Unable to download Windows updates

[Marc_Sydney]

Hi there,

I am having problems with Windows XP Professional Version 5.1 running on a Compaq EvoN1000c laptop.

I cannot download any Windows updates. This is what happens:

I go to Windows Updates (or the automatic update alert comes up).

I select the critical updates available.

I go to install them.

They download quickly (I have a cable connection) and starts the install process

After a few minutes, an error message appears:

"Generic Host Process for Win32 Services has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for this inconvenience."

The error signature contains no useful information:

SzAppName: (blank)
SzAppVer: 0.0.0.0
SzModName: unknown
SzModVer: 0.0.0.0
offset: 00000000

When I click on the Technical Information, it says there are two files that will be sent in the report to Microsoft, being:

c:\Document~1\Marcsc~2\Temp\WER7.temp.dir00\svchos t.exe.mdmp
c:\Document~1\Marcsc~2\Temp\WER7.temp.dir00\appcom pat.txt

- I close off this error message and the install continues (lot of HD activity but very slow progress showing on the Web Dialog box)

- After about 8 to 10 minutes another error message appears as:

"The software you are installing has not passed Windows Logo testing to verify its compatability with Windows XP. This software will not be installed."

I have tried Microsoft Support which was a very frustrating process and with no fix. They just gave up!

If anyone can help me I will be most grateful.

Marc

[LeToPimP]

You might possibly have the MSBlaster worm, as that error is one of it's symptoms. Try this free program from McAfee if you don't already have AV running. Also, if you do have AV running disable it during windows update!

http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/

[Marc_Sydney]

Thanks for the tip. I have actually scanned for the Blaster virus and used Stinger as well as PCBugDoctor, etc. I have not been able to find any viruses. I have Norton on automatic live update, which seems to work fine. The problem appears to be only (so far anyway) to be downloading any Windows or Microsoft updates.

Maybe this extra info will help someone come up with a possible fix?

[wildman6801]

You may have a corrupt windows update component. Try to remove the windows update engine. Then run windows update again. It will take a little bit longer because windows update has to install has to install a copy of the Active-X Control for windows update

[Flyfsh]

You've just been told that you should visit the windows update site to download the latest patches for your system, the only problem is that whenever you visit the site and tried to "Scan for Updates", the system returns with a "Windows Update error 0x800A138F".

I couldn't understand why this was happening and every advice that was provided by the various support boards on many forums did not work, including unregistering the dynamic libraries, iuctl.dll and iuengine.dll and deleting the files to start from scratch. It wasn't until I happened upon reading the windows update log (C:\WINDOWS\Windows Update.log) that it revealed on 2003-08-15 08:26:24, Microsoft (knowningly or unknowningly) changed the original source for getting the catalog manifest from https://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.c...etmanifest.asp to https://a248.e.akamai.net/v4.windows...etmanifest.asp .

What I realized was that my machine (using a 3rd-party software like SpyBot-Search and Destroy) had created a hosts file in C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC directory. Similar in function as the unix counterpart, this basically redirected any traffic going to a248.e.akamai.net was going back to my machine. This caused the error when you tried scanning your machine for needed patches from Microsoft.

So, what you'll need to do is verify that your web-browser has the ability to hit the website https://a248.e.akamai.net/v4.windows...tmanifest.asp, this is essential so that it can obtain the most up-to-date catalog, if successful, you'll get a XML formatted display ... an unsuccessful attempt would be the 404 web browser error.

Try pinging a248.e.akamai.net to see if it comes back as the IP address of 127.0.0.1 (localhost) or that when you run traceroute to the IP address/domain name, it points back to 127.0.0.1 . If you had installed SpyBot 1.2 - Search and Destroy, check to see if there's a file C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC\hosts. You will need to edit this file so that traffic and can flow again properly.


Right-click on the file 'HOSTS' and select properties.

Uncheck the box marked 'Read-Only'

Using Notepad (or whatever favorite editor), start with editing the file 'HOSTS'.

Search for the site a248.e.akamai.net and add a '#' (without the single-quotes) to the beginning of the line.

Save your changes.

Try to ping the site a248.e.akamai.net ... which should now be successful.

Now, return to Windows Update and re-run the scan

[Flyfsh]

Go to C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\Catroot2 and delete or move or rename the "Catroot2" folder ( Windows will automatically recreate a new Catroot2 folder).

Once you've removed the corrupted Catroot2 folder, return to Windows Update and try the download again. This has worked successfully for many people (including me) and I'm unaware of any problems with deleting Catroot2 (as I said, you'll get a brand new one).

[Flyfsh]

http://www.jsiinc.com/SUBL/tip5700/rh5726.htm

http://www.updatexp.com/0x800A138F.html

http://www.tweaknews.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695