Cannot Get to WIN XP Update Page on Microsoft site

After uninstalling IE8 on WIN XP SP3 computer, I cannot get to the correct
Windows Update page on the microsoft site. It displays a Vista update page
telling me to use the Update link on the menu. Apparently the validator on
the Microsoft site seems to detect my machine as Vista.

How does the Windows Update determine what operating system I have on my
machine? Is is from the registry (User-Agent or Curent Version items) or
through an Active X control code some where on my hard drive?

My machine performs OK with the exception of two things; 1. I cannot use
WIndows Update; 2. I canot re-install McAffey Toal Conrol for Small Bsiness
malware protection.

Without doing a clean install of XP, how can I fix the problem?

Thanks

[Crosspost to IE General]

Please stick with your original thread in IE General newsgroup, Eric:
http://groups.google.com/group/micro...e1c21309?hl=en

> After uninstalling IE8 on WIN XP SP3 computer...

In your original thread, you tell us that you'd uninstalled IE8 before you
installed SP3.

From my most recent reply to your original thread:

<QP>
....failure to disable all real-time system protections (i.e.,
anti-virus; anti-spyware; third-party firewall) prior to installing and/or
uninstalling IE8 may have caused the problem, in which case I'd usually
recommend using System Restore but that's not an option now since you later
installed SP3.

But you don't certainly don't have to take my advice, since you can
always...

Start a free Windows Update support incident request:
https://support.microsoft.com/oas/de...spx?gprid=6527
</QP>
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002


Eric G. wrote:
> After uninstalling IE8 on WIN XP SP3 computer, I cannot get to the correct
> Windows Update page on the microsoft site. It displays a Vista update
> page
> telling me to use the Update link on the menu. Apparently the validator
> on
> the Microsoft site seems to detect my machine as Vista.
>
> How does the Windows Update determine what operating system I have on my
> machine? Is is from the registry (User-Agent or Curent Version items) or
> through an Active X control code some where on my hard drive?
>
> My machine performs OK with the exception of two things; 1. I cannot use
> WIndows Update; 2. I canot re-install McAffey Toal Conrol for Small
> Bsiness
> malware protection.
>
> Without doing a clean install of XP, how can I fix the problem?
>
> Thanks

I thought that I might try to ask the question in a different way.


"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

> [Crosspost to IE General]
>
> Please stick with your original thread in IE General newsgroup, Eric:
> http://groups.google.com/group/micro...e1c21309?hl=en
>
> > After uninstalling IE8 on WIN XP SP3 computer...
>
> In your original thread, you tell us that you'd uninstalled IE8 before you
> installed SP3.
>
> From my most recent reply to your original thread:
>
> <QP>
> ....failure to disable all real-time system protections (i.e.,
> anti-virus; anti-spyware; third-party firewall) prior to installing and/or
> uninstalling IE8 may have caused the problem, in which case I'd usually
> recommend using System Restore but that's not an option now since you later
> installed SP3.
>
> But you don't certainly don't have to take my advice, since you can
> always...
>
> Start a free Windows Update support incident request:
> https://support.microsoft.com/oas/de...spx?gprid=6527
> </QP>
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002
>
>
> Eric G. wrote:
> > After uninstalling IE8 on WIN XP SP3 computer, I cannot get to the correct
> > Windows Update page on the microsoft site. It displays a Vista update
> > page
> > telling me to use the Update link on the menu. Apparently the validator
> > on
> > the Microsoft site seems to detect my machine as Vista.
> >
> > How does the Windows Update determine what operating system I have on my
> > machine? Is is from the registry (User-Agent or Curent Version items) or
> > through an Active X control code some where on my hard drive?
> >
> > My machine performs OK with the exception of two things; 1. I cannot use
> > WIndows Update; 2. I canot re-install McAffey Toal Conrol for Small
> > Bsiness
> > malware protection.
> >
> > Without doing a clean install of XP, how can I fix the problem?
> >
> > Thanks
>
>

