Thread: How to troubleshoot problems connecting to Windows Update

How to troubleshoot problems connecting to Windows Update or to Microsoft Update

INTRODUCTION

This explains how to troubleshoot problems you may have when you attempt to connect to Windows Update. One or more of given symptoms happen when you attempt to connect to these Web sites:
• Only a blank Web page shows.
• The PC ends responding when you attempt to download a file from site.
• You get scripting error message.
• You get one or more of the following error messages:

Message 1

0x80072F78
Message 2
Error Installing Dependency

Message 3

An unknown error occurred

Message 4

You chose not to download the software controls or there was a problem with downloading the controls, in which case much of the Windows Update site or much of the Microsoft Update site will be unavailable to you. If you would like to download the controls now, please click Try Again below.

Message 5

Your Internet Explorer security settings are set to High. In order to use the Windows Update site or the Microsoft Update site, you need to set your security settings at medium. To change your security settings: From the View menu on the toolbar, choose Internet Options. Click the Security tab, and then select Internet zone in the drop-down box. Click Medium.

Message 6

Internet Explorer cannot open the Internet site address. A connection to the server could not be established.

Message 7

0x80070641

To solve this issue, follow the procedures that are given here until you can successfully connect to site. After you finish a procedure, attempt to connect to Windows Update. If you still cannot connect to site, continue to the next method. As you finish procedures, try to decide cause of the issue, and then utilize the methods you have to use to solve the issue.

MORE INFORMATION

Examine the computer settings
Verify the language settings
1. Click Start, click Run, type inetcpl.cpl, and then click OK.
2. In the Internet Properties dialog box, click the General tab, and then click Languages.
3. In the Language list, ensure that operating system language version is added. If operating system language version is not on list, click Add, click the language in Language list, and then click OK three times.

Reset Internet zone security

1. Click Start, click Run, type inetcpl.cpl, and then click OK.
2. In the Internet Properties dialog box, click the Security tab.
3. In the Select a Web content zone to specify its security settings box, click Internet, click Default Level, and then click Apply to set this zone to Medium security.
4. Click OK.

Add the Windows Update Web site and the Microsoft Update Web site to the list of trusted sites

1. Click Start, click Run, type inetcpl.cpl, and then click OK.
2. In the Internet Properties dialog box, click the Security tab.
3. In the Select a Web content zone to specify its security settings box, click Trusted sites, and then click Sites.
4. In the Trusted sites dialog box, click to clear the Require server verification (https for all sites in this zone check box.
5. Click OK two times, and then visit the Windows Update Web site to decide whether the problem is solved.
Verify that your Internet Explorer settings are correctly configured
1. Click Start, click Run, type inetcpl.cpl, and then click OK.
2. In the Internet Properties dialog box, click the Security tab.
3. In the Select a Web content zone to specify its security settings box, click Internet, and then click Custom Level.
4. On the Security list, click Enable under Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins.
5. Under File Download, click Enable.
6. Under Java Permissions, click Medium safety.
7. Under Launching applications and files in an IFRAME, click Enable.
8. Under Active Scripting, click Enable.

Verify that the date and time are set correctly

1. Click Start, click Run, type timedate.cpl, and then click OK.
2. In the Date and Time Properties dialog box, click the Date and Time tab, and then set correct date and time. For this, follow the steps given below:
a. In the Date box, click the current month in the month list.
b. In the year list, click the current year.
c. In the calendar, click the current date.
d. In the Time box, click to choose hour, and then utilize the up or down arrow to adjust the hour. Repeat this method for the minute and second settings.
e. Click AM or PM, and then use the up or down arrow to modify to AM or PM.
f. Click the Time Zone tab, and then click the time zone for your current location in the Time Zone list.
3. Click Apply, and then click OK.

Examine the Internet connection and LAN settings

Verify that you have an Internet connection

Try to log on to Internet service provider (ISP) before you attempt to access the Windows Update site. When you utilize some ISPs, you must log on before you connect to a site by using a browser. When you log on to an ISP, TCP/IP loads and provides connectivity to the Internet. To connect to any Internet site, you must use a TCP/IP session.
Click to clear the Automatically Detect Settings and the Use Automatic Configuration Script check boxes in LAN settings
1. Click Start, click Run, type inetcpl.cpl, and then click OK.
2. In the Internet Properties dialog box, click the Connections tab, and then click LAN Settings
3. Click to clear the Automatically detect settings and Use automatic configuration script check boxes, and then click OK two times.
Determine whether a file or a program is preventing you from loading the Windows Update site

To decide if a file or a program is avoiding you from loading the Windows Update site, you can utilize the System Configuration utility to do clean-boot troubleshooting.

Repair files

Use System File Checker to repair damaged Windows files
System File Checker tool used to repair injured Windows files.If operating system is installed on a drive other than drive C, change the drive letter in the following steps to the system drive.
1. Click Start, click Run, and then type the following instructions in sequence. Press ENTER after you type each command.
a. regsvr32 c:\windows\system32\vbscript.dll
b. regsvr32 c:\windows\system32\mshtml.dll
c. regsvr32 c:\windows\system32\msjava.dll
d. regsvr32 c:\windows\system32\jscript.dll
e. regsvr32 c:\windows\system32\msxml.dll
f. regsvr32 c:\windows\system32\actxprxy.dll
g. regsvr32 c:\windows\system32\shdocvw.dll
2. After you type each command, click OK to dismiss the RegSvr32 message

window.

Reinstall files (Windows 98 and Windows Millennium Edition)
If PC is running Windows 98 or Windows Millennium Edition, follow the steps given below:
1. Click Start, click Run, type cleanmgr, and then click OK.
2. In Disk Cleanup, click to select Temporary Internet Files in the Files to delete list, click to clear all the other items in the list, and then click OK.
3. Reinstall the Windows Update client. For this, follow the steps given below:
a. Make a folder on the desktop.
b. Save the Iuctl.cab file to the folder that you made on your desktop.
c. Right-click the Iuctl.cab file, and then click Extract to.
d. Point to the folder that you made on your desktop, and then click Extract.
e. Open the folder on your desktop, right-click the Iuctl.inf file, and then click Install.
f. Delete the folder that you made on your desktop.
Change the Windows Installer service to manual startup mode
If Windows Installer service is disabled, you will get errors when you attempt to update PC by using Windows Update. To solve this problem, modify Windows Installer service to manual startup mode. For this, follow the steps given below:
1. Click Start, click Run, type services.msc, and then click OK.
2. In right pane, right-click Windows Installer, and then click Properties.
3. On the General tab, choose Manual under Startup type, and then click OK.
After you finish these steps, the Windows Installer service can only be started by a user or a needy service.