Automatic Update Options Greyed-Out

I recently came across a computer running Windows XP Professional with SP2
that had failed to receive automatic updates. Although Automatic Updates
appeared to be set to on, the options were greyed out. I was able to run
Windows Update manually and apply the 86 critical updates but I still cannot
"un-grey" the options. I tried looking at the registry settings and group
policies as per http://windowsxp.mvps.org/aupolicy.htm but can find nothing
wrong.

Review these earlier threads:
http://groups.google.com/group/micro...coring=d&hl=en

Also see this possibly-related KB article:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144

QED: Was WinXP ever reinstalled, be it a Repair Install or a format &
reinstall? If so, which method and why?
--
~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/


AlanB wrote:
> I recently came across a computer running Windows XP Professional with SP2
> that had failed to receive automatic updates. Although Automatic Updates
> appeared to be set to on, the options were greyed out. I was able to run
> Windows Update manually and apply the 86 critical updates but I still
> cannot
> "un-grey" the options. I tried looking at the registry settings and group
> policies as per http://windowsxp.mvps.org/aupolicy.htm but can find
> nothing
> wrong.

I have reviewed the earlier threads linked but the suggestions doe not seem
to go beyond those I have already tried. Note that the symptoms are:
1. Windows Update appears to be on but has not been running.
2. The Automatic Updates options are greyed-out.
3. Running Windows Update from the web site is SUCCESSFUL.

I do not know the prior history of the computer. I was asked to set up
broadband on the computer. I routinely check security settings and noticed
the Updates problem.

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

> Review these earlier threads:
> http://groups.google.com/group/micro...coring=d&hl=en
>
> Also see this possibly-related KB article:
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
>
> QED: Was WinXP ever reinstalled, be it a Repair Install or a format &
> reinstall? If so, which method and why?
> --
> ~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/
>
>
> AlanB wrote:
> > I recently came across a computer running Windows XP Professional with SP2
> > that had failed to receive automatic updates. Although Automatic Updates
> > appeared to be set to on, the options were greyed out. I was able to run
> > Windows Update manually and apply the 86 critical updates but I still
> > cannot
> > "un-grey" the options. I tried looking at the registry settings and group
> > policies as per http://windowsxp.mvps.org/aupolicy.htm but can find
> > nothing
> > wrong.
>
>

Have you checked -

Automatic Updates options are grayed out?:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/aupolicy.htm


"AlanB" wrote:

> I have reviewed the earlier threads linked but the suggestions doe not seem
> to go beyond those I have already tried. Note that the symptoms are:
> 1. Windows Update appears to be on but has not been running.
> 2. The Automatic Updates options are greyed-out.
> 3. Running Windows Update from the web site is SUCCESSFUL.
>
> I do not know the prior history of the computer. I was asked to set up
> broadband on the computer. I routinely check security settings and noticed
> the Updates problem.
>
> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
>
> > Review these earlier threads:
> > http://groups.google.com/group/micro...coring=d&hl=en
> >
> > Also see this possibly-related KB article:
> > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
> >
> > QED: Was WinXP ever reinstalled, be it a Repair Install or a format &
> > reinstall? If so, which method and why?
> > --
> > ~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/
> >
> >
> > AlanB wrote:
> > > I recently came across a computer running Windows XP Professional with SP2
> > > that had failed to receive automatic updates. Although Automatic Updates
> > > appeared to be set to on, the options were greyed out. I was able to run
> > > Windows Update manually and apply the 86 critical updates but I still
> > > cannot
> > > "un-grey" the options. I tried looking at the registry settings and group
> > > policies as per http://windowsxp.mvps.org/aupolicy.htm but can find
> > > nothing
> > > wrong.
> >
> >

And if that works, reboot and tell us if Automatic Updates is greyed-out
again or not, please.

TaurArian wrote:
> Have you checked -
>
> Automatic Updates options are grayed out?:
> http://windowsxp.mvps.org/aupolicy.htm
>
>
> "AlanB" wrote:
>
>> I have reviewed the earlier threads linked but the suggestions doe not
>> seem
>> to go beyond those I have already tried. Note that the symptoms are:
>> 1. Windows Update appears to be on but has not been running.
>> 2. The Automatic Updates options are greyed-out.
>> 3. Running Windows Update from the web site is SUCCESSFUL.
>>
>> I do not know the prior history of the computer. I was asked to set up
>> broadband on the computer. I routinely check security settings and
>> noticed
>> the Updates problem.
>>
>> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
>>
>>> Review these earlier threads:
>>> http://groups.google.com/group/micro...coring=d&hl=en
>>>
>>> Also see this possibly-related KB article:
>>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
>>>
>>> QED: Was WinXP ever reinstalled, be it a Repair Install or a format &
>>> reinstall? If so, which method and why?
>>> --
>>> ~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/
>>>
>>>
>>> AlanB wrote:
>>>> I recently came across a computer running Windows XP Professional with
>>>> SP2 that had failed to receive automatic updates. Although Automatic
>>>> Updates appeared to be set to on, the options were greyed out. I was
>>>> able to run Windows Update manually and apply the 86 critical updates
>>>> but I still cannot
>>>> "un-grey" the options. I tried looking at the registry settings and
>>>> group policies as per http://windowsxp.mvps.org/aupolicy.htm but can
>>>> find
>>>> nothing
>>>> wrong.

