Windows Update Stall

cher45 · Joined: Feb 05, 2003 Posts: 207

Working on a co-workers pc.Ran Spybot,Adaware,several online scans and have the machine cleaned up now,but having one major problem.When I go to Windows Update it stalls at the Checking for latest version of WU software.It doesn't freeze,but just sits,I have left it for as long as 30 minutes.
I deleted the WUcontrol from Downloaded Programs thinking it was damaged and would reinstall.I also renamed the catroot2 folder,all no results.
I can download from other sites.The machine did have Norton Internet Security,which I removed thinking that might be the problem,nada.
Any ideas?Oh,it has XP HomeSp1

Rons · Joined: Dec 07, 2002 Posts: 5667

Clear out all internet temp files. See what happens.

Try the winsock repair tool first:

http://www.spychecker.com/program/winsockxpfix.html

Then try this patch:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...&displaylang=en

Let us know if this works or not. B)

User: inactive Posts:

cher45 · Joined: Feb 05, 2003 Posts: 207

Thanks for suggestions,Ron,but no joy.
I had actually thought about applying SP2 to see if that would resolve it,but he has many games,software,etc on here and I have no time to track down any and all possible updates needed beforehand.Just at HP site alone there are many on original components.Plus he doesn't have the Recovery Disks in case of failure.
So I am returning it to him,he is ordering the Recovery set and it will probably be a System reinstall.
Again,thanks for both replies.

n4syth2 · Joined: Apr 02, 2005 Posts: 5

I have this same problem.... system stalls but doesn't freeze while trying update...
Checking for the latest version of the Windows Update software...

This is an HP Pavilion 511n running WindowsXP Home.
I did a non-destructive reload that set the install back to SP1.
Tried to install updates with Windows update but encountered problem noted above.

Installed critical updates available on HP site.
Tried winsock repair tool and patch noted in Rons message....
Didn't fix...

Installed SP2 and checked Add-ons as noted by bach8351....
WUWebControl Class = enabled already set
Tried disabling and re-enabling.....
Still won't update...

Windows website claims this is a problem caused by the Zone Alarm firewall but that software has NEVER been installed on this computer.

Please HELP!! :blink:

ramped · Joined: Jan 13, 2003 Posts: 205

try going to update.microsoft.com instead of windowsupdate.microsoft.com, it should take you to the v6 beta of update, and may fix your problems. Other than that, try and see if it works through automatic updates.

User: inactive Posts:

Does he have any Internet accelerators installed? If so, remove them.

reader · Joined: May 07, 2004 Posts: 1617

You might also check the following services:

Application Layer Gateway Service
Cryptographic Services

Should be set to automatic and be active.

Background Intelligent Transfer Service

Should at least be set to manual, and be active.

Windows Update need these services to function properly.

Other hints/solutions might be found on these pages (among many others):

http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/updtcl.htm

http://www.petri.co.il/wu_problems.htm

http://www.updatexp.com/0x80248011.html

1ComputerGuru · Joined: Dec 25, 2002 Posts: 291

Again, possibly a little late; but, maybe some info you can use the next time to troubleshoot WU problems....or at least give you some insight as to what it did or didn't do while trying to do its thing.... Every time (in xp anyway, and maybe others) that you start WU, it generates a log of every thing it is trying to do...
In the Windows (winnt) directory.... called " WindowsUpdate.log" . If in examining it, you will probably find a error statement close to the bottom, which will possibly direct you to trying to find more detailed info on what caused it and/or possibly the fix..... One thing always do first is to re-register all the WU dll's with WinXP.
Found this a problem, when it checks for updated software and then shows it downloading (10%,20%,etc) then just sets there and does nothing else. If want to try this .... ( won't hurt anything if you do it, and might cure problems before get to far into it)....

Goto the Run window and try this procedure....

!!Be sure to click OK or hit ENTER after each one!!

Click Start, click Run and then type this:
net.exe stop wuauserv

Click Start, click Run and then type this:
regsvr32 /s wuapi.dll

Click Start, click Run and then type this:
regsvr32 /s wups.dll

Click Start, click Run and then type this:
regsvr32 /s wuaueng.dll

Click Start, click Run and then type this:
regsvr32 /s wuaueng1.dll

Click Start, click Run and then type this:
regsvr32 /s wucltui.dll

Click Start, click Run and then type this:
regsvr32 /s wuweb.dll

Click Start, click Run and then type this:
regsvr32 /s jscript.dll

Click Start, click Run and then type this:
regsvr32 /s atl.dll

Click Start, click Run and then type this:
regsvr32 /s softpub.dll

Click Start, click Run and then type this:
regsvr32 /s msxml3.dll

Click Start, click Run and then type this:
net.exe start wuauserv

Now, reboot and try the Windows Update site again.
Good Luck

n4syth2 · Joined: Apr 02, 2005 Posts: 5

Thank you 1ComputerGuru!!

Followed your very clear instructions and it worked like a charm.
So simple too!

