unable to do windows update

[jdeane]

when I try to do a Windows Update IE gets to the point of 'Checking for latest version....' when it stops. 'Done' is displayed on the status line but nothing else happens, same thing if I try the page refresh.

This was using both IE5.5 and IE6 on a W2k Pro machine which I then upgraded to XP Pro which I hoped to fix the problem but it is still occurring.

When I try to click on one of any of the menu options on the left pane a pop-up message appears stating that 'Window update has not finished loading'

I have tried clearing the temp files and cookies etc as this sometimes cures IE problems but no this one.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Jonathan

 

[MSeng]

Review the information available at the WU Trouble shooter --

http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/troubleshoot/

 

[jdeane]

Been there and done that.

There are no error messages displayed and I am not running any personnel firewall on this computer.

Thanks

Jonathan

 

[MSeng]

Find the Windows update.log (usually in %system root%\Windows), open it in Notepad and look for any error messages related to your last visit to WU. If you want, post it here and maybe we can find some information on it.

 

[jmatt]

Try this .

1. Download This File to your desktop

http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/cab/x86/ansi/iuctl.cab

2. Go to the desktop and right click the iuctl.cab file.

3. Click "Extract to."

4. Point to a known location (like the desktop) and click "OK."

5. Go to the location you selected and right click on the iuctl.inf file.

6. Click "Install."

Reboot now try.

 

[jdeane]

Thanks for the file download locaton but this failed to resolve the problem.

Here is the tail end of the 'windows update.log' as requested.

2003-04-18 07:17:05 06:17:05 Success IUCTL Starting
2003-04-18 07:17:06 06:17:06 Success IUCTL Downloaded iuident.cab from

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/v4/

to C:\Program Files\WindowsUpdate\V4
2003-04-18 07:17:06 06:17:06 Success IUCTL Checking to see if new version of Windows Update software available
2003-04-18 07:17:06 06:17:06 Success IUENGINE Starting
2003-04-18 07:17:10 06:17:10 Success IUENGINE Determining machine configuration
2003-04-18 07:17:15 06:17:15 Success IUENGINE Querying software update catalog from

https://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/autoupdate/getmanifest.asp

2003-04-18 07:17:15 06:17:15 Success IUENGINE Determining machine configuration
2003-04-18 07:17:16 06:17:16 Success IUENGINE Querying software update catalog from

https://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/autoupdate/getmanifest.asp

2003-04-18 07:17:16 06:17:16 Success IUENGINE Determining machine configuration
2003-04-18 07:17:17 06:17:17 Success IUENGINE Querying software update catalog from

https://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/autoupdate/getmanifest.asp

2003-04-18 07:17:20 06:17:20 Success IUENGINE Determining machine configuration
2003-04-18 07:17:20 06:17:20 Success IUENGINE Querying software update catalog from

https://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/autoupdate/getmanifest.asp

2003-04-18 07:17:21 06:17:21 Success IUENGINE Determining machine configuration
2003-04-18 07:17:22 06:17:22 Success IUENGINE Querying software update catalog from

https://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/autoupdatedrivers/getmanifest.asp

2003-04-18 07:17:23 06:17:23 Success IUENGINE Shutting down
2003-04-18 07:17:23 06:17:23 Success IUCTL Shutting down
2003-04-18 07:55:30 06:55:30 Success IUCTL Starting
2003-04-18 07:55:30 06:55:30 Success IUENGINE Starting
2003-04-18 07:55:35 06:55:35 Success IUENGINE Install started
2003-04-18 07:56:11 06:56:11 Success IUENGINE Installing SOFTWARE item from publisher com_microsoft
2003-04-18 07:56:11 06:56:11 Success IUENGINE Installer Command Type: EXE
2003-04-18 07:57:01 06:57:01 Success IUENGINE See iuhist.xml for details: Install finished
2003-04-18 07:57:02 06:57:02 Success IUENGINE Shutting down
2003-04-18 07:57:02 06:57:02 Success IUCTL Shutting down
2003-04-18 08:32:52 07:32:52 Success IUCTL Starting
2003-04-18 08:32:55 07:32:55 Success IUCTL Downloaded iuident.cab from