Sorry guys, my mistake. I really thought I had checked the registry and
group policy settings before I posted, but I had missed one. I ran good ol'
Dial-a-Fix which alerted me to the Registry entry HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \
SOFTWARE \ Policies \ Microsoft \ Windows \ WindowsUpdate \ AU ,where the
AUOptions key was set to a value of 4. So I asked Dial-a-Fix to remove the
entry and that did the trick! Automatic Updates is now on and working
normally.

Thank you very much for your time and patience and sorry it proved to be a
wild goose chase.



"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

> And if that works, reboot and tell us if Automatic Updates is greyed-out
> again or not, please.
>
> TaurArian wrote:
> > Have you checked -
> >
> > Automatic Updates options are grayed out?:
> > http://windowsxp.mvps.org/aupolicy.htm
> >
> >
> > "AlanB" wrote:
> >
> >> I have reviewed the earlier threads linked but the suggestions doe not
> >> seem
> >> to go beyond those I have already tried. Note that the symptoms are:
> >> 1. Windows Update appears to be on but has not been running.
> >> 2. The Automatic Updates options are greyed-out.
> >> 3. Running Windows Update from the web site is SUCCESSFUL.
> >>
> >> I do not know the prior history of the computer. I was asked to set up
> >> broadband on the computer. I routinely check security settings and
> >> noticed
> >> the Updates problem.
> >>
> >> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
> >>
> >>> Review these earlier threads:
> >>> http://groups.google.com/group/micro...coring=d&hl=en
> >>>
> >>> Also see this possibly-related KB article:
> >>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
> >>>
> >>> QED: Was WinXP ever reinstalled, be it a Repair Install or a format &
> >>> reinstall? If so, which method and why?
> >>> --
> >>> ~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/
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> AlanB wrote:
> >>>> I recently came across a computer running Windows XP Professional with
> >>>> SP2 that had failed to receive automatic updates. Although Automatic
> >>>> Updates appeared to be set to on, the options were greyed out. I was
> >>>> able to run Windows Update manually and apply the 86 critical updates
> >>>> but I still cannot
> >>>> "un-grey" the options. I tried looking at the registry settings and
> >>>> group policies as per http://windowsxp.mvps.org/aupolicy.htm but can
> >>>> find
> >>>> nothing
> >>>> wrong.
>
>

Thanks for advising us AlanB. Pleased it's all working okay now.
K

"AlanB" wrote:

> Sorry guys, my mistake. I really thought I had checked the registry and
> group policy settings before I posted, but I had missed one. I ran good ol'
> Dial-a-Fix which alerted me to the Registry entry HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \
> SOFTWARE \ Policies \ Microsoft \ Windows \ WindowsUpdate \ AU ,where the
> AUOptions key was set to a value of 4. So I asked Dial-a-Fix to remove the
> entry and that did the trick! Automatic Updates is now on and working
> normally.
>
> Thank you very much for your time and patience and sorry it proved to be a
> wild goose chase.
>
>
>
> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
>
> > And if that works, reboot and tell us if Automatic Updates is greyed-out
> > again or not, please.
> >
> > TaurArian wrote:
> > > Have you checked -
> > >
> > > Automatic Updates options are grayed out?:
> > > http://windowsxp.mvps.org/aupolicy.htm
> > >
> > >
> > > "AlanB" wrote:
> > >
> > >> I have reviewed the earlier threads linked but the suggestions doe not
> > >> seem
> > >> to go beyond those I have already tried. Note that the symptoms are:
> > >> 1. Windows Update appears to be on but has not been running.
> > >> 2. The Automatic Updates options are greyed-out.
> > >> 3. Running Windows Update from the web site is SUCCESSFUL.
> > >>
> > >> I do not know the prior history of the computer. I was asked to set up
> > >> broadband on the computer. I routinely check security settings and
> > >> noticed
> > >> the Updates problem.
> > >>
> > >> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
> > >>
> > >>> Review these earlier threads:
> > >>> http://groups.google.com/group/micro...coring=d&hl=en
> > >>>
> > >>> Also see this possibly-related KB article:
> > >>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
> > >>>
> > >>> QED: Was WinXP ever reinstalled, be it a Repair Install or a format &
> > >>> reinstall? If so, which method and why?
> > >>> --
> > >>> ~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/
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>> AlanB wrote:
> > >>>> I recently came across a computer running Windows XP Professional with
> > >>>> SP2 that had failed to receive automatic updates. Although Automatic
> > >>>> Updates appeared to be set to on, the options were greyed out. I was
> > >>>> able to run Windows Update manually and apply the 86 critical updates
> > >>>> but I still cannot
> > >>>> "un-grey" the options. I tried looking at the registry settings and
> > >>>> group policies as per http://windowsxp.mvps.org/aupolicy.htm but can
> > >>>> find
> > >>>> nothing
> > >>>> wrong.
> >
> >