Please help!!!! I have not received any updates on my computer

I've had my computer since June and have enabled automatic updates but i'm
having a similar problem to everyone else. There are no updates in my update
history and when i go to windows update home i click on "express". i get a
message saying "Files required to use Windows update are no longer registered
or installed on your computer" I click on the recomended "register or
reinstall the files for me now" It doesn't do anything, just goes back to the
first screen "express" or "custom" and keeps cycling. I tried several
different suggestions on the site but nothing has worked. Any suggestions???

Please be sure to specify your Windows version and service pack level. (Otherwise, one could assume you have Windows XP, but that would be guessing).
From Start menu, select RUN, type in
WINVER (Enter-key>

Get the full description.

Most helpful would be a snippet from the log for Windows Updates. Look at your log file for Windows Update.

Use Notepad or Wordpad and open & look at the Windows Update log file
C:\Windows\WindowsUpdate.log or C:\WINNT\WindowsUpdate.log

Scroll down all the way for the set of lines for the last session.
Get / copy / paste (ideally, put into a file & attach in reply ) back here the set of lines for the last session.

I'd like to see your log file before jumping to more specific fixes.



As a very general tip, reduce / close all your user & startup programs (except for firewall) before visiting Windows Update.

Forgive the long list, but do review all points.

Make very sure your pc has the correct & current date & local time. Having incorrect time will give the W U servers/programs a hiccup.

You may get to the windows update site, but yet a setting in Internet Explorer browser could be the blocker.
Recheck your Security & Privacy settings AND the ADVANCED settings in I.E.

1. In Internet Explorer> Tools, click Internet Options, and then click Languages....
If this box is empty, add at least one language -- your usual national language.
If you happen to have 2 or more, move English up on this list.

2. Disengage your Discussion Bar in Internet Explorer: Click View on main IE menu.
Point to Explorer Bar. If "Discuss" has a check mark, click Discuss to *remove the check mark* and clear it.
You may note, if the discussion bar is active, it would appear near the bottom of IE window.

3. I. E. Tools >Internet Options > Advanced Tab > (scroll down thru the list)

These are "some" of the items that I do have CHECKed (selected):
Under HTTP 1.1 settings --
Use HTTP 1.1 (ON / Selected)
+ Enable / check to use HTTP 1.1 with proxy servers **** <<----

and under Security :
Clear (un-check) the check box next to "Check for server certificate revocation" . ( *OFF* )

Use SSL 2.0 (ON / selected)
Use SSL 3.0 (ON)

4. Internet Explorer > Tools > Internet Options > Connections Tab
Click on LAN Settings > * Uncheck* the Automatically detect settings.
Make sure _no other_ settings on this screen are enabled.

5. Internet Explorer > main menu /Tools/Internet Options >

Security Tab/ click on green icon Trusted Sites/click Sites button.
Click "Require server verification (https for all sites in this zone" to *clear* the selection.

In the "Add this Web site to the zone:" field, add these entries to list of "Trusted Sites" --

type
http://www.download.windowsupdate.com (click Add)

http://update.microsoft.com

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com

http://download.windowsupdate.com

Click OK. Apply changes & close IE. Now, retry Windows Update.

--
Maurice N
MVP Windows - Shell / User
-----

brittany wrote:
> I've had my computer since June and have enabled automatic updates
> but i'm having a similar problem to everyone else. There are no
> updates in my update history and when i go to windows update home i
> click on "express". i get a message saying "Files required to use
> Windows update are no longer registered or installed on your
> computer" I click on the recomended "register or reinstall the files
> for me now" It doesn't do anything, just goes back to the first
> screen "express" or "custom" and keeps cycling. I tried several
> different suggestions on the site but nothing has worked. Any
> suggestions???