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/v4/

to C:\Program Files\WindowsUpdate\V4
2003-04-18 08:32:55 07:32:55 Success IUCTL Current iuengine.dll version: 5.4.3630.2550
2003-04-18 08:32:55 07:32:55 Success IUCTL Current iuctl.dll version: 5.4.3630.2550
2003-04-18 08:32:55 07:32:55 Success IUENGINE Starting
2003-04-18 08:32:57 07:32:57 Success IUCTL Windows Update Web Site has a valid address:

http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp

2003-04-18 08:32:58 07:32:58 Success IUENGINE Determining machine configuration
2003-04-18 08:32:58 07:32:58 Success IUENGINE Determining machine configuration
2003-04-18 08:34:17 07:34:17 Success IUENGINE Shutting down
2003-04-18 08:35:11 07:35:11 Success IUCTL Shutting down
2003-04-23 08:10:38 07:10:38 Success IUCTL Starting
2003-04-23 08:10:39 07:10:39 Success IUCTL Downloaded iuident.cab from

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/v4/

to C:\Program Files\WindowsUpdate\V4
2003-04-23 08:10:46 07:10:46 Success IUCTL Checking to see if new version of Windows Update software available
2003-04-23 08:10:47 07:10:47 Success IUENGINE Starting
2003-04-23 08:11:00 07:11:00 Success IUENGINE Determining machine configuration
2003-04-23 08:11:24 07:11:24 Success IUENGINE Querying software update catalog from

https://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/autoupdate/getmanifest.asp

2003-04-23 08:11:24 07:11:24 Success IUENGINE Determining machine configuration
2003-04-23 08:11:25 07:11:25 Success IUENGINE Querying software update catalog from

https://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/autoupdate/getmanifest.asp

2003-04-23 08:11:25 07:11:25 Success IUENGINE Determining machine configuration
2003-04-23 08:11:27 07:11:27 Success IUENGINE Querying software update catalog from

https://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/autoupdate/getmanifest.asp

2003-04-23 08:11:39 07:11:39 Success IUENGINE Determining machine configuration
2003-04-23 08:11:39 07:11:39 Success IUENGINE Querying software update catalog from

https://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/autoupdatedrivers/getmanifest.asp

2003-04-23 08:11:40 07:11:40 Success IUENGINE Shutting down
2003-04-23 08:11:40 07:11:40 Success IUCTL Shutting down
2003-04-23 08:45:43 07:45:43 Success IUCTL Starting
2003-04-23 08:45:45 07:45:45 Success IUCTL Downloaded iuident.cab from

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/v4/

to C:\Program Files\WindowsUpdate\V4
2003-04-23 08:45:45 07:45:45 Success IUCTL Current iuengine.dll version: 5.4.3630.2550
2003-04-23 08:45:45 07:45:45 Success IUCTL Current iuctl.dll version: 5.4.3630.2550
2003-04-23 08:45:46 07:45:46 Success IUENGINE Starting
2003-04-23 08:45:46 07:45:46 Success IUCTL Windows Update Web Site has a valid address:

http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp

2003-04-23 08:45:47 07:45:47 Success IUENGINE Determining machine configuration
2003-04-23 08:45:47 07:45:47 Success IUENGINE Determining machine configuration
2003-04-23 08:46:09 07:46:09 Success IUENGINE Shutting down
2003-04-23 08:46:18 07:46:18 Success IUCTL Downloaded iuident.cab from

