Windows Update Site Won't Load

Windows XP Home Edition (updated with SP3), IE7 on Dell Dimension 1100

Windows Update hasn’t worked since replacing IE8 with IE7 (which I had
before) last week. Related updates for IE7 wouldn’t download so I used
Windows Update and was told “The website has encountered a problem and cannot
display the page you are trying to view. The options provided below might
help you solve the problem�. They don’t, that I’ve found, and neither does
any post that I’ve found in this forum. One post suggests manipulating a
folder in C:\Program Files\Windows Update. I don’t have a Windows Update
folder in my Program Files or anywhere else - therefore I can’t add a
permission for it in McAfee’s Firewall (and it’s not listed there). Have
disabled Mcafee before using Windows Update but it still didn’t work. Also,
there’s no prompt in the Update window, to allow their pop-ups or for
permission to install an ActiveX control. Windows Update is a trusted site
in IE7.

If I’ve missed anything someone will let me know.

Thanks in advance for any help I can get.

--
GARY little

"GARY little" <> wrote in message
news:A226D46C-4D4E-41E2-8F40-...
> Windows XP Home Edition (updated with SP3), IE7 on Dell Dimension 1100
>
> Windows Update hasn't worked since replacing IE8 with IE7 (which I had
> before) last week. Related updates for IE7 wouldn't download so I used
> Windows Update and was told "The website has encountered a problem and
> cannot
> display the page you are trying to view. The options provided below might
> help you solve the problem". They don't, that I've found, and neither
> does
> any post that I've found in this forum. One post suggests manipulating a
> folder in C:\Program Files\Windows Update. I don't have a Windows Update
> folder in my Program Files or anywhere else - therefore I can't add a
> permission for it in McAfee's Firewall (and it's not listed there). Have
> disabled Mcafee before using Windows Update but it still didn't work.
> Also,
> there's no prompt in the Update window, to allow their pop-ups or for
> permission to install an ActiveX control. Windows Update is a trusted
> site
> in IE7.
>
> If I've missed anything someone will let me know.
>
> Thanks in advance for any help I can get.
>
> --
> GARY little


Have you seen this article:
How do I reset the Windows Update settings?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058

Perhaps give that a try.

Or you could search/post to this forum:
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/...-US/categories

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 the
computer (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you bought
it)?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002
www.banthecheck.com


GARY little wrote:
> Windows XP Home Edition (updated with SP3), IE7 on Dell Dimension 1100
>
> Windows Update hasn’t worked since replacing IE8 with IE7 (which I had
> before) last week. Related updates for IE7 wouldn’t download so I used
> Windows Update and was told “The website has encountered a problem and
> cannot display the page you are trying to view. The options provided
> below
> might help you solve the problem�. They don’t, that I’ve found, and
> neither does any post that I’ve found in this forum. One post suggests
> manipulating a folder in C:\Program Files\Windows Update. I don’t have a
> Windows Update folder in my Program Files or anywhere else - therefore I
> can’t add a permission for it in McAfee’s Firewall (and it’s not listed
> there). Have disabled Mcafee before using Windows Update but it still
> didn’t work. Also, there’s no prompt in the Update window, to allow
> their
> pop-ups or for permission to install an ActiveX control. Windows Update
> is
> a trusted site in IE7.
>
> If I’ve missed anything someone will let me know.
>
> Thanks in advance for any help I can get.

I have McAfee 9.15.126.0 Security Center, did have Norton, removed approx
four years ago, and had AVG, removed two months ago when McAfee was installed
again. Firewalls are McAfee, and Windows Firewall which is disabled. As I
said, Windows Update doesn't have a permission in McAfee because there is no
folder for it. (There is also no permission for it in Windows Firewall.)
But it won't run with firewalls turned off.
--
GARY little


"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

> 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 the
> computer (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you bought
> it)?
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002
> www.banthecheck.com
>
>
> GARY little wrote:
> > Windows XP Home Edition (updated with SP3), IE7 on Dell Dimension 1100
> >
> > Windows Update hasn’t worked since replacing IE8 with IE7 (which I had
> > before) last week. Related updates for IE7 wouldn’t download so I used
> > Windows Update and was told “The website has encountered a problem and
> > cannot display the page you are trying to view. The options provided
> > below
> > might help you solve the problem�. They don’t, that I’ve found, and
> > neither does any post that I’ve found in this forum. One post suggests
> > manipulating a folder in C:\Program Files\Windows Update. I don’t have a
> > Windows Update folder in my Program Files or anywhere else - therefore I
> > can’t add a permission for it in McAfee’s Firewall (and it’s not listed
> > there). Have disabled Mcafee before using Windows Update but it still
> > didn’t work. Also, there’s no prompt in the Update window, to allow
> > their
> > pop-ups or for permission to install an ActiveX control. Windows Update
> > is
> > a trusted site in IE7.
> >
> > If I’ve missed anything someone will let me know.
> >
> > Thanks in advance for any help I can get.
>
> .
>

Norton and McAfee applications are notorious for not uninstalling or
upgrading cleanly.

