Windows update working then not working

I updated my windows once. Then I restarted to continue updating it and now
nothing works. The bar goes back and forth like it's downloading then I get
a failure message with the number 0x80072F78. I read the messages on here and
did as someone said but, they sadly did not work.

What is the Windows version? Windows XP?

A search of an old archive of the MS Windows Update group finds these responses from Lucy Eby.
<Quote>
What proxy are you running?
Error 0x80072F78 - Invalid Server Response this is typically due to proxy.

Try the following:
Check connection settings:
Open Internet Explorer
Select Tools > Internet Options > Connections > LAN Settings
Check or uncheck the "Automatically Detect Settings" option.
Apply changes, exit Internet Explorer then try Windows Update again.
</Endquote>

<Quote>
The 0x80072F78 error typically is caused by proxy or firewall blocking issues.
Do you have port 443 enabled?
Can we try bypassing the proxy server to eliminate that possibility?
Are you using a firewall?
Are you blocking Active X controls?

</quote>

The following are critical sites for Windows Update, please ensure they are trusted.
windowsupdate.microsoft.com
*.windowsupdate.microsoft.com
www.download.windowsupdate.com
download.windowsupdate.com

To access the Trusted Sites settings.

1. Open Internet Explorer browser

2. Click Tools / Internet Options

3. Click the Security Tab

4. Click on the Trusted Sites Icon

5. Click on the Sites button

6. Unselect the check box "Require server verification (httpsfor all sites in this zone"

7. Add all sites listed above

8. Apply changes.

--
Maurice N
MVP Windows - Shell / User
-----

RainaDarkChylde wrote:
> I updated my windows once. Then I restarted to continue updating it
> and now nothing works. The bar goes back and forth like it's
> downloading then I get a failure message with the number 0x80072F78.
> I read the messages on here and did as someone said but, they sadly
> did not work.

Yes I am using Windows XP. I did the following and still am getting the same
thing:
Try the following:
Check connection settings:
Open Internet Explorer
Select Tools > Internet Options > Connections > LAN Settings
Check or uncheck the "Automatically Detect Settings" option.
Apply changes, exit Internet Explorer then try Windows Update again.
************************************************** **********
I have no idea what proxy I am using. Not even sure what a proxy is actually.
************************************************** **********
This is the actual message I am receiving:
[Error number: 0x80072F78]
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.
For self-help options:

Frequently Asked Questions

Find Solutions

Windows Update Newsgroup
For assisted support options:

Microsoft Online Assisted Support (no-cost for Windows Update issues)
************************************************** **********
What exactly is port443? My bf knows a good deal about computers so if I
have to mess with anything, with your suggestions, I am going to let him do
it so I do not mess anything up.
************************************************** **********
I do not think I am behind a firewall.
************************************************** **********
I am not sure I have active x on my computer yet. I just reformatted a week
ago and just now remembered about doing the updates.
************************************************** **********
I have just added the sites listed in the reply and unselected the require
box. The changes have been applied. I am going to try again as soon as I
send out this email. Thank you for helping me. I hope that this works. If
not I will be back.

Abbreviated answer. And do post back with your situation.

Try the following:
Check connection settings:
Open Internet Explorer
Select Tools > Internet Options > Connections > LAN Settings
Check or uncheck the "Automatically Detect Settings" option. (This should usually be all UN-checked).

The following are critical sites for Windows Update, please ensure they are trusted.
windowsupdate.microsoft.com
*.windowsupdate.microsoft.com
www.download.windowsupdate.com
download.windowsupdate.com

To access the Trusted Sites settings.

1. Open Internet Explorer browser

2. Click Tools / Internet Options

3. Click the Security Tab

4. Click on the Trusted Sites Icon

5. Click on the Sites button

6. Unselect the check box "Require server verification (httpsfor all sites in this zone"

7. Add all sites listed above

8. Apply changes, exit Internet Explorer then try Windows Update again.

--
Maurice N
MVP Windows - Shell / User
-----


RainaDarkChylde wrote:
> Yes I am using Windows XP. I did the following and still am getting
> the same thing:
> Try the following:
> Check connection settings:
> Open Internet Explorer
> Select Tools > Internet Options > Connections > LAN Settings
> Check or uncheck the "Automatically Detect Settings" option.
> Apply changes, exit Internet Explorer then try Windows Update again.
> ************************************************** **********
> I have no idea what proxy I am using. Not even sure what a proxy is
> actually. ************************************************** **********
> This is the actual message I am receiving:
> [Error number: 0x80072F78]
> 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. For self-help options:
>
> Frequently Asked Questions
>
> Find Solutions
>
> Windows Update Newsgroup
> For assisted support options:
>
> Microsoft Online Assisted Support (no-cost for Windows Update issues)
> ************************************************** **********
> What exactly is port443? My bf knows a good deal about computers so
> if I have to mess with anything, with your suggestions, I am going to
> let him do it so I do not mess anything up.
> ************************************************** **********
> I do not think I am behind a firewall.
> ************************************************** **********
> I am not sure I have active x on my computer yet. I just reformatted
> a week ago and just now remembered about doing the updates.
> ************************************************** **********
> I have just added the sites listed in the reply and unselected the
> require box. The changes have been applied. I am going to try again
> as soon as I send out this email. Thank you for helping me. I hope
> that this works. If not I will be back.

Thank you for all of your help. Windows Update is working now. I had a bit
of trouble trying to get SP2 working. But, after reading other posts on here
I was able to find a link that had one I could download manually. Ever since
then though my computer has been acting up now. It freezes a lot and most of
yesterday morning I got the dreaded blue screen, couldnt keep my dsl internet
connection going for more then a few seconds. It did stop around 9:45am
thankfully. But, I went to shut my com down for the night last night and it
froze at the windows is shutting down screen. I didnt have any of these
problems when I updated my computer before. Im not sure if maybe just my com
is old or the fact that I did have trouble with sp2 before I finally got it
to work as I could not get it working with the windows update site. I left
it on overnight to download. I came on the next morning and it said it was
still installing. So I canceled it and kept trying and all three times
failed. Thats when I went searching for a link and got one that finally
worked.

I got exact the same problem. I have a new PC preinstalled XP sp2 IE6.0 sp2.
I do the first WU without problem, restart and try to do the rest but get
failed on everything.

We have no proxy, I have opened up the firewall, added the trusted sites and
activeX is enabled on the local computer.

I get the following from the Windows Update Logfile:
DnldMgr Error 0x80072f78 occurred while downloading update; notifying
dependent calls.

Anyone know what to do?

"RainaDarkChylde" wrote:

> I updated my windows once. Then I restarted to continue updating it and now
> nothing works. The bar goes back and forth like it's downloading then I get
> a failure message with the number 0x80072F78. I read the messages on here and
> did as someone said but, they sadly did not work.



Clearly, more updating of Windows than once is indicated as beneficial.
I've implemented the solution suggested here, and will post results. I'm
running Windows XP, SP 2, updated WEEKLY using MBSA 2.0.1 (Microsoft Baseline
Security Analyzer---downloadable from the microsoft.com site), and have made
sure that I am current and up-to-date with patches before ever accessing any
websites other than standard ones I am sure will not contain viruses----such
as only microsoft.com, or my anti-virus software site). Are you running an
anti-virus software? Do you have anti-spyware? Are you running Windows XP
SP 2 so that you are notified when you do not have a firewall? PCs are
complicated these days, and there is a good deal to know in order to be a
responsible home administrator. End of lecture, hope suggestions work, and
that you learn from any mistakes you make, as I do my best to do.