XP will not find Windows Update Software

[BobSheridan]

A users PC suffered the following problem on startup:

Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM

I was able to get around this using the advice from the Microsoft KB article 307545.

Once i got back into windows i then had to reinstall all the drivers and the programs to get the PC working again. Only one thing is still proving problematic. When i try to run a windows update the software won't go any further than the web page that says "Checking for the latest version of the windows update software". There is some activity just after loading the page, but it doesn't go any further than this. I have been able to get around it to reinstall all of the necessary windows updates and have installed XP SP2. None of these steps have rectified the problem.

I know this isn't the biggest issue in the world, but it's really bugging me, and I would rather resolve this fully now then have it come back to haunt myself or a colleague at a later date.

Any help will be much appreciated.

 

[Auger282]

firewall?

possible spyware?

 

[BobSheridan]

No I can rule out both of those. Our firewall does not block anybody from connecting to Windows Update and we have protections/policies to prevent against spyware. This seems to be more of a software issue relating to the rebuilding process.

 

[wvajenm]

I believe I saw an article pertaining to this on the Windows TechNet site, though I'm afraid that's as much help as I can be as I don't remember the KB number. But it is out there.

 

[BobSheridan]

Well in case anybody else ever happens to have this problem themselves and browses to this thread, I have found a solution to my own problem.

Close down any Internet Explorer sessions connecting to the Windows Update site.
Then, from the command prompt type (and enter) :

net stop wuauserv
regsvr32 wups.dll
regsvr32 wuapi.dll
regsvr32 wuaueng.dll
net start wuauserv

Then try connecting to the Windows Update site again.

This resolved my problem, hopefully this will resolve yours - if you ever come across this thread and have the exact same problem as me that is.