1. Download the Norton Removal Tool, saving it to your desktop:
ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/englis...moval_Tool.exe

2. Close all open applications (i.e., anything with an icon on the taskbar).

3. Double-click on the file you saved in #1 above to run the utility. Don't
TOUCH your keyboard until the run completes, then reboot.

4. Now run this three-step fix from McAfee:
http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?id=TS100507


GARY little wrote:
> I have McAfee 9.15.126.0 Security Center, did have Norton, removed approx
> four years ago, and had AVG, removed two months ago when McAfee was
> installed again. Firewalls are McAfee, and Windows Firewall which is
> disabled. As I said, Windows Update doesn't have a permission in McAfee
> because there is no folder for it. (There is also no permission for it in
> Windows Firewall.) But it won't run with firewalls turned off.
>
>> 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 the
>> computer (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you
>> bought
>> it)?
>> --
>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002
>> www.banthecheck.com
>>
>>
>> GARY little wrote:
>>> Windows XP Home Edition (updated with SP3), IE7 on Dell Dimension 1100
>>>
>>> Windows Update hasn’t worked since replacing IE8 with IE7 (which I had
>>> before) last week. Related updates for IE7 wouldn’t download so I used
>>> Windows Update and was told “The website has encountered a problem and
>>> cannot display the page you are trying to view. The options provided
>>> below
>>> might help you solve the problem�. They don’t, that I’ve found, and
>>> neither does any post that I’ve found in this forum. One post suggests
>>> manipulating a folder in C:\Program Files\Windows Update. I don’t have
>>> a
>>> Windows Update folder in my Program Files or anywhere else - therefore I
>>> can’t add a permission for it in McAfee’s Firewall (and it’s not listed
>>> there). Have disabled Mcafee before using Windows Update but it still
>>> didn’t work. Also, there’s no prompt in the Update window, to allow
>>> their
>>> pop-ups or for permission to install an ActiveX control. Windows Update
>>> is
>>> a trusted site in IE7.
>>>
>>> If I’ve missed anything someone will let me know.
>>>
>>> Thanks in advance for any help I can get.
>>
>> .

Tried all fixes, situation unchanged.
--
GARY little


"GARY little" wrote:

> Windows XP Home Edition (updated with SP3), IE7 on Dell Dimension 1100
>
> Windows Update hasn’t worked since replacing IE8 with IE7 (which I had
> before) last week. Related updates for IE7 wouldn’t download so I used
> Windows Update and was told “The website has encountered a problem and cannot
> display the page you are trying to view. The options provided below might
> help you solve the problem�. They don’t, that I’ve found, and neither does
> any post that I’ve found in this forum. One post suggests manipulating a
> folder in C:\Program Files\Windows Update. I don’t have a Windows Update
> folder in my Program Files or anywhere else - therefore I can’t add a
> permission for it in McAfee’s Firewall (and it’s not listed there). Have
> disabled Mcafee before using Windows Update but it still didn’t work. Also,
> there’s no prompt in the Update window, to allow their pop-ups or for
> permission to install an ActiveX control. Windows Update is a trusted site
> in IE7.
>
> If I’ve missed anything someone will let me know.
>
> Thanks in advance for any help I can get.
>
> --
> GARY little

Back-up any personal data (none of which should be considered 100%
trustworthy at this point) then format the HDD & do a clean install of
Windows. Please note that a Repair Install (AKA in-place upgrade) will NOT
fix this!

HOW TO do a clean install of WinXP: See
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html#steps and/or Method 1 in
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/978307

After the clean install, you'll have the equivalent of a "new computer" so
take care of everything on the following page before otherwise connecting
the machine to the internet or a network and before using a flash drive or
SDCard that isn't brand-new or hasn't been freshly formatted:

4 steps to help protect your new computer before you go online
http://www.microsoft.com/security/pypc.aspx

Other helpful references include:

HOW TO get a computer running WinXP Gold (no Service Packs) fully patched
(after a clean install)
http://groups.google.com/group/micro...5afa8ed33e121c

HOW TO get a computer running WinXP SP1(a) or SP2 fully patched (after a
clean install)
http://groups.google.com/group/micro...66ae41add7dd2b

Tip: After getting the computer fully-patched, download/install KB971029
manually: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971029

NB: Any Norton or McAfee free-trial that came preinstalled on the computer
when you bought it will be reinstalled (but invalid) when Windows is
reinstalled. You MUST uninstall the free-trial and download/run the
appropriate removal tool before installing any updates, Windows Service
Packs or IE upgrades and before installing your new anti-virus application
(which will require WinXP SP3 to be installed).

Norton Removal Tool
ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/englis...moval_Tool.exe

McAfee Consumer Products Removal Tool
http://download.mcafee.com/products/...tches/MCPR.exe

Also see:

Steps To Help Prevent Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/security/spyware/prevent.aspx

Steps to Help Prevent Computer Worms
http://www.microsoft.com/security/worms/prevent.aspx

Avoid Rogue Security Software!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/antivirus/rogue.aspx

If these procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting
this isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA or Geek Squad) computer repair shop.


