Microsoft update sites blocked

I have several computer that cannot get to any Microsoft sites, but can surf
the internet fine. I don't know where to start, so any help is appreciated.

It *sounds* as if there's an issue with the hosts file. Since you're are
tech, then you know where to locate it and what to look for in it,
right ? <w>


MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============

CW_Techie wrote:

> I have several computer that cannot get to any Microsoft sites, but can surf
> the internet fine. I don't know where to start, so any help is appreciated.

Been there done that. Checked every file in that folder. Compared them to a
machine that works.

Here is where it gets weird. If I take the computer offsite, I can get to
the MS sites.

Thanks for the reply.

"MowGreen [MVP]" wrote:

> It *sounds* as if there's an issue with the hosts file. Since you're are
> tech, then you know where to locate it and what to look for in it,
> right ? <w>
>
>
> MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
> ===============
> *-343-* FDNY
> Never Forgotten
> ===============
>
> CW_Techie wrote:
>
> > I have several computer that cannot get to any Microsoft sites, but can surf
> > the internet fine. I don't know where to start, so any help is appreciated.
>

> If I take the computer offsite, I can get to
> the MS sites.

Sounds like a router issue. Is one involved ?


MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============

CW_Techie wrote:

> Been there done that. Checked every file in that folder. Compared them to a
> machine that works.
>
> Here is where it gets weird. If I take the computer offsite, I can get to
> the MS sites.
>
> Thanks for the reply.
>
> "MowGreen [MVP]" wrote:
>
>
>>It *sounds* as if there's an issue with the hosts file. Since you're are
>>tech, then you know where to locate it and what to look for in it,
>>right ? <w>
>>
>>
>>MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
>>===============
>> *-343-* FDNY
>>Never Forgotten
>>===============
>>
>>CW_Techie wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I have several computer that cannot get to any Microsoft sites, but can surf
>>>the internet fine. I don't know where to start, so any help is appreciated.
>>

There is a Cisco Pix between us and the internet. Only 30% of my computers
have this issue.

I just formatted one of them and the problem came right back.



"MowGreen [MVP]" wrote:

> > If I take the computer offsite, I can get to
> > the MS sites.
>
> Sounds like a router issue. Is one involved ?
>
>
> MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
> ===============
> *-343-* FDNY
> Never Forgotten
> ===============
>
> CW_Techie wrote:
>
> > Been there done that. Checked every file in that folder. Compared them to a
> > machine that works.
> >
> > Here is where it gets weird. If I take the computer offsite, I can get to
> > the MS sites.
> >
> > Thanks for the reply.
> >
> > "MowGreen [MVP]" wrote:
> >
> >
> >>It *sounds* as if there's an issue with the hosts file. Since you're are
> >>tech, then you know where to locate it and what to look for in it,
> >>right ? <w>
> >>
> >>
> >>MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
> >>===============
> >> *-343-* FDNY
> >>Never Forgotten
> >>===============
> >>
> >>CW_Techie wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>>I have several computer that cannot get to any Microsoft sites, but can surf
> >>>the internet fine. I don't know where to start, so any help is appreciated.
> >>
>

Would you please post the contents of the WindowsUpdate.log from the
recently formatted system ? It's in %windir%
Thanks

MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============


CW_Techie wrote:

> There is a Cisco Pix between us and the internet. Only 30% of my computers
> have this issue.
>
> I just formatted one of them and the problem came right back.
>
>
>
> "MowGreen [MVP]" wrote:
>
>
>>>If I take the computer offsite, I can get to
>>>the MS sites.
>>
>>Sounds like a router issue. Is one involved ?
>>
>>
>>MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
>>===============
>> *-343-* FDNY
>>Never Forgotten
>>===============
>>
>>CW_Techie wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Been there done that. Checked every file in that folder. Compared them to a
>>>machine that works.
>>>
>>>Here is where it gets weird. If I take the computer offsite, I can get to
>>>the MS sites.
>>>
>>>Thanks for the reply.
>>>
>>>"MowGreen [MVP]" wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>It *sounds* as if there's an issue with the hosts file. Since you're are
>>>>tech, then you know where to locate it and what to look for in it,
>>>>right ? <w>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
>>>>===============
>>>> *-343-* FDNY
>>>>Never Forgotten
>>>>===============
>>>>
>>>>CW_Techie wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>I have several computer that cannot get to any Microsoft sites, but can surf
>>>>>the internet fine. I don't know where to start, so any help is appreciated.
>>>>

