Windows Update STILL Fails on "Checking for..."

I’m trying to use Windows update however when I go to the Windows update
screen it says “Checking For The Latest Version of the Windows Update
Software…� and then just hangs up there and does not proceed. The box to the
left that says “install updates� is greyed out.
I have tried many of the solutions already listed in this forum including:
- deleting the catroot (and catroot2) directory under system 32,
- reinstalling the script file,
- the repair installation with the Windows CD.
- the “Taurarian� Post. (see below)

So far nothing I have tried has been able to correct the problem.
I have Windows XP Professional, version 5.1, service pack 1

Any help that you could provide would be greatly appreciated.

“Taurarian� Post
I tried the troubleshooting portion that stops net.exe stop wuauserv... etc.
Stopping each regsvr32 wuapi.dll, regsvr32 wups.dll, regsvr32 wuaueng.dll,
regsvr32 wucltui.dll, regsvr32 msxml3.dll, regsvr32 atl.dll and restarting
wuauserv = no effect.

I was unable to follow the regedit potion since the instructions that says
to add "BITS" and "WUAUSERV" to the value data, there seems to be a step
missing. There is nothing there to add to. I can add a new key, or string
value, or,binary value, or DWORD value, or multi-string value, or expandable
string value. What do I add?

Please help