Xiaomai

I just made a clean (re-) install of Windows XP SP2 onto my Dell Vostro
laptop yesterday. I had no trouble yesterday accessing and installing Windows
Update and I was able to download all essential updates.

Now, when I try accessing Windows/Microsoft Update using IE7, I get
redirected to a screen that says "Thank you for your interest in obtaining
updates from our site".

Automatic Updates seems to work fine, even now.

I've tried following Microsoft's instructions in Article #81744 but that
didn't work and neither did System Restore. Does anyone know of any other
ways to fix this? Or what might have caused my system to STOP being able to
access Windows Update?

ACTIONS TAKEN:
-------------------
Microsoft's Article # 81744 describes this problem, but neither of their
solutions that might apply to me have worked:
a. RE-CONFIGURE FIREWALL OR PROXY: I turned ZoneAlarm (and Windows
Firewall) off and tried connecting. Didn't work. I've never had a problem
with ZA blocking the connection anyway. I don't use a proxy.

b. MODIFY THE REGISTRY: Instructions say to delete the
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Internet
Settings\User Agent\Post Platform. I tried that (following instructions
carefully and backing up the key first) but I can't delete it because there's
no values there. The registry shows Name: (Default) Type: Reg_SZ Data: Value
not set. ** I have no idea what this key SHOULD contain. I've never seen one
before.

I've made 3 successive System Restores, setting my system back nearly 24
hours, which is as far as System Restore will let me go. Each time I've tried
connecting to Windows Update and also checking the Registry Key settings.
There was no change any of those time from what I described above.



The very first time I failed to connect to Windows Update, my system hung up
and crashed (the first time on this install) due to a Stop Error. I had just
awakened the computer from Standby and had no applications running except for
IE7 attempting the Windows Update.

SYSTEM & PREVIOUS INSTALLATION DETAILS:
---------------------------------------------------
I had last used Windows Update successfully immediately after installing XP
(SP1+2) and installing Dell drivers.

My next step was to install ZoneAlarm and SpywareDoctor, both of which
installed fine and have operated normally. Also installed Registry
Mechanic but did not run a scan.

I then installed commonly-used applications, all of which I've used on my
previous laptop (Office 2000, Firefox, Acronis 9.0, iTunes), plus Dell Media
Direct. None of the applications seemed to have any trouble operating. I
also installed the following Powertoys: RAW Image Viewer, Photo Story, Image
Resizer, PowerCalc - not the kind of programs I'd expect to cause problems.

When installing Java Runtime and Sony Connect eReader software tpday, I made
the mistake when installing both programs of uninstalling or canceling the
first install. Those were the only two glitches in an otherwise-smooth
install process.
----------------

Mark L. Ferguson

It is likely that the update activeX component is damaged.
%windir%/Downloaded Program Files will contain the update component, and it
can be rightclicked to 'update' or to delete it and go back to the site for a
new copy.

--
helpful? click "Yes" button. Voting helps the web interface.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...lp_and_support
Mark L. Ferguson



"Xiaomai" wrote:

> I just made a clean (re-) install of Windows XP SP2 onto my Dell Vostro
> laptop yesterday. I had no trouble yesterday accessing and installing Windows
> Update and I was able to download all essential updates.
>
> Now, when I try accessing Windows/Microsoft Update using IE7, I get
> redirected to a screen that says "Thank you for your interest in obtaining
> updates from our site".
>
> Automatic Updates seems to work fine, even now.
>
> I've tried following Microsoft's instructions in Article #81744 but that
> didn't work and neither did System Restore. Does anyone know of any other
> ways to fix this? Or what might have caused my system to STOP being able to
> access Windows Update?
>
> ACTIONS TAKEN:
> -------------------
> Microsoft's Article # 81744 describes this problem, but neither of their
> solutions that might apply to me have worked:
> a. RE-CONFIGURE FIREWALL OR PROXY: I turned ZoneAlarm (and Windows
> Firewall) off and tried connecting. Didn't work. I've never had a problem
> with ZA blocking the connection anyway. I don't use a proxy.
>
> b. MODIFY THE REGISTRY: Instructions say to delete the
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Internet
> Settings\User Agent\Post Platform. I tried that (following instructions
> carefully and backing up the key first) but I can't delete it because there's
> no values there. The registry shows Name: (Default) Type: Reg_SZ Data: Value
> not set. ** I have no idea what this key SHOULD contain. I've never seen one
> before.
>
> I've made 3 successive System Restores, setting my system back nearly 24
> hours, which is as far as System Restore will let me go. Each time I've tried
> connecting to Windows Update and also checking the Registry Key settings.
> There was no change any of those time from what I described above.
>
>
>
> The very first time I failed to connect to Windows Update, my system hung up
> and crashed (the first time on this install) due to a Stop Error. I had just
> awakened the computer from Standby and had no applications running except for
> IE7 attempting the Windows Update.
>
> SYSTEM & PREVIOUS INSTALLATION DETAILS:
> ---------------------------------------------------
> I had last used Windows Update successfully immediately after installing XP
> (SP1+2) and installing Dell drivers.
>
> My next step was to install ZoneAlarm and SpywareDoctor, both of which
> installed fine and have operated normally. Also installed Registry
> Mechanic but did not run a scan.
>
> I then installed commonly-used applications, all of which I've used on my
> previous laptop (Office 2000, Firefox, Acronis 9.0, iTunes), plus Dell Media
> Direct. None of the applications seemed to have any trouble operating. I
> also installed the following Powertoys: RAW Image Viewer, Photo Story, Image
> Resizer, PowerCalc - not the kind of programs I'd expect to cause problems.
>
> When installing Java Runtime and Sony Connect eReader software tpday, I made
> the mistake when installing both programs of uninstalling or canceling the
> first install. Those were the only two glitches in an otherwise-smooth
> install process.
> ----------------
>

Xiaomai

Hi Mark.
Thanks for the pointer. "Unfortunately" I didn't get to try it, because when
I booted up this morning, the problem went away! It's not like I hadn't been
shutting down and restarting plenty of times.

As long as this problem doesn't recur, I'm definitely not going to complain.
If it should, though, I'll try your advice.