GARY little wrote:
> Tried all fixes, situation unchanged.
>
>> Windows XP Home Edition (updated with SP3), IE7 on Dell Dimension 1100
>>
>> Windows Update hasn’t worked since replacing IE8 with IE7 (which I had
>> before) last week. Related updates for IE7 wouldn’t download so I used
>> Windows Update and was told “The website has encountered a problem and
>> cannot display the page you are trying to view. The options provided
>> below might help you solve the problem�. They don’t, that I’ve found,
>> and
>> neither does any post that I’ve found in this forum. One post suggests
>> manipulating a folder in C:\Program Files\Windows Update. I don’t have a
>> Windows Update folder in my Program Files or anywhere else - therefore I
>> can’t add a permission for it in McAfee’s Firewall (and it’s not listed
>> there). Have disabled Mcafee before using Windows Update but it still
>> didn’t work. Also, there’s no prompt in the Update window, to allow
>> their pop-ups or for permission to install an ActiveX control. Windows
>> Update is a trusted site in IE7.
>>
>> If I’ve missed anything someone will let me know.
>>
>> Thanks in advance for any help I can get.
>>
>> --
>> GARY little

Thank you both TaurArian and Pa Bear for your quick responses and help.
TaurArian, I couldn't make your suggeestions work, thanks anyway. Pa Bear, I
will try the clean install though I'd rather take a butt-kicking instead. I
did download and use (maybe shouldn't have) an application called Windows
Updates Downloader WUD250B998Setup.exe written by Jean-Sebastien Carle, MSFN
Support Forums. It found 60 critical updates and 12 others which I
downloaded (but had to manually install), with no success. I will reply with
the results of the clean install. Again, thanks to both!!
--
GARY little


"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

> Back-up any personal data (none of which should be considered 100%
> trustworthy at this point) then format the HDD & do a clean install of
> Windows. Please note that a Repair Install (AKA in-place upgrade) will NOT
> fix this!
>
> HOW TO do a clean install of WinXP: See
> http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html#steps and/or Method 1 in
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/978307
>
> After the clean install, you'll have the equivalent of a "new computer" so
> take care of everything on the following page before otherwise connecting
> the machine to the internet or a network and before using a flash drive or
> SDCard that isn't brand-new or hasn't been freshly formatted:
>
> 4 steps to help protect your new computer before you go online
> http://www.microsoft.com/security/pypc.aspx
>
> Other helpful references include:
>
> HOW TO get a computer running WinXP Gold (no Service Packs) fully patched
> (after a clean install)
> http://groups.google.com/group/micro...5afa8ed33e121c
>
> HOW TO get a computer running WinXP SP1(a) or SP2 fully patched (after a
> clean install)
> http://groups.google.com/group/micro...66ae41add7dd2b
>
> Tip: After getting the computer fully-patched, download/install KB971029
> manually: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971029
>
> NB: Any Norton or McAfee free-trial that came preinstalled on the computer
> when you bought it will be reinstalled (but invalid) when Windows is
> reinstalled. You MUST uninstall the free-trial and download/run the
> appropriate removal tool before installing any updates, Windows Service
> Packs or IE upgrades and before installing your new anti-virus application
> (which will require WinXP SP3 to be installed).
>
> Norton Removal Tool
> ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/englis...moval_Tool.exe
>
> McAfee Consumer Products Removal Tool
> http://download.mcafee.com/products/...tches/MCPR.exe
>
> Also see:
>
> Steps To Help Prevent Spyware
> http://www.microsoft.com/security/spyware/prevent.aspx
>
> Steps to Help Prevent Computer Worms
> http://www.microsoft.com/security/worms/prevent.aspx
>
> Avoid Rogue Security Software!
> http://www.microsoft.com/security/antivirus/rogue.aspx
>
> If these procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting
> this isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
> independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA or Geek Squad) computer repair shop.
>
>
> GARY little wrote:
> > Tried all fixes, situation unchanged.
> >
> >> Windows XP Home Edition (updated with SP3), IE7 on Dell Dimension 1100
> >>
> >> Windows Update hasn’t worked since replacing IE8 with IE7 (which I had
> >> before) last week. Related updates for IE7 wouldn’t download so I used
> >> Windows Update and was told “The website has encountered a problem and
> >> cannot display the page you are trying to view. The options provided
> >> below might help you solve the problem�. They don’t, that I’ve found,
> >> and
> >> neither does any post that I’ve found in this forum. One post suggests
> >> manipulating a folder in C:\Program Files\Windows Update. I don’t have a
> >> Windows Update folder in my Program Files or anywhere else - therefore I
> >> can’t add a permission for it in McAfee’s Firewall (and it’s not listed
> >> there). Have disabled Mcafee before using Windows Update but it still
> >> didn’t work. Also, there’s no prompt in the Update window, to allow
> >> their pop-ups or for permission to install an ActiveX control. Windows
> >> Update is a trusted site in IE7.
> >>
> >> If I’ve missed anything someone will let me know.
> >>
> >> Thanks in advance for any help I can get.
> >>
> >> --
> >> GARY little
>
> .
>