I have been given a computer recently and cannot get to any Microsoft sites, but can surf the internet fine. I try to download microsoft security essential. please help.thanks


> On Tuesday, March 27, 2007 8:04 PM CW_Techi wrote:

> I have several computer that cannot get to any Microsoft sites, but can surf
> the internet fine. I do not know where to start, so any help is appreciated.


>> On Wednesday, March 28, 2007 2:57 PM MowGreen [MVP] wrote:

>> It *sounds* as if there's an issue with the hosts file. Since you're are
>> tech, then you know where to locate it and what to look for in it,
>> right ? <w>
>>
>>
>> MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
>> ===============
>> *-343-* FDNY
>> Never Forgotten
>> ===============
>>
>> CW_Techie wrote:


>>> On Wednesday, March 28, 2007 3:16 PM CWTechi wrote:

>>> Been there done that. Checked every file in that folder. Compared them to a
>>> machine that works.
>>>
>>> Here is where it gets weird. If I take the computer offsite, I can get to
>>> the MS sites.
>>>
>>> Thanks for the reply.
>>>
>>> "MowGreen [MVP]" wrote:


>>>> On Thursday, March 29, 2007 2:12 PM MowGreen [MVP] wrote:

>>>> Sounds like a router issue. Is one involved ?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
>>>> ===============
>>>> *-343-* FDNY
>>>> Never Forgotten
>>>> ===============
>>>>
>>>> CW_Techie wrote:


>>>>> On Thursday, March 29, 2007 3:10 PM CWTechi wrote:

>>>>> There is a Cisco Pix between us and the internet. Only 30% of my computers
>>>>> have this issue.
>>>>>
>>>>> I just formatted one of them and the problem came right back.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> "MowGreen [MVP]" wrote:


>>>>>> On Friday, March 30, 2007 3:27 PM MowGreen [MVP] wrote:

>>>>>> Would you please post the contents of the WindowsUpdate.log from the
>>>>>> recently formatted system ? It's in %windir%
>>>>>> Thanks
>>>>>>
>>>>>> MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
>>>>>> ===============
>>>>>> *-343-* FDNY
>>>>>> Never Forgotten
>>>>>> ===============
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> CW_Techie wrote:

natalie L. wrote:
> I have been given a computer recently and cannot get to any Microsoft sites, but can
> surf the internet fine. I try to download microsoft security essential. please help.
> thanks
>
>
>> > On Tuesday, March 27, 2007 8:04 PM CW_Techi wrote:
>> > I have several computer that cannot get to any Microsoft sites, but can surf
>> > the internet fine. I do not know where to start, so any help is appreciated.
>
>>> >> On Wednesday, March 28, 2007 2:57 PM MowGreen [MVP] wrote:
>>> >> It*sounds* as if there's an issue with the hosts file. Since you're are
>>> >> tech, then you know where to locate it and what to look for in it,
>>> >> right ?<w>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >> MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
>>> >> ===============
>>> >> *-343-* FDNY
>>> >> Never Forgotten
>>> >> ===============


You are tacking on to a thread that started in March of *2007* ?

If the computer was on a business network then it may have updated
internally from a WSUS server. Check this registry key

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Win dows

If there is a WindowsUpdate subkey of Windows, then BACK UP the entire
Policies key and then delete all Value Data of WindowsUpdate *only* .

There should be no Windows subkey present under Policies for a Windows
system that updates from the Microsoft update servers.

If that key does not exist then there is either an entry in the hosts
file (Windows\system32\drivers\etc) or malware present that is
preventing the computer from establishing contact with the update servers.


MowGreen
================
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
================

"Security updates should *never* have *non-security content* prechecked