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/v4/

to C:\Program Files\WindowsUpdate\V4
2003-04-23 08:46:18 07:46:18 Success IUCTL Current iuengine.dll version: 5.4.3630.2550
2003-04-23 08:46:18 07:46:18 Success IUCTL Current iuctl.dll version: 5.4.3630.2550
2003-04-23 08:46:18 07:46:18 Success IUENGINE Starting
2003-04-23 08:46:18 07:46:18 Success IUCTL Windows Update Web Site has a valid address:

http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp

2003-04-23 08:46:18 07:46:18 Success IUENGINE Determining machine configuration
2003-04-23 08:46:18 07:46:18 Success IUENGINE Determining machine configuration
2003-04-23 08:46:26 07:46:26 Success IUENGINE Shutting down
2003-04-23 08:48:26 07:48:26 Success IUCTL Shutting down
2003-04-23 08:55:28 07:55:28 Success IUCTL Starting
2003-04-23 08:55:30 07:55:30 Success IUCTL Downloaded iuident.cab from

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/v4/

to C:\Program Files\WindowsUpdate\V4
2003-04-23 08:55:31 07:55:31 Success IUCTL Current iuengine.dll version: 5.4.3630.2550
2003-04-23 08:55:31 07:55:31 Success IUCTL Current iuctl.dll version: 5.4.3630.2550
2003-04-23 08:55:31 07:55:31 Success IUENGINE Starting
2003-04-23 08:55:32 07:55:32 Success IUCTL Windows Update Web Site has a valid address:

http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp

2003-04-23 08:55:32 07:55:32 Success IUENGINE Determining machine configuration
2003-04-23 08:55:36 07:55:36 Success IUENGINE Determining machine configuration
2003-04-23 08:56:24 07:56:24 Success IUENGINE Shutting down

 

[MSeng]

Hmmm, no failures....that's interesting.

A couple things:
1. Date\time is correct on the machine?
2. Is a language selected (tools-->Internet options)?
3. Are the "Cryptographic Services" running (services.msc)?

 

[jmatt]

http://www.infinisource.com/techfiles/winup-errors.html

Problems Accessing Windows Update

 

[jmatt]

Another way , do your updates through BigFix .

http://bigfix.com/website/index.html

 

[MSeng]

He could also get his updates through the Windows Update catalog but that doesn't fix the problem.

 

[jdeane]

Thanks for all the replys.

The language settings are set to English (us) and English (gb)
Time and date are correct and (running XP so time comes from the atomic clocks weekly)
No Cryptographic Services running

Jonathan

 

[jmatt]

Maybe , give it a really good clean out .

You can protect your comp from Spyfiles by using these 3 programs together .

http://beam.to/spybotsd

What does SpyBot-Search & Destroy?

SpyBot-S&D searches your hard drive for so-called spy- or adbots; little modules that are
responsible for the ads many programs display. But many of these modules also transmit
information about your surfing behaviour and more to the net.
If SpyBot-S&D finds such modules, it can remove them - or replace them with empty dummies in
case their host software won't run with its bot removed. In most cases, the host still runs
fine after removing the bot.
For a list of 'supported' bots see the feature lists below. The Spybot-S&D interface is so
easy, that updates just require replacing a file of about 80k in size. Those updates are
distributed by my software mailinglist, over this page and are also available from inside the
programs update section.

Another feature of Spybot S&D is the removal of usage tracks, which makes it more complicated
for unknown spybots to transmit useful data. The list of last visited websites, opened files,
started programs, cookies, all that and more can be cleaned. Supported are the three major
browsers Internet Explorer, Netscape Communicator and Opera.

Last but not least Spybot-S&D contains some routines to find and correct invalid entries into
the registry.

Red entries indicate spyware problems that should be fixed to avoid security and/or privacy
problems. This is the only kind of problem that is preselected to be fixed.

Black entries are system internals. If you do not know what they mean, I would suggest to either
keep your fingers from it or visit the support forum.

Green entries indicate usage tracks. It can do no harm to remove these.

I personally only remove the Red entries as the Green entries remove items I use .