This is definitely being added to my little bag of computer tricks!

Thanks again Very Happy

SavagePenguin1 · Joined: Apr 06, 2005 Posts: 1

I'm working on a Hewlett-Packard Pavilion 502n (XP Home) that had the same problem. Upgrading to SP2, removing the temp files, etc. (the usual fixes) didn't work.

1ComputerGuru's fix worked, and put an end to my grief. Thank you!

User: inactive Posts:

I should be so lucky. My girls computer (the one where she downloaded free ringtones and got some kind if wicked, wicked virus...so bad I ended up formatting and reinstalling...yeh...that one) would not do the updates. It would get to the window where it was scanning for updates and stay there forEVER. So, I did it all over again using an OEM XP CD and her license. I have NO idea what the problem was but it's gone now. Anybody has a clue, let me know. Close as I can figure, the install cd musta had a glitck and a file or part of a file didn't copy correctly.

User: inactive Posts:

Bach,
You're absolutely right.....reformatting a hard drive will fix just about any software problem. Laughing

Nuff said,

Ya'all have a great day now!
B)

User: inactive Posts:

Hottwire · Joined: Feb 17, 2005 Posts: 6

One reason could be to many programs running in the background.

try turning on automatic updates in the ctrl panel, select download updates for me but let me choose when to install them. (all you'll have to do is install it)

thankfulposter · Joined: Apr 13, 2005 Posts: 1

1ComputerGuru's fix worked for me too. I registered just to let everyone know. Thanks a ton 1cg.

This problem appears to have just started coming up frequently this month (April 2005). I suspect a new spyware or virus is screwing up windows update somehow, since I'm a computer technition who's fixed 100's of PCs and I've never seen a windows update problem like this before.

I encountered the problem after removing a great deal of spyware and viruses from a machine (that was originally SP1), then upgrading it to SP2.

Another symptom that accompanied this problem was Windows XP's Automatic Update feature wasn't working (said that it couldn't be enabled). I'm going to post the text of that error as well, so Google picks it up:

"We're sorry. The security Center could not change your automatic update settings. To try changing these settings yourself, go to System in Control Panel. On the Automatic Updates tab, select Automatic (recommended), and then click ok"

Enabling the Automatic Updates from the Automatic Updates tab may or may not show that automatic updates are on, but in reality it isn't. And the Security Center will continue to show the warning that Automatic Updates are off.

Follow 1ComputerGuru's instructions and your problems are fixed.

An easier way to do the same thing:

Click the Start button, then click "Run..."

Type "cmd" in the box, no quotes, then press "OK".

then type the following lines, pressing "Enter" on your keyboard
after each line:

net.exe stop wuauserv
regsvr32 /s wuapi.dll
regsvr32 /s wups.dll
regsvr32 /s wuaueng.dll
regsvr32 /s wuaueng1.dll
regsvr32 /s wucltui.dll
regsvr32 /s wuweb.dll
regsvr32 /s jscript.dll
regsvr32 /s atl.dll
regsvr32 /s softpub.dll
regsvr32 /s msxml3.dll
net.exe start wuauserv

In case your curious, these commands do the following:
Stops the Windows Update "service" program.
Reinstalls all of its "dependencies" (files Windows Update needs to work)
Restarts the Windows Update "service" program.

Good luck to all and thanks again to 1ComputerGuru.

- Austin
Florida State University

rmoore4127 · Joined: Apr 15, 2005 Posts: 1

User: inactive Posts:

1CG and thankfulposter,,,,a question for ya.

Can we just write a little batch file to do those functions? That would preclude someone mistyping a line and maybe REALLY screwing something up worse than it already is.
I've already found out that cauual users don't know how to type commands. They leave out spaces, etc.

If that may be done....I'll do it and put it on my website for download by anyone haveing the same problem. Like ya said,,,"It can't hurt".

BBL...gotta go deliver a computer,
Love ya all,
The Shadow B)

User: inactive Posts:

Voila! . . . It works!

I took the info on restoring Auto Updates as posted by 1ComputerGuru
and put it into a batch file and ran it. The batch file ran flawlessly and finished in less than ten seconds.

I'll try to get this batch file on my webpage in the next day or so.

I recently added my XPCleanup batch file along with Deltree.exe, needed to run the batch file. (Windows (XP) no longer includes the Deltree command program)
XPCleanup.bat runs in just a few seconds and removes ALL temporary internet files, temp files, cookies and histories. It also dumps the AVG virus vault, prefetch folder, recent and WUTemp folders. It's in batch file format so anyone can edit it to add more folders like Chat Cache folders or take out lines for things they may want to keep.

See my sig line for a link to my webpage.

Ya'all have a great day now!
The Shadow B)

Sasquatch · Joined: May 26, 2005 Posts: 1

Hey all,

I registered specifically to thank 1ComputerGuru for his outstanding information in resolving this issue with Windows Update. Ive searched and searched and searched for a solution, only to come up with a dead end each time.

Anyway, Thank you!

:w00t: