Windows Update Not Working

(Sony VAIO, Windows XP Professional)

Since ridding this machine of malware (the PC mentioned in the linked post onward: http://forums.whatthetech.com/Windows_Only…t&p=569327), and fixing bugs created by certain Windows updates (http://forums.whatthetech.com/Service_Pack_3_Crashes_when_my_Dad_tries_Log_in_Produces_No_Sound_t104381.html), I discovered that Windows Update became inaccessible.

First, the IE window would never appear. When I uninstalled IE8 to go back to IE7 to troubleshoot, Windows Update started giving me this error message:

URL=http://img158.imageshack.us/i/wupdateerror.png/][external image: Posted Image]

I noticed that throughout this process, Windows Update would be completely fine when accessed via Firefox with the extension IE Tab (addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1419).

Hi Viewer.

Most Windows Update problems can be resolved using Dial-A-Fix.

Download dial-a-fix, decompress the .zip file and run the dial-a-fix.exe file. When dial-a-fix opens, click "Flush Software Distribution," and answer NO to the next question. Then, select all items in sections 1, 2 and 3. When you do this Dial-A-Fix will automatically select items in other sections. Allow it to do so. When all items in 1, 2 and 3 are selected, click GO. Let Dial-A-Fix finish and restart the computer.

Try Windows Updates again.

The issue persists.

Error #: 800A01CE Your error means that windows update cannot connect to the server. This means it is being blocked for some reason. Turn off all firewalls. Check your C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc\HOSTS file to make sure there isn't any entries listed in there. Turn off all other security programs temporarily. Retry your windows updates.

Turning off my security software had no effect. I modified my HOSTS file as suggested in this post: http://forums.whatthetech.com/index.php?s=…st&p=569302.

Looking at your malware thread you have a ton of toolbars and other add-ons included in Internet Explorer. Any of which could be causing you problems. Disabling them will not only make internet explorer run smoother, faster and more reliable but could resolve your Windows update problem. Go into control panel, open Internet Options, click the Advanced tab, and then click RESET. Allow Internet Explorer to reset to default settings. Now, close all Internet Explorer windows and then retry your windows updates.

Clicking "Internet Options" causes a window to appear and close within a split second. Browsing for it in the Control Panels leads me to this:

[external image: Posted Image]

Your problem seems to be a little bit more involved. I did some searching for your problem. It seems others have had your exact problem. Not many concrete solutions available though. It appears that repairing the inetcpl.cpl file has fixed the problem. So, lets do this. Search for the file "inetcpl.cpl" on your computer. Post back here with the locations and file size of every instance found. I'll tell you what to do from there.

Please click start -> run -> type cmd and press ENTER.

Copy the following command and run it at the command prompt:

copy /Y c:\windows\servicepackfiles\i386\inetcpl.cpl c:\windows\system32

This will replace the damaged inetcpl and allow you to open internet options again.

I followed your instructions to regain access to Internet Options, but the Windows Update error continues to be produced. You're referring to the "Restore Defaults" button, right?

No.. I am referring to the "RESET" button. Restore defaults is different. It only shows up in IE7 or newer. Please uninstall IE7 so that you are reverted back to IE6. Then, reinstall IE7. Something isn't right here. The inetcpl you have is probably for version 6 of IE. Lets try to get IE reinstalled this way. If you can get IE reinstalled then use the RESET button, then try windows updates again.

When in the process of uninstalling IE7, I was presented with the error message below:

[external image: Posted Image]

Windows told me if I canceled the uninstallation process now or if I couldn't find the said file it could stop behaving normally. I choose to continue the uinstallation process. It also gave me identical errors for the files ieeula.chm, iesupp.chm, iexplore.chm, inetres.adm, and html.iec.

I downloaded and installed IE7 from http://www.microsoft.com/Downloads/details…;displaylang=en. When I tried to reset from within the browser, I was presented with this:

[external image: Posted Image]

IE then crashed and I couldn't even kill the process. I logged out and back in. When I tried accessing the settings via the Control Panel, only the icon was visible (like in the image I posted in a previous post), but I was still able to use it to successfully reset everything. After all of this, Windows Update still gives me the same error.

Your security programs have to be turned off during this, and remain off during the process of trying to fix Windows updates. They are preventing the necessary changes to your computer. Please try turning off anything that you are using, and try RESETting IE again. See if that error during the one step continues. While those programs are off, try running Windows updates again. Everything I see about your error involves not being able to connect to the website or not being able to run properly because of security programs such as Spybot S&D.

You're right, turning off my security software did the trick. When COMODO firewall is enabled, Windows Update will always produce this error. I guess it's good practice to turn off security software when using WinUpdate anyway, right? Is it safe for me to install IE8? No one in the house uses Internet Explorer, but I figured since we still need it for this function, we might as well keep it up-to-date.