Make sure you use the SpyBot > Online > Update button regularly .

-----------------------------

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/spywareblaster.html

SpywareBlaster doesn't scan and clean for spyware - it prevents it from ever being installed.

How? By setting a "kill bit" for the CLSIDs of spyware ActiveX controls, it prevents the
installation of any of them from a webpage. You can run Internet Explorer with Active-X enabled,
but you will never even get a "Yes/No" box popped up, asking you to install a spyware Active-X
control (Internet Explorer will never download or run it!). All other Active-X controls or
plug-ins will work fine.

The SpywareBlaster database contains information on these known spyware Active-X controls. Make
sure you run the Check For Updates feature frequently to get the latest database! (And make sure
you check the new items to protect your system against them!)

As a side benefit, setting this "kill bit" will also prevent the spyware Active-X from running,
in many cases, if it is already installed on your system.*

--------------------------------

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/spywareguard.html

SpywareGuard provides a real-time protection solution against spyware that is a great addition
to SpywareBlaster's protection method.

An anti-virus program scans files before you open them and prevents execution if a virus is
detected - SpywareGuard does the same thing, but for spyware! And you can easily have an
anti-virus program running alongside SpywareGuard.


Features Listing: Fast scanning engine
Scans exe and cab files - the two most popular file types for distributing spyware
Signature-based scanning - for known spyware (list)
Heuristic/generic detection capabilities - some spyware programs can be detected even if the
code undergoes significant changes
Small size - with a small size and small definition sizes, download and updates are quick
SG Control Panel - provides easy access to help and integration options
SG LiveUpdate - provides an easy updating solution
Spyware files are blocked before being opened or run - they are not simply shut down after they
are loaded in memory (and after they have performed their tasks)
The full path to the spyware executable is provided on the alert screen
Once a spyware file is detected and blocked from running, the options are provided to either
continue or to delete the spyware file
It's a free download

-----------------------------

http://shellcity.net/cgi-bin/DB_Sea...phapage.setup.cgi&submit_search=yes&alpha=0-9

http://www.1cleanup.com/

1CLEANUP..........Clears your computer of Unneeded Files: These may possess any attributes left
to be specified by the user. In addition, all zero length files and folders are included
automatically. Recent Documents: Recently accessed files which are displayed in Start Menu->
Documents and stored in Windows' Recent folder. Favorites and Bookmarks: All favorites and
bookmarks created and stored over time by the user. IE Cache: This includes cookies, history
and Temporary Internet Files created by the Internet Explorer. Dead Shortcuts: Shortcuts to
files that have been moved to another location or deleted from the computer after the shortcut
was created.....(free).....GO THERE!

And / Or ,

http://www.fsm.nl/ward/

Spider finds hidden Url's that other mean's don't .
Cleans >
1 . Hidden Url's .
2 . Temporary Internet Files .
3 . History Files .
4 . Cookies .
Click on Spider , not Spider Bite .

------------------------------

And / Or

Index.dat
Delindex works in Win98 and WinME .

http://www.burzurq.com/forum/delindex.html

The primary purpose of Delindex is to delete Index.dat files which are never resized, and only
get bigger. These files contain all your web surfing history since they were (re)created, and
large index.dat files can cause performance issues with browsing. Index.dat files cannot be
deleted if Explorer is running. The secondary purpose is to delete junk files for reasons of
space, privacy, and performance. Delindex is "stand-alone" program and requires no installation
and no other files to run. All notes are within the program, so there are no separate ReadMe or
Help files.

 

[jdeane]

already using Ad-aware and spybot twice a week

Jonathan

 

[MSeng]

"No Cryptographic Services running"

I believe this is your problem. Start the service, then try again.

 

[jdeane]

Cryptographic service is running and update is not.

 

[MSeng]

Arghh...

Ok, let's try something else.

Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
del /q "%SystemRoot%\System32\Catroot2\Edb.log

This command will force the catalog database to rebuild itself.