Eric G. wrote:
> After uninstalling IE8 on WIN XP SP3 computer, I cannot get to the
> correct Windows Update page on the microsoft site. It displays a
> Vista update page telling me to use the Update link on the menu.
> Apparently the validator on the Microsoft site seems to detect my
> machine as Vista.
>
> How does the Windows Update determine what operating system I have
> on my machine? Is is from the registry (User-Agent or Curent
> Version items) or through an Active X control code some where on my
> hard drive?
>
> My machine performs OK with the exception of two things; 1. I
> cannot use WIndows Update; 2. I canot re-install McAffey Toal
> Conrol for Small Bsiness malware protection.
>
> Without doing a clean install of XP, how can I fix the problem?

Seeing you have posted and gotten answers elsewhere - here is my suggestion
(it will take some time and effort):

Download, install, run, update and perform a full scan (separately) with the
following two applications (freeware versions are the ones to use for this):

SuperAntiSpyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/

MalwareBytes
http://www.malwarebytes.com/

After performing a full scan with one and then the other and removing
whatever they both find completely, you may uninstall these products,
if you wish.

Download and run the MSRT manually:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/ma...e/default.mspx

Reboot.

Search your registry for %fystem and replace the "f" with an "s". May be
three or four matches.

Download/Install the latest Windows Installer (for your OS):
( Windows XP 32-bit : WindowsXP-KB942288-v3-x86.exe )
http://www.microsoft.com/downloadS/d...displaylang=en

and...

Download the latest version of the Windows Update agent from here (x86):
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=91237
.... and save it to the root of your C:\ drive. After saving it to the root
of the C:\ drive, do the following:

Close all Internet Explorer windows and other applications.

Start button --> RUN and type in:
%SystemDrive%\windowsupdateagent30-x86.exe /WUFORCE
--> Click OK.

(If asked, select "Run.) --> Click on NEXT --> Select "I agree" and click on
NEXT --> When it finishes installing, click on "Finish"...

Reboot.

Then follow the instructions here:

How do I reset Windows Update components?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058

and..

Log on as an user with administrative rights and open Internet Explorer and
visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and select to do a CUSTOM scan...
(Every time you are about to click on something while at these web pages -
first press and hold down the CTRL key while you click on it. You can
release the CTRL key after clicking each time.)

Once the scan is done, select just _ONE_ of the high priority updates
(deselect any others) and install it.

Reboot again.

If it did work - try the web page again - selecting no more than 3-5 at a
time.

The Optional Software updates are generally safe - although I recommend
against the "Windows Search" one and any of the "Office Live" ones for
now. I would completely avoid the Optional Hardware updates. Also - I do
not see any urgent need to install Internet Explorer 8 at this time.

Come back - let us know if that worked.
.... Really - come back and let everyone know if that worked.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

I understand but your original thread contains much more information than
this one.

I shall reply to your original thread again and will crosspost it to Windows
Update newsgroup. Please continue the crosspost when & if you reply to it.

[I'm no longer watching this thread.]


Eric G. wrote:
> I thought that I might try to ask the question in a different way.
>
>
> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
>
>> [Crosspost to IE General]
>>
>> Please stick with your original thread in IE General newsgroup, Eric:
>> http://groups.google.com/group/micro...e1c21309?hl=en
>>
>>> After uninstalling IE8 on WIN XP SP3 computer...
>>
>> In your original thread, you tell us that you'd uninstalled IE8 before
>> you
>> installed SP3.
>>
>> From my most recent reply to your original thread:
>>
>> <QP>
>> ....failure to disable all real-time system protections (i.e.,
>> anti-virus; anti-spyware; third-party firewall) prior to installing
>> and/or
>> uninstalling IE8 may have caused the problem, in which case I'd usually
>> recommend using System Restore but that's not an option now since you
>> later
>> installed SP3.
>>
>> But you don't certainly don't have to take my advice, since you can
>> always...
>>
>> Start a free Windows Update support incident request:
>> https://support.microsoft.com/oas/de...spx?gprid=6527
>> </QP>
>> --
>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002
>>
>>
>> Eric G. wrote:
>>> After uninstalling IE8 on WIN XP SP3 computer, I cannot get to the
>>> correct
>>> Windows Update page on the microsoft site. It displays a Vista update
>>> page
>>> telling me to use the Update link on the menu. Apparently the validator
>>> on
>>> the Microsoft site seems to detect my machine as Vista.
>>>
>>> How does the Windows Update determine what operating system I have on my
>>> machine? Is is from the registry (User-Agent or Curent Version items)
>>> or
>>> through an Active X control code some where on my hard drive?
>>>
>>> My machine performs OK with the exception of two things; 1. I cannot use
>>> WIndows Update; 2. I canot re-install McAffey Toal Conrol for Small
>>> Bsiness
>>> malware protection.
>>>
>>> Without doing a clean install of XP, how can I fix the problem?
>>>
>>> Thanks

