install time to 2009-08-08 07:00:00
2009-08-07 11:48:03-0400 1124 638 Send failed with hr = 80072ee2.
2009-08-07 11:48:03-0400 1124 638 SendRequest failed with hr = 80072ee2. Proxy List used: <(null)> Bypass List used : <(null)>
2009-08-07 11:48:03-0400 1124 638 GetConfig: 0x80072ee2
2009-08-07 11:48:03-0400 1124 638 PT: Cannot recover from fault, origin=GetConfig, hr=0x80072ee2
2009-08-07 11:48:03-0400 1124 638 Sync of Updates: 0x80072ee2
2009-08-07 11:48:03-0400 1124 638 WU client failed Searching for update with error 0x80072ee2
2009-08-07 11:48:03-0400 1124 1c0 Search Callback Failed, hr is 0x80072ee2
2009-08-07 11:48:03-0400 1124 1c0 Setting next AU detection timeout to 2009-08-07 20:48:03
2009-08-07 11:48:03-0400 1124 1c0 Unable to detect updates for more than 48 hours
2009-08-07 11:48:03-0400 1124 1c0 Setting AU scheduled install time to 2009-08-08 07:00:00
2009-08-07 11:48:03-0400 1124 1c0 WU client calls back to search call AutomaticUpdates with code Call failed and error 0x80072ee2
2009-08-07 11:48:03-0400 1124 1c0 WU client completed and deleted call {D39DB5DB-7901-47E0-9A99-C43015677A76}
2009-08-07 11:48:03-0400 1124 638 REPORT EVENT: {D9363501-31F4-4974-9FC6-8FB7EC74EAA8} 6 2009-08-07 11:46:46-0400 1 148 101 {D67661EB-2423-451D-BF5D-13199E37DF28} 0 80072f78 SelfUpdate Failure Software Synchronization Error: Agent failed detecting with reason: 0x80072f78
2009-08-07 11:48:03-0400 1124 638 Reopened existing event cache file at C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\EventCache\{97148AAE-3EF9-408B-95EA-AA5AAEADD8D9}.bin for writing.
2009-08-07 11:48:03-0400 1124 638 Reopened existing event cache file at C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\EventCache\{82831D10-38D7-4F53-BBFC-027DEBA0BEB8}.bin for writing.
2009-08-07 11:48:09-0400 1124 1c0 REPORT EVENT: {37FAFE20-7910-4AC2-B778-E876F063994F} 7 2009-08-07 11:48:03-0400 1 148 101 {00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000} 0 80072ee2 AutomaticUpdates Failure Software Synchronization Error: Agent failed detecting with reason: 0x80072ee2
2009-08-07 11:48:09-0400 1124 1c0 REPORT EVENT: {ED710CAA-69CE-485E-B032-57E2DC22B3D7} 8 2009-08-07 11:48:03-0400 1 149 102 {00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000} 0 0 AutomaticUpdates Failure Software Synchronization Unable to Connect: Windows is unable to connect to the automatic updates service and therefore cannot download and install updates according to the set schedule. Windows will continue to try to establish a connection.
2009-08-07 11:49:53-0400 1124 468 Service received connect notification
2009-08-07 11:49:53-0400 1124 728 AU received event of 3
2009-08-07 11:49:54-0400 1124 468 Service received logon notification
2009-08-07 11:49:54-0400 1124 728 AU received event of 3
2009-08-07 11:50:35-0400 1124 468 Service received logoff notification
2009-08-07 11:50:35-0400 1124 728 AU received event of 3
2009-08-07 11:50:50-0400 1124 468 Service received logon notification
2009-08-07 11:50:50-0400 1124 728 AU received event of 3
2009-08-07 11:54:01-0400 1752 6dc Out of proc datastore is shutting down
2009-08-07 11:54:02-0400 1752 6dc Out of proc datastore is now inactive
2009-08-07 11:54:25-0400 2696 a8c CreateObject for Microsoft.Update.AgentInfo failed: error 0x80040111
2009-08-07 11:54:25-0400 2696 a8c CreateObject for Microsoft.Update.ServiceManager failed: error 0x80040111

 

Searching Microsoft KB for error 0x80072f78 0x80072ee2 produced TWO results.

• Microsoft KB836941: You may encounter temporary connection-related errors when you use Windows Update or Microsoft Update to install updates

• Microsoft KB918355: How to troubleshoot definition update issues for Windows Defender