Windows Update has serious problems!!!!

I'm an IT specialist and alot of people bring me their home computers because
they're filled with viruses, spyware, etc.. You know.
I clean them up and then I try to update their Windows software as they
don't usually take time to do this either.
I am having a hell of a time with this confounded Windows Update program.
Most pc's I work on invariably come to the point where you get to the
Windows Update website and it tells you it is searching for updates but this
window just sits there forever and never comes back with updates.

I have tried various fixes mentioned in these forums,
regsvr32 of the dll's
removal of the directory in windows, forgot the name
and none of these options ever work

Can somebody please give me a comprehensive list of things to try to get
over this hump?

I am at a loss here.

Start here:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/updtcl.htm
Much spyware and viruses do damage and that specific damage needs to be
fixed.

Think of viruses and spyware as a fire in your home.
The fire department comes and puts out the fire.
After the fire department leaves, the home is still damaged by the fire that
is now out.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/


"Rockitman" <> wrote in message
news:C2B76C31-1F13-4D31-B4C8-...
> I'm an IT specialist and alot of people bring me their home computers
> because
> they're filled with viruses, spyware, etc.. You know.
> I clean them up and then I try to update their Windows software as they
> don't usually take time to do this either.
> I am having a hell of a time with this confounded Windows Update program.
> Most pc's I work on invariably come to the point where you get to the
> Windows Update website and it tells you it is searching for updates but
> this
> window just sits there forever and never comes back with updates.
>
> I have tried various fixes mentioned in these forums,
> regsvr32 of the dll's
> removal of the directory in windows, forgot the name
> and none of these options ever work
>
> Can somebody please give me a comprehensive list of things to try to get
> over this hump?
>
> I am at a loss here.
>

Perhaps and this may not always be true the windows update program will do
many things during the updates 1) Will come back and tell you that you are
using and illegal copy of windows, please purchase your own copy and try
again. Or just simply hang and refuse to let the updates occur. This is one
of many work arounds that may help. Uninstall everything not pertainent to
windows, or do a fresh cold install. Do not install anything except your
Modem or Ethernet card, and ISP dialup or LAN (highspeed Cable or DSL or
T1)The software to get thise items working. Once this is done reboot your
system. Once your internet connection is working click on the the windows
update tab. In windows 95-ME it should be in the upper portion of the start
button, Click Start and the look at the top of list above the divider, In
Windows 2000-XP it is in the Programs area it the first column abover the
divider. Hope this helps Just follow all the directions during this update
session and after you complete this, install all of your drivers, then go
back and hit the update button again to ensure there is no updates left for
the other things you just installed. This is the way I do it after several
years of headaches and it works just fine. However if your using an outdated
component and as cheap as they are today I'd also update that part as well.
Ensure you are also using the same kind of RAM do not mix 1 year warr RAM
with LIFETIME they sometimes cause all kinds of clitches. Name Brand doesn't
matter so as long as it is LIFETIME and of the same speed. do not mix the
speeds.

"Rockitman" wrote:

> I'm an IT specialist and alot of people bring me their home computers because
> they're filled with viruses, spyware, etc.. You know.
> I clean them up and then I try to update their Windows software as they
> don't usually take time to do this either.
> I am having a hell of a time with this confounded Windows Update program.
> Most pc's I work on invariably come to the point where you get to the
> Windows Update website and it tells you it is searching for updates but this
> window just sits there forever and never comes back with updates.
>
> I have tried various fixes mentioned in these forums,
> regsvr32 of the dll's
> removal of the directory in windows, forgot the name
> and none of these options ever work
>
> Can somebody please give me a comprehensive list of things to try to get
> over this hump?
>
> I am at a loss here.
>

Thanks for the reply Buckster. You know, on a couple of machines, this is
exactly what i have done to remedy my problem, reinstall the OS. It's a
long tedious workaround though. Hate having to do this as user accounts and
desktops start from scratch again.