"Shenan Stanley" wrote:

> Eric G. wrote:
> > After uninstalling IE8 on WIN XP SP3 computer, I cannot get to the
> > correct Windows Update page on the microsoft site. It displays a
> > Vista update page telling me to use the Update link on the menu.
> > Apparently the validator on the Microsoft site seems to detect my
> > machine as Vista.
> >
> > How does the Windows Update determine what operating system I have
> > on my machine? Is is from the registry (User-Agent or Curent
> > Version items) or through an Active X control code some where on my
> > hard drive?
> >
> > My machine performs OK with the exception of two things; 1. I
> > cannot use WIndows Update; 2. I canot re-install McAffey Toal
> > Conrol for Small Bsiness malware protection.
> >
> > Without doing a clean install of XP, how can I fix the problem?
>
> Seeing you have posted and gotten answers elsewhere - here is my suggestion
> (it will take some time and effort):
>
> Download, install, run, update and perform a full scan (separately) with the
> following two applications (freeware versions are the ones to use for this):
>
> SuperAntiSpyware
> http://www.superantispyware.com/
>
> MalwareBytes
> http://www.malwarebytes.com/
>
> After performing a full scan with one and then the other and removing
> whatever they both find completely, you may uninstall these products,
> if you wish.
>
> Download and run the MSRT manually:
> http://www.microsoft.com/security/ma...e/default.mspx
>
> Reboot.
>
> Search your registry for %fystem and replace the "f" with an "s". May be
> three or four matches.
>
> Download/Install the latest Windows Installer (for your OS):
> ( Windows XP 32-bit : WindowsXP-KB942288-v3-x86.exe )
> http://www.microsoft.com/downloadS/d...displaylang=en
>
> and...
>
> Download the latest version of the Windows Update agent from here (x86):
> http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=91237
> .... and save it to the root of your C:\ drive. After saving it to the root
> of the C:\ drive, do the following:
>
> Close all Internet Explorer windows and other applications.
>
> Start button --> RUN and type in:
> %SystemDrive%\windowsupdateagent30-x86.exe /WUFORCE
> --> Click OK.
>
> (If asked, select "Run.) --> Click on NEXT --> Select "I agree" and click on
> NEXT --> When it finishes installing, click on "Finish"...
>
> Reboot.
>
> Then follow the instructions here:
>
> How do I reset Windows Update components?
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058
>
> and..
>
> Log on as an user with administrative rights and open Internet Explorer and
> visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and select to do a CUSTOM scan...
> (Every time you are about to click on something while at these web pages -
> first press and hold down the CTRL key while you click on it. You can
> release the CTRL key after clicking each time.)
>
> Once the scan is done, select just _ONE_ of the high priority updates
> (deselect any others) and install it.
>
> Reboot again.
>
> If it did work - try the web page again - selecting no more than 3-5 at a
> time.
>
> The Optional Software updates are generally safe - although I recommend
> against the "Windows Search" one and any of the "Office Live" ones for
> now. I would completely avoid the Optional Hardware updates. Also - I do
> not see any urgent need to install Internet Explorer 8 at this time.
>
> Come back - let us know if that worked.
> .... Really - come back and let everyone know if that worked.
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
>
> check your dns settings in your network adaptors