Re: Windows update site does not load, blank page only

[crosspost to Windows Update newsgroup]

Please state your full Windows version (e.g., WinXP SP3) when posting to
this newsgroup. In this case, also state your IE version.

Is Automatic Updates enabled? If not, can you enable it, reboot, and find
it still enabled?

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your
subscription current? What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)?
What third-party firewall (if any)?

Has a(another) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on this
machine (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you bought
it)?

Error message when you try to install updates from the Windows Update Web
site on a Windows XP-based computer: "Windows Update has encountered an
error and cannot display the requested page":
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/914226
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002
www.banthecheck.com


Simon wrote:
> When I try to check for updates, (going to http://update.microsoft.com
> who then resolves to
> http://update.microsoft.com/windowsu....aspx?ln=en-us), the
> page is blank and never complete loading, (in IE8 the circle just turns
> for a good 2-3 minutes).
> Then I get an error "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage"
>
> And that's all. I have Win XP pro SP3 and I am admin on the machine.
> I can go to http://www.microsoft.com and other sites without any problems.
>
> How can I run my updates?
>
> Simon

PA Bear,

To use Windows Updates in XP you need Background Intelligent Transfer
Service (BITS) & Automatic Updates started otherwise it comes up with an
error message that one of those two services isn't running. As you are an
MVP-IE you should have known that

Usually a black page signifies an activex not running as the security
settings are set too high or a firewall is blocking an activex from running

Anyway, the OP should post his/her question to the correct newsgroup given
by myself in my original reply & then cross posted by you to get your number
of replies up

--
SPAMCOP User





"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <> wrote in message
news:...
> [crosspost to Windows Update newsgroup]
>
> Please state your full Windows version (e.g., WinXP SP3) when posting to
> this newsgroup. In this case, also state your IE version.
>
> Is Automatic Updates enabled? If not, can you enable it, reboot, and find
> it still enabled?
>
> What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your
> subscription current? What anti-spyware applications (other than
> Defender)? What third-party firewall (if any)?
>
> Has a(another) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on this
> machine (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you bought
> it)?
>
> Error message when you try to install updates from the Windows Update Web
> site on a Windows XP-based computer: "Windows Update has encountered an
> error and cannot display the requested page":
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/914226
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002
> www.banthecheck.com
>
>
> Simon wrote:
>> When I try to check for updates, (going to http://update.microsoft.com
>> who then resolves to
>> http://update.microsoft.com/windowsu....aspx?ln=en-us), the
>> page is blank and never complete loading, (in IE8 the circle just turns
>> for a good 2-3 minutes).
>> Then I get an error "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage"
>>
>> And that's all. I have Win XP pro SP3 and I am admin on the machine.
>> I can go to http://www.microsoft.com and other sites without any
>> problems.
>>
>> How can I run my updates?
>>
>> Simon
>

On 2009/08/07 09:12 PM, PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
> [crosspost to Windows Update newsgroup]
>
> Please state your full Windows version (e.g., WinXP SP3) when posting to
> this newsgroup. In this case, also state your IE version.

I am not sure what else I need to supply, I already mentioned what you
are asking for, Win XP PRO SP3 with IE8

> Is Automatic Updates enabled? If not, can you enable it, reboot, and
> find it still enabled?

I have the 'third' automatic update option enabled, notify me when there
is an update but don't download anything until I say so.

>
> What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your
> subscription current? What anti-spyware applications (other than
> Defender)? What third-party firewall (if any)?

I only have Defender, and my AV is Trend Micro, all up to date.

>
> Has a(another) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on this
> machine (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you
> bought it)?

No.

>
> Error message when you try to install updates from the Windows Update
> Web site on a Windows XP-based computer: "Windows Update has encountered
> an error and cannot display the requested page":
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/914226

As I said, I get no errors, nothing, only a blank page.
As I said, I eventually get "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage"

Regards,

Simon

See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/914226 anyway.

