Can't access Windows Update or Hotmail

Just got my computer back from authorized Toshiba repair. The system board,
hard disk drive, and DVD drive all had to be replaced, so the repair shop
(again, authorized Toshiba dealer) had to reload OS (Windows XP Media Center
Edition SP!) from scratch. They claim they did the default reload for my
model.

The first thing I did when I booted the system was run Windows update (well,
after entering my wireless router's security key and connecting to the
Internet). Windows Update downloaded the new (now not-so-new) update dll and
then I searched for updates. I received the 0x80072EE2 error message.

I tried all of the plausible solutions -- most did not apply (no proxy
server, no firewall was running in SP1 or on my router). Since then I have
tried every posted solution I have found here and on any forum, other than
those having to do with firewalls (since none is running), adware/viruses
(couldn't be any with freash reload), or router (MTU?? - my Belkin router is
connected to a cable modem and I don't see any such option -- is this for a
DSL connection?). I have registered various dll's (softpub.dll, etc.), tried
to delete various directories (Software Distribution, which Windows refused
to delete), looked at hosts files, changed security to allow pretty much
everything, etc. None of the solutions I have seen here and elsewhere has
either worked or seems to apply.

I then discovered I cannot access Hotmail or any passport login, through IE,
OE, or Firefox. I can access any other secure or other website I can dream
up -- just NOT the Microsoft ones (Update, Hotmail).

I tried to restore from my restore CD, thinking maybe the reapir shop had
screwed up the install. I get the message "Wrong Machine" -- no further
explanation. Maybe too much hardware has changed?

Any help, please??

"smoddelm",

I am sorry you are hitting this issue. The error you are getting translates
to Internet Time Out. Usually, this is caused by a router--but as you say,
you are not behind one. There are settings, though, that we should check to
eliminate them as the issue you face.

Conventions:
- In these instructions, keys on the keyboard are wrapped, such as: <Enter>,
so an instruction of: Type: cmd <Enter> means type the three letters cmd and
then press <Enter>.
- Combinations such as <Ctrl>+<S> and <Ctrl>+<Shift>+<End> mean to press and
hold the keys in order while then pressing the last key. For example, press
the <Ctrl> key and hold, then press the <Shift> key and hold, and then press
the <End> key as if you were typing a single letter of the alphabet.
- When accessing the registry, the word "Expand" means to click on the plus
sign in front of any given key.

First, is your account a local administrator? Assuming you are not in a
domain, and that this is Windows XP:
1. Click Start
2. Click Run
3. Type: cmd <Enter>
4. In the Command Prompt, type: echo %USERNAME% <Enter>
5. The result should be your current username
6. Type: net localgroup administrators /add %USERNAME% <Enter> This SHOULD
result in an error saying: System error 1378 has occurred.

The specified account name is already a member of the local group.
7. If you do not receive this error, you need to log on with an account in
the administrators group and add your current username to this group.

Next, make sure the proxy cache is set up appropriately:
8. Still in the Command Prompt, type: proxycfg -d <Enter> This will reset
the proxy cache and set it to direct access, ignoring your Belkin router.
9. Type: proxycfg -u <Enter> This will set the proxy to whatever settings
are listed in the Internet Explorer settings. Assuming you can browse, this
should work.
10. Close all Internet Explorer windows and all other Internet browser
windows.

Please try to access Windows Update again, and let us know how it goes.

Sincerely,

Pat Walters [MSFT]


"smoddelm" <> wrote in message
news:A19C82D8-AFF4-433E-88AE-...
> Just got my computer back from authorized Toshiba repair. The system
board,
> hard disk drive, and DVD drive all had to be replaced, so the repair shop
> (again, authorized Toshiba dealer) had to reload OS (Windows XP Media
Center
> Edition SP!) from scratch. They claim they did the default reload for my
> model.
>
> The first thing I did when I booted the system was run Windows update
(well,
> after entering my wireless router's security key and connecting to the
> Internet). Windows Update downloaded the new (now not-so-new) update dll
and
> then I searched for updates. I received the 0x80072EE2 error message.
>
> I tried all of the plausible solutions -- most did not apply (no proxy
> server, no firewall was running in SP1 or on my router). Since then I
have
> tried every posted solution I have found here and on any forum, other than
> those having to do with firewalls (since none is running), adware/viruses
> (couldn't be any with freash reload), or router (MTU?? - my Belkin router
is
> connected to a cable modem and I don't see any such option -- is this for
a
> DSL connection?). I have registered various dll's (softpub.dll, etc.),
tried
> to delete various directories (Software Distribution, which Windows
refused
> to delete), looked at hosts files, changed security to allow pretty much
> everything, etc. None of the solutions I have seen here and elsewhere has
> either worked or seems to apply.
>
> I then discovered I cannot access Hotmail or any passport login, through
IE,
> OE, or Firefox. I can access any other secure or other website I can
dream
> up -- just NOT the Microsoft ones (Update, Hotmail).
>
> I tried to restore from my restore CD, thinking maybe the reapir shop had
> screwed up the install. I get the message "Wrong Machine" -- no further
> explanation. Maybe too much hardware has changed?
>
> Any help, please??
>
>

smoddelm wrote:

>
> I tried to restore from my restore CD, thinking maybe the reapir shop
had
> screwed up the install. I get the message "Wrong Machine" -- no
further
> explanation. Maybe too much hardware has changed?
>
> Any help, please??

I'm going through the same problem right now. My restore discs (second
set I ordered from Toshiba after the first errored out and trashed my
machine and leaving it unbootable).

Toshiba told me I'd have to send it in to be fixed but I checked on
thier web site and found a solution at this link.

http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/t...ceghdgngdgnj.0

If the link is too long to go this page and look at the list of Support
Updates, it's currently the second one listed.

http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/t...su_sc_home.jsp

Basically you put a small program on a bootable floppy or CD which
rewrites the DMI strings in the Toshiba allowing the restore CD to boot
up.