http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/troubleshoot/
Scroll down to and click on the link for "While the Windows Update Web site is
loading, you receive Initialization Error 0x80072F78". (articles mentions your error
code 0x80072F76)
Also:-
Make sure you haven’t got anything blocking Windows Update like Nortons, Zonealarm
etc
You could try the following suggestions:-
Suggestion 1. Click Start, select Run and type (pressing enter after each one and
wait for the success message):
regsvr32 wuapi.dll
regsvr32 wuaueng.dll
regsvr32 wuaueng1.dll
regsvr32 wucltui.dll
regsvr32 wups.dll
regsvr32 wuweb.dll
regsvr32 jscript.dll
regsvr32 atl.dll
If you encounter any errors while registering any of the files then skip that file
and then continue with the next one (also note that there is a space after the 32).
Now try Windows Update again.
Suggestion 2. Change the proxy information to NOT automatically detect settings as
this issue can also occur if your proxy setting are configured to automatically
detect settings.
.. Click Start/ Settings and choose Control Panel.
.. Choose Network and Internet Connections and then choose Internet Options (or go
straight to Internet Options in classic view).
.. Click the Connections tab.
.. Click the LAN Settings button.
.. In the Automatic configuration frame uncheck "Automatically detect settings" and
uncheck “Use automatic configuration script”
.. Click OK and then OK again to close the window.
Now try Windows Update again.
Suggestion 3: Could occur if Security settings in Internet Explorer are not set to
Medium or lower for ActiveX files to correctly pass to your computer. Only the Web
sites listed in Internet Explorer's Trusted Sites Zone will be affected by the
lowering of Security settings. Your current security settings for all other Web sites
will remain as they are currently configured.
.. From the main toolbar in Internet Explorer, click Tools, and then click Internet
Options.
.. Click Security.
.. Click Trusted Sites Zone.
.. Click Sites.
.. Clear the Require server verification (https

for all sites in this zone check
box.
.. Use the Add button next to the Add this Web site to the zone box to add the
following sites:
http://*.windowsupdate.microsoft.com
https://*.windowsupdate.microsoft.com
http://download.windowsupdate.com
.. Click OK.
Now try Windows Update again.
marjam wrote:
> I'm getting 0x80072F76 when trying to access windows update beta
> through internet explorer but no problems when using the Help and
> Support Center?
>
> Any Ideas?
>
> Thanks