Error number 0x800A01B6 trying to run Windows Update

I get the above error, along with a "We're Sorry" message trying to run
Windows Update. I cannot find any explanation of what this error means. I
am setup as an administrator on all my accounts. I am trying to get SP2
installed on the PC.

David wrote:

> I get the above error, along with a "We're Sorry" message trying to run
> Windows Update. I cannot find any explanation of what this error means.
> I am setup as an administrator on all my accounts. I am trying to get
> SP2 installed on the PC.
Hi

The only reference I can find of 0x800A01B6/800A01B6 in the
microsoft.public.windowsupdate group is this one:

800A01B6 Antivirus or firewall software may be preventing the site
software from functioning correctly. disabling their anti-virus or
firewall software for the duration of the update session

found at
http://groups.google.com/groups?selm...TNGP09.phx.gbl


Anyway, I suggest you use the full SP2 installation instead of
Windows Updates to install SP2.

SP2 is available at the Microsoft Download Center
(standalone "network" version, 266 MB):

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...5-9e368d3cdb5a

(disregard the "intended for IT professionals and developers" part,
it can be used on a single computer as well)


If you do not have broadband at home, but you have at work or you have
friends that have it, you can download it there and burn it to a CD.

If you think that the download is to large, you can get the same
file on a CD from Microsoft.

The Windows XP SP2 CD order point:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/d...s/default.mspx



For folders you can consider deleting and other disk cleanup tips
after a successful SP2 installation, take a look here:

http://groups.google.com/groups?selm...TNGP15.phx.gbl



Before installing SP2, you should take a look at the
following sites:

What to Know Before You Download and Install Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/s...hattoknow.mspx

How to successfully install Windows XP Service Pack 2.
http://www.fixyourwindows.com/winxpsp2install.htm

Service Pack Installation Checklist
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spackins.htm


Please take a look at this Microsoft knowledge base article as well:

Windows XP Service Pack 2 is not available to install from Windows
Update and is not offered by Automatic Updates
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=885627

*Important* part from the link above:

If you have T.V. Media from Total Velocity Corporation installed, or
your processor is a Intel P4 Prescott with C-0 stepping, you should
not install SP2.

Intel P4 Prescott processors came out February 2004, so if your
computer is older than that, this is not an issue for you. Also, if
you have a Dell, IBM or HP, this is not an issue.

If you suspect/know you have an Intel P4 Prescott processor, take a
look at the two following Web sites for what you need to do/have to
be able to install SP2 on the computer:

http://forum.aumha.org/viewtopic.php?t=7447
http://cquirke.mvps.org/sp2intel.htm

Newsflash:

Microsoft have now released a fix for the problem where SP2 fails to
boot after installing it in a PC with the Prescott or a Celeron D CPU
(or fails to install in the case of slipstreamed cds). The problem is
described here:

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=34535

and the download for the fix is available here (install it before you
install SP2):

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en


Also, if you have a Dell Dell Inspiron 1150 or 2650, you might get a
slow running system after installing SP2, take a look at this thread
for more on this:
http://groups.google.com/groups?thre...ws.prodigy.com




--
torgeir, Microsoft MVP Scripting and WMI, Porsgrunn Norway
Administration scripting examples and an ONLINE version of
the 1328 page Scripting Guide:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scr...r/default.mspx