"Buckster26" wrote:

> Perhaps and this may not always be true the windows update program will do
> many things during the updates 1) Will come back and tell you that you are
> using and illegal copy of windows, please purchase your own copy and try
> again. Or just simply hang and refuse to let the updates occur. This is one
> of many work arounds that may help. Uninstall everything not pertainent to
> windows, or do a fresh cold install. Do not install anything except your
> Modem or Ethernet card, and ISP dialup or LAN (highspeed Cable or DSL or
> T1)The software to get thise items working. Once this is done reboot your
> system. Once your internet connection is working click on the the windows
> update tab. In windows 95-ME it should be in the upper portion of the start
> button, Click Start and the look at the top of list above the divider, In
> Windows 2000-XP it is in the Programs area it the first column abover the
> divider. Hope this helps Just follow all the directions during this update
> session and after you complete this, install all of your drivers, then go
> back and hit the update button again to ensure there is no updates left for
> the other things you just installed. This is the way I do it after several
> years of headaches and it works just fine. However if your using an outdated
> component and as cheap as they are today I'd also update that part as well.
> Ensure you are also using the same kind of RAM do not mix 1 year warr RAM
> with LIFETIME they sometimes cause all kinds of clitches. Name Brand doesn't
> matter so as long as it is LIFETIME and of the same speed. do not mix the
> speeds.
>
> "Rockitman" wrote:
>
> > I'm an IT specialist and alot of people bring me their home computers because
> > they're filled with viruses, spyware, etc.. You know.
> > I clean them up and then I try to update their Windows software as they
> > don't usually take time to do this either.
> > I am having a hell of a time with this confounded Windows Update program.
> > Most pc's I work on invariably come to the point where you get to the
> > Windows Update website and it tells you it is searching for updates but this
> > window just sits there forever and never comes back with updates.
> >
> > I have tried various fixes mentioned in these forums,
> > regsvr32 of the dll's
> > removal of the directory in windows, forgot the name
> > and none of these options ever work
> >
> > Can somebody please give me a comprehensive list of things to try to get
> > over this hump?
> >
> > I am at a loss here.
> >

Thanks for the link Jupiter. I will follow these instructions and see what
works.
This latest pc I am working on had a nasty case of SDBOT. Cleaned it with
McAfee, but like you said, it might have "burnt" up some critical things.
Who knows.
I do know that Microsoft could do a better job of enabling this "windows
update" program to work better instead of it's current fiasco mess that it is.

"Jupiter Jones [MVP]" wrote:

> Start here:
> http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/updtcl.htm
> Much spyware and viruses do damage and that specific damage needs to be
> fixed.
>
> Think of viruses and spyware as a fire in your home.
> The fire department comes and puts out the fire.
> After the fire department leaves, the home is still damaged by the fire that
> is now out.
>
> --
> Jupiter Jones [MVP]
> http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/
>
>
> "Rockitman" <> wrote in message
> news:C2B76C31-1F13-4D31-B4C8-...
> > I'm an IT specialist and alot of people bring me their home computers
> > because
> > they're filled with viruses, spyware, etc.. You know.
> > I clean them up and then I try to update their Windows software as they
> > don't usually take time to do this either.
> > I am having a hell of a time with this confounded Windows Update program.
> > Most pc's I work on invariably come to the point where you get to the
> > Windows Update website and it tells you it is searching for updates but
> > this
> > window just sits there forever and never comes back with updates.
> >
> > I have tried various fixes mentioned in these forums,
> > regsvr32 of the dll's
> > removal of the directory in windows, forgot the name
> > and none of these options ever work
> >
> > Can somebody please give me a comprehensive list of things to try to get
> > over this hump?
> >
> > I am at a loss here.
> >
>
>
>

using the system restore feature helps a lot using it in the administator
mode for all current users or if is 1 user that is having the problem the do
the system restore in that area.

"Rockitman" wrote:

> Thanks for the reply Buckster. You know, on a couple of machines, this is
> exactly what i have done to remedy my problem, reinstall the OS. It's a
> long tedious workaround though. Hate having to do this as user accounts and
> desktops start from scratch again.
>
> "Buckster26" wrote:
>
> > Perhaps and this may not always be true the windows update program will do
> > many things during the updates 1) Will come back and tell you that you are
> > using and illegal copy of windows, please purchase your own copy and try
> > again. Or just simply hang and refuse to let the updates occur. This is one
> > of many work arounds that may help. Uninstall everything not pertainent to
> > windows, or do a fresh cold install. Do not install anything except your
> > Modem or Ethernet card, and ISP dialup or LAN (highspeed Cable or DSL or
> > T1)The software to get thise items working. Once this is done reboot your
> > system. Once your internet connection is working click on the the windows
> > update tab. In windows 95-ME it should be in the upper portion of the start
> > button, Click Start and the look at the top of list above the divider, In
> > Windows 2000-XP it is in the Programs area it the first column abover the
> > divider. Hope this helps Just follow all the directions during this update
> > session and after you complete this, install all of your drivers, then go
> > back and hit the update button again to ensure there is no updates left for
> > the other things you just installed. This is the way I do it after several
> > years of headaches and it works just fine. However if your using an outdated
> > component and as cheap as they are today I'd also update that part as well.
> > Ensure you are also using the same kind of RAM do not mix 1 year warr RAM
> > with LIFETIME they sometimes cause all kinds of clitches. Name Brand doesn't
> > matter so as long as it is LIFETIME and of the same speed. do not mix the
> > speeds.
> >
> > "Rockitman" wrote:
> >
> > > I'm an IT specialist and alot of people bring me their home computers because
> > > they're filled with viruses, spyware, etc.. You know.
> > > I clean them up and then I try to update their Windows software as they
> > > don't usually take time to do this either.
> > > I am having a hell of a time with this confounded Windows Update program.
> > > Most pc's I work on invariably come to the point where you get to the
> > > Windows Update website and it tells you it is searching for updates but this
> > > window just sits there forever and never comes back with updates.
> > >
> > > I have tried various fixes mentioned in these forums,
> > > regsvr32 of the dll's
> > > removal of the directory in windows, forgot the name
> > > and none of these options ever work
> > >
> > > Can somebody please give me a comprehensive list of things to try to get
> > > over this hump?
> > >
> > > I am at a loss here.
> > >

Same problem here. I have a new (2 mo. old) HP Media Center and it has never
been able to get updates. Worked with HP for hours and still not resolved.
Ran Norton and other sypwares since day 1 and no viruses or spyware can be
found.

Gets to looking for updates and will sit there for hours. Needs fixing
MICROSOFT!!!

"Rockitman" wrote:

> I'm an IT specialist and alot of people bring me their home computers because
> they're filled with viruses, spyware, etc.. You know.
> I clean them up and then I try to update their Windows software as they
> don't usually take time to do this either.
> I am having a hell of a time with this confounded Windows Update program.
> Most pc's I work on invariably come to the point where you get to the
> Windows Update website and it tells you it is searching for updates but this
> window just sits there forever and never comes back with updates.
>
> I have tried various fixes mentioned in these forums,
> regsvr32 of the dll's
> removal of the directory in windows, forgot the name
> and none of these options ever work
>
> Can somebody please give me a comprehensive list of things to try to get
> over this hump?
>
> I am at a loss here.
>

Follow the Windows Update Checklist:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/updtcl.htm
The problem is most likely a setting within your computer.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/


"austinr1" <> wrote in message
news:0F27B9AB-F18B-4907-A248-...
> Same problem here. I have a new (2 mo. old) HP Media Center and it has
> never
> been able to get updates. Worked with HP for hours and still not
> resolved.
> Ran Norton and other sypwares since day 1 and no viruses or spyware can be
> found.
>
> Gets to looking for updates and will sit there for hours. Needs fixing
> MICROSOFT!!!

After reviewing The web page suggested by Mr Jones, there is one more thing
to try first: resetting the windows update .dll (dynamic link library) files.
Try this for WinXP....Go to start, then run, pressing "ok" after each entry:
net.exe stop wuauserv regsvr32 /s wuapi.dll regsvr32 /s wups.dll
regsvr32 s/ wuaueng.dll regsvr32 /s wucltui.dll regsvr32 /s
msmxl3.dll net.exe start wuauserv This fix worked for me, and
stopped my v5 windows update page from freezing on the "scanning your
computer for available updates" page.

"Rockitman" wrote:

> I'm an IT specialist and alot of people bring me their home computers because
> they're filled with viruses, spyware, etc.. You know.
> I clean them up and then I try to update their Windows software as they
> don't usually take time to do this either.
> I am having a hell of a time with this confounded Windows Update program.
> Most pc's I work on invariably come to the point where you get to the
> Windows Update website and it tells you it is searching for updates but this
> window just sits there forever and never comes back with updates.
>
> I have tried various fixes mentioned in these forums,
> regsvr32 of the dll's
> removal of the directory in windows, forgot the name
> and none of these options ever work
>
> Can somebody please give me a comprehensive list of things to try to get
> over this hump?
>
> I am at a loss here.
>