Windows Update fails without error

Hi,

I have Windows 2000 SP4 and Version 6 of Microsoft Update. I have installed
all critical updates.

I have searched the newsgroup but have been unable to find a solution to the
following problem.

Microsoft Update appears to work correctly but if I select a "custom" scan I
am unable to view the optional updates. In the menu on the left it says that
I have 6 "software, optional" updates and two "hardware, optional" updates
but when I click on the links absolutely nothing happens. I would have
expected that the main window would refresh to display the available updates.

No error message appears despite the fact that IE is set to display all
scripting errors, java errors, etc.

I have tried everything that I know, including adding the site as a trusted
site to avoid security hassles. I do not have firewall or anti-virus software
installed as I have just reinstalled the OS on this machine and wish to
update all the system software before installing the firewall.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

msendt <> wrote:

> Microsoft Update appears to work correctly but if I select a "custom"
> scan I am unable to view the optional updates. In the menu on the
> left it says that I have 6 "software, optional" updates and two
> "hardware, optional" updates but when I click on the links absolutely
> nothing happens. I would have expected that the main window would
> refresh to display the available updates.
>
> No error message appears despite the fact that IE is set to display
> all scripting errors, java errors, etc.

The PC might have failed to register a necessary DLL. Try downloading
"Dial-a-fix" from http://wiki.djlizard.net/Dial-a-fix_beta and use its
options to fix Windows Update and register DLLs for Internet Explorer.

You might also try the same manually by opening a command prompt window and
typing (for instance):

regsvr32 mscoree.dll

followed by the same repeated for other relevant DLLs. Dial-a-fix gives you
the list of relevant DLLs when you hover the pointer over an option.

--
Robin Walker [MVP Networking]

Thanks Robin for your response.

Unfortunately this application did not fix the problem. What is more, it now
will not work at all. Microsoft update now says that it needs to register the
files, which it does before crashing and reporting that an error has occurred.

Matt

"Robin Walker [MVP]" wrote:

> msendt <> wrote:
>
> > Microsoft Update appears to work correctly but if I select a "custom"
> > scan I am unable to view the optional updates. In the menu on the
> > left it says that I have 6 "software, optional" updates and two
> > "hardware, optional" updates but when I click on the links absolutely
> > nothing happens. I would have expected that the main window would
> > refresh to display the available updates.
> >
> > No error message appears despite the fact that IE is set to display
> > all scripting errors, java errors, etc.
>
> The PC might have failed to register a necessary DLL. Try downloading
> "Dial-a-fix" from http://wiki.djlizard.net/Dial-a-fix_beta and use its
> options to fix Windows Update and register DLLs for Internet Explorer.
>
> You might also try the same manually by opening a command prompt window and
> typing (for instance):
>
> regsvr32 mscoree.dll
>
> followed by the same repeated for other relevant DLLs. Dial-a-fix gives you
> the list of relevant DLLs when you hover the pointer over an option.
>
> --
> Robin Walker [MVP Networking]
>
>
>
>

msendt <> wrote:

> Unfortunately this application did not fix the problem. What is more,
> it now will not work at all. Microsoft update now says that it needs
> to register the files, which it does before crashing and reporting
> that an error has occurred.

It sounds as if some Windows registrations or files are damaged, yet you
said earlier that you have only just re-installed Windows. Was that a
Repair re-installation, or a full format and install? A Repair
Re-installation does not always fix errors in the Registry.

To check that all the Windows files are present and correct, open a command
prompt window and type the command:

sfc /scannow

It will need your Windows 2000 CD, and might take up to an hour.

[this next bit reproduced from a post by Taurarian]
Now re-register these files, by giving these commands in a command prompt
window:

regsvr32 msxml3.dll
REGSVR32 wuapi.dll
REGSVR32 wuaueng.dll
REGSVR32 atl.dll
REGSVR32 wucltui.dll
REGSVR32 wups.dll

You should receive a successful message after each one.
Restart Windows, then try Windows Update Again.

If that hasn't helped you may need to re-register some more files:-

net stop cryptsvc
regsvr32 softpub.dll
regsvr32 wintrust.dll
regsvr32 initpki.dll
regsvr32 dssenh.dll
regsvr32 rsaenh.dll
regsvr32 gpkcsp.dll
regsvr32 sccbase.dll
net start cryptsvc

You should receive a successful message after each one.

Finally, if still not working - re-install Windows Update files:
http://download.windowsupdate.com/v6...gent20-x86.exe

--
Robin Walker [MVP Networking]