Automatic Update Notification Icon Never Appears

For the past few months, I no longer get the update notification icon in my
system tray. WU is set to notify me automatically, but let me decide which
update to download and install. The wuausvc service is running fine and I've
tried re-registering all the Windows Update DLL files. Tried deleting the
Software Distribution folder from Windows/System32 in case of corruption (it
gets recreated by itself OK). Tried "clean boot" with no startup programs or
non-MS services running. Even manually downloaded the Windows Update update
3.0, I can detect new available updates only if I start WU manually, from
the Start Menu or Control Panel. MS tech support has been unable to help so
far, only suggesting a complete repair install. That's like repairing engine
trouble by replacing the whole car! My OS is Vista Ultimate 32-bit. Can't
believe I'm the only user who's ever had this issue?

You could try: Automatic Updates and WindowsUpdate Reset tool
http://www.codeplex.com/aureset

Otherwise you may have to do with the MS technician suggested.

--

TaurArian [MVP] 2005-2009 - Update Services
http://taurarian.mvps.org
======================================
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
Disclaimer: The information has been posted "as is" with no warranties or
guarantees and doesn't give any rights.
Computer Maintenance: Acronis / Diskeeper / Paragon / Raxco


"RonnieJP" <> wrote in message
news:417DAA03-F41F-417D-AB5B-...
> For the past few months, I no longer get the update notification icon in
> my
> system tray. WU is set to notify me automatically, but let me decide
> which
> update to download and install. The wuausvc service is running fine and
> I've
> tried re-registering all the Windows Update DLL files. Tried deleting the
> Software Distribution folder from Windows/System32 in case of corruption
> (it
> gets recreated by itself OK). Tried "clean boot" with no startup programs
> or
> non-MS services running. Even manually downloaded the Windows Update
> update
> 3.0, I can detect new available updates only if I start WU manually, from
> the Start Menu or Control Panel. MS tech support has been unable to help
> so
> far, only suggesting a complete repair install. That's like repairing
> engine
> trouble by replacing the whole car! My OS is Vista Ultimate 32-bit.
> Can't
> believe I'm the only user who's ever had this issue?

Vista or Vista SP1?

RonnieJP wrote:
> For the past few months, I no longer get the update notification icon in
> my
> system tray. WU is set to notify me automatically, but let me decide
> which
> update to download and install. The wuausvc service is running fine and
> I've tried re-registering all the Windows Update DLL files. Tried
> deleting
> the Software Distribution folder from Windows/System32 in case of
> corruption (it gets recreated by itself OK). Tried "clean boot" with no
> startup programs or non-MS services running. Even manually downloaded the
> Windows Update update
> 3.0, I can detect new available updates only if I start WU manually, from
> the Start Menu or Control Panel. MS tech support has been unable to help
> so
> far, only suggesting a complete repair install. That's like repairing
> engine trouble by replacing the whole car! My OS is Vista Ultimate
> 32-bit.
> Can't believe I'm the only user who's ever had this issue?

No, you are not the only one with this issue..I have VISTA sp1. As far as I
can recall, this issue has been present since purchase(1year ago).

--
vls


"RonnieJP" wrote:

> For the past few months, I no longer get the update notification icon in my
> system tray. WU is set to notify me automatically, but let me decide which
> update to download and install. The wuausvc service is running fine and I've
> tried re-registering all the Windows Update DLL files. Tried deleting the
> Software Distribution folder from Windows/System32 in case of corruption (it
> gets recreated by itself OK). Tried "clean boot" with no startup programs or
> non-MS services running. Even manually downloaded the Windows Update update
> 3.0, I can detect new available updates only if I start WU manually, from
> the Start Menu or Control Panel. MS tech support has been unable to help so
> far, only suggesting a complete repair install. That's like repairing engine
> trouble by replacing the whole car! My OS is Vista Ultimate 32-bit. Can't
> believe I'm the only user who's ever had this issue?

Thanks to all who replied so far. Apparently AUreset has been pulled by
CodePlex and replaced with AUcheck. Don't know if they are similar, but it
did not cure the problem. I am running SP1 and even purchased a replacement
disk from MS so I could reinstall. I did a in-place upgrade re-install last
night on a spare cloned drive and it did indeed fix the WU notification
issue. However, after the painful 2-1/2 hour re-install, several of my
applications did not work, some serial number keys were lost and some device
drivers did not get restored. I was warned that the Vista in-place upgrade
re-install is nowhere near as clean as the "repair" install was for Windows
XP. I still am using the drive with the original install, hoping to find
answers, but I may just have to bite the bullet and try to re-install some of
the failed applications and missing device drivers on my cloned "re-install"
drive.

> "RonnieJP" wrote:
>
> For the past few months, I no longer get the update notification icon in
my
> system tray. WU is set to notify me automatically, but let me decide which
> update to download and install. The wuausvc service is running fine and I've
> tried re-registering all the Windows Update DLL files. Tried deleting the
> Software Distribution folder from Windows/System32 in case of corruption (it
> gets recreated by itself OK). Tried "clean boot" with no startup programs or
> non-MS services running. Even manually downloaded the Windows Update
> update 3.0, I can detect new available updates only if I start WU manually,
> from the Start Menu or Control Panel. MS tech support has been unable to help
> so far, only suggesting a complete repair install. That's like repairing engine
> trouble by replacing the whole car! My OS is Vista Ultimate 32-bit. Can't
> believe I'm the only user who's ever had this issue?