Did the problem start immediately after installing IE8? Did you disable TM
AV prior to installing IE8?

Simon wrote:
> I am not sure what else I need to supply, I already mentioned what you
> are asking for, Win XP PRO SP3 with IE8
>
> I have the 'third' automatic update option enabled, notify me when there
> is an update but don't download anything until I say so.
>
> I only have Defender, and my AV is Trend Micro, all up to date.
>>
>> Has a(another) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on this
>> machine (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you
>> bought it)?
>
> No.
>
> As I said, I get no errors, nothing, only a blank page.
> As I said, I eventually get "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage"
>
<paste>
PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
> [crosspost to Windows Update newsgroup]
>
> Please state your full Windows version (e.g., WinXP SP3) when posting to
> this newsgroup. In this case, also state your IE version.
>
> Is Automatic Updates enabled? If not, can you enable it, reboot, and find
> it still enabled?
>
> What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your
> subscription current? What anti-spyware applications (other than
> Defender)?
> What third-party firewall (if any)?
>
> Has a(another) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on this
> machine (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you bought
> it)?
>
> Error message when you try to install updates from the Windows Update Web
> site on a Windows XP-based computer: "Windows Update has encountered an
> error and cannot display the requested page":
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/914226
>
> Simon wrote:
>> When I try to check for updates, (going to http://update.microsoft.com
>> who then resolves to
>> http://update.microsoft.com/windowsu....aspx?ln=en-us), the
>> page is blank and never complete loading, (in IE8 the circle just turns
>> for a good 2-3 minutes).
>> Then I get an error "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage"

On 2009/08/11 09:44 AM, PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
> See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/914226 anyway.

I carried on with the instructions,
http://update.microsoft.com/windowsu....aspx?ln=en-us
loaded, once and told me I had to install some ActiveX and then reboot.

After rebooting I got the same problem.

Now, even repeating the steps does not help.

>
> Did the problem start immediately after installing IE8? Did you disable
> TM AV prior to installing IE8?

No, it did work for a short while, but I am not sure when it stopped
working, most of the time I use the dialog box that pops up when windows
tells me that some updates are ready to download.

Simon

Simon wrote:
> On 2009/08/11 09:44 AM, PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
>> See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/914226 anyway.
>
> I carried on with the instructions,
> http://update.microsoft.com/windowsu....aspx?ln=en-us
> loaded, once and told me I had to install some ActiveX and then reboot.
>
> After rebooting I got the same problem.
>
> Now, even repeating the steps does not help.
>
>>
>> Did the problem start immediately after installing IE8? Did you disable
>> TM AV prior to installing IE8?
>
> No, it did work for a short while, but I am not sure when it stopped
> working, most of the time I use the dialog box that pops up when windows
> tells me that some updates are ready to download.
>

[edit] Because iexplorer.exe was open, (the one with the instructions),
I guess it was part of the problem.

So I used Firefox to read and follow the instructions, rebooted.
And it all seems to work fine now.

Thanks

Simon

OK...

Simon wrote:
> Simon wrote:
>> On 2009/08/11 09:44 AM, PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
>>> See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/914226 anyway.
>>
>> I carried on with the instructions,
>> http://update.microsoft.com/windowsu....aspx?ln=en-us
>> loaded, once and told me I had to install some ActiveX and then reboot.
>>
>> After rebooting I got the same problem.
>>
>> Now, even repeating the steps does not help.
>>
>>>
>>> Did the problem start immediately after installing IE8? Did you disable
>>> TM AV prior to installing IE8?
>>
>> No, it did work for a short while, but I am not sure when it stopped
>> working, most of the time I use the dialog box that pops up when windows
>> tells me that some updates are ready to download.
>>
>
> [edit] Because iexplorer.exe was open, (the one with the instructions),
> I guess it was part of the problem.
>
> So I used Firefox to read and follow the instructions, rebooted.
> And it all seems to work fine now.
>
> Thanks
>
> Simon