Failed update install due to error 0x80242000

Hoping someone can help.

This must be a weird one as there are very few references to it and a
previous post did not even get a reply.

The windowsupdate.log shows the following

2006-08-31 19:22:24 1144 5ac Handler Attempting to create remote
handler process as SISWI\Administrator in session 0
2006-08-31 19:22:25 1144 5ac Handler FATAL: 0x00000000: ERROR: Remote
update handler container process created (PID: 840), but exited before
signaling event
2006-08-31 19:22:25 1144 5ac Agent WARNING: WU client fail to get
handler to install update with error 0x80242000

This happens with all updates.

I have tried all the things I can that I have found on the group
without success including validation checks, reinstalling the update
software and so on.

Any ideas VERY welcome.

Cheers, Paul M