AU Check = AURESET; the app is v78 and was released on 12 Sept-08 & updated
on 18 Sept-08; cf.
http://www.codeplex.com/aureset/Rele...eleaseId=17263

Did you install Vista SP1 (via Windows Update or manually) or did was
replacement disk Vista SP1?

Is the machine still under Warranty or Service Contract?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/


RonnieJP wrote:
> Thanks to all who replied so far. Apparently AUreset has been pulled by
> CodePlex and replaced with AUcheck. Don't know if they are similar, but
> it
> did not cure the problem. I am running SP1 and even purchased a
> replacement
> disk from MS so I could reinstall. I did a in-place upgrade re-install
> last
> night on a spare cloned drive and it did indeed fix the WU notification
> issue. However, after the painful 2-1/2 hour re-install, several of my
> applications did not work, some serial number keys were lost and some
> device
> drivers did not get restored. I was warned that the Vista in-place
> upgrade
> re-install is nowhere near as clean as the "repair" install was for
> Windows
> XP. I still am using the drive with the original install, hoping to find
> answers, but I may just have to bite the bullet and try to re-install some
> of the failed applications and missing device drivers on my cloned
> "re-install" drive.
>
>> "RonnieJP" wrote:
>>
>> For the past few months, I no longer get the update notification icon in
> my
>> system tray. WU is set to notify me automatically, but let me decide
>> which update to download and install. The wuausvc service is running
>> fine and I've tried re-registering all the Windows Update DLL files.
>> Tried deleting the Software Distribution folder from Windows/System32 in
>> case of corruption (it gets recreated by itself OK). Tried "clean boot"
>> with no startup programs or non-MS services running. Even manually
>> downloaded the Windows Update update 3.0, I can detect new available
>> updates only if I start WU manually, from the Start Menu or Control
>> Panel.
>> MS tech support has been unable to help so far, only suggesting a
>> complete
>> repair install. That's like repairing engine trouble by replacing the
>> whole car! My OS is Vista Ultimate 32-bit. Can't believe I'm the only
>> user who's ever had this issue?

My original Vista retail discs were gold version, without SP1. I had
installed SP1 via Windows Update several months before (when WU was working
right!). Since you cannot re-install a non-SP1 version over an SP1 version,
and I had deleted the SP1 uninstall files, I had to purchase Vista
replacement discs from Microsoft that already contained SP1. The re-install
worked, but as I mentioned, it messed up a lot of things. But it did
re-enable my automatic update notifications.

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

> AU Check = AURESET; the app is v78 and was released on 12 Sept-08 & updated
> on 18 Sept-08; cf.
> http://www.codeplex.com/aureset/Rele...eleaseId=17263
>
> Did you install Vista SP1 (via Windows Update or manually) or did was
> replacement disk Vista SP1?
>
> Is the machine still under Warranty or Service Contract?
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Well, then, any other problems you're having belong in a new thread in a
Vista-specific forum, please.

RonnieJP wrote:
> My original Vista retail discs were gold version, without SP1. I had
> installed SP1 via Windows Update several months before (when WU was
> working
> right!). Since you cannot re-install a non-SP1 version over an SP1
> version,
> and I had deleted the SP1 uninstall files, I had to purchase Vista
> replacement discs from Microsoft that already contained SP1. The
> re-install
> worked, but as I mentioned, it messed up a lot of things. But it did
> re-enable my automatic update notifications.
>
> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
>
>> AU Check = AURESET; the app is v78 and was released on 12 Sept-08 &
>> updated
>> on 18 Sept-08; cf.
>> http://www.codeplex.com/aureset/Rele...eleaseId=17263
>>
>> Did you install Vista SP1 (via Windows Update or manually) or did was
>> replacement disk Vista SP1?
>>
>> Is the machine still under Warranty or Service Contract?
>> --
>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
>> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
>> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

"RonnieJP" <> wrote in message
news:417DAA03-F41F-417D-AB5B-...
> For the past few months, I no longer get the update notification icon in
> my
> system tray. WU is set to notify me automatically, but let me decide
> which
> update to download and install. The wuausvc service is running fine and
> I've
> tried re-registering all the Windows Update DLL files. Tried deleting the
> Software Distribution folder from Windows/System32 in case of corruption
> (it
> gets recreated by itself OK). Tried "clean boot" with no startup programs
> or
> non-MS services running. Even manually downloaded the Windows Update
> update
> 3.0, I can detect new available updates only if I start WU manually, from
> the Start Menu or Control Panel. MS tech support has been unable to help
> so
> far, only suggesting a complete repair install. That's like repairing
> engine
> trouble by replacing the whole car! My OS is Vista Ultimate 32-bit.
> Can't
> believe I'm the only user who's ever had this issue?


You are not. I tried for weeks to find the cure for this problem without
success, not willing to scrub this installation of Vista SP1 and start
again.

I'm now working in "Never check for updates" mode. Remembering to manually
check for updates once or twice a month isn't too much of a strain.

If this problem has occurred in XP, I bet I could have found a resolution in
minutes... (