Windows Update/wuauclt.exe

Okay, I consider myself a relatively computer saavy person. But this one has
me stumped, and I need some further suggestions. Please note, though, that
if you're going to give me a link, I cannot access it due to my work's
firewall.

Here is the situation. I have a co-worker (user) who is using a Windows XP
Home machine. Until two weeks ago, he hadn't EVER run updates and was still
pre-SP1. I set up updates to run on his computer and things were going fine
until we got to SP2. I *guess* that there was an error with SP2's install,
although it shows in the system as being installed and running. He doesn't
have any other issues, besides that now he cannot get any updates. There is
a batch downloaded, but they will not install. The error message reads:
wuauclt.exe has encountered an error and needs to close. It is not just
windows update that does not work. I get the same message if I go to the
MSUpdate website and try to install from there.

I have tried the following KB articles:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/931852
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/906602
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/916259/en-us
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144

However, none of these have helped at all. Are there any other suggestions?

Thanks, J

What is the installed antivirus\security suite and was it actively
monitoring the system when SP2 was applied ?

Did you have the system scanned for the presence of 'unwanted visitors'
before applying SP2 ?

Since you've already done the steps here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
Open the WindowsUpdate.log located in WINDOWS
Scoll down towards the bottom and check to see what Version level
the updating components are now at.

EX:
2008-08-13 11:20:32:653 2148 e84 Misc =========== Logging initialized
(build: 7.2.6001.784, tz: -0700) ===========

There will then be another section listing each componenet separately:

2008-08-14 08:06:01:717 980 bb8 Setup Update NOT required for
D:\WINDOWS\system32\cdm.dll: target version = 7.2.6001.784, required
version = 7.2.6001.784
2008-08-14 08:06:01:767 980 bb8 Setup Update NOT required for
D:\WINDOWS\system32\wuapi.dll: target version = 7.2.6001.784, required
version = 7.2.6001.784
2008-08-14 08:06:01:868 980 bb8 Setup Update NOT required for
D:\WINDOWS\system32\wuapi.dll.mui: target version = 7.2.6001.784,
required version = 7.2.6001.784
2008-08-14 08:06:01:898 980 bb8 Setup Update NOT required for
D:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe: target version = 7.2.6001.784, required
version = 7.2.6001.784
2008-08-14 08:06:01:898 980 bb8 Setup Update NOT required for
D:\WINDOWS\system32\wuaucpl.cpl: target version = 7.2.6001.784, required
version = 7.2.6001.784
2008-08-14 08:06:01:898 980 bb8 Setup Update NOT required for
D:\WINDOWS\system32\wuaucpl.cpl.mui: target version = 7.2.6001.784,
required version = 7.2.6001.784
2008-08-14 08:06:01:938 980 bb8 Setup Update NOT required for
D:\WINDOWS\system32\wuaueng.dll: target version = 7.2.6001.784, required
version = 7.2.6001.784
2008-08-14 08:06:01:958 980 bb8 Setup Update NOT required for
D:\WINDOWS\system32\wuaueng.dll.mui: target version = 7.2.6001.784,
required version = 7.2.6001.784
2008-08-14 08:06:01:998 980 bb8 Setup Update NOT required for
D:\WINDOWS\system32\wucltui.dll: target version = 7.2.6001.784, required
version = 7.2.6001.784
2008-08-14 08:06:02:018 980 bb8 Setup Update NOT required for
D:\WINDOWS\system32\wucltui.dll.mui: target version = 7.2.6001.784,
required version = 7.2.6001.784
2008-08-14 08:06:02:068 980 bb8 Setup Update NOT required for
D:\WINDOWS\system32\wups.dll: target version = 7.2.6001.784, required
version = 7.2.6001.784
2008-08-14 08:06:02:118 980 bb8 Setup Update NOT required for
D:\WINDOWS\system32\wups2.dll: target version = 7.2.6001.784, required
version = 7.2.6001.784
2008-08-14 08:06:02:158 980 bb8 Setup Update NOT required for
D:\WINDOWS\system32\wuweb.dll: target version = 7.2.6001.784, required
version = 7.2.6001.784

If you did Method 2 in the KB article all files should now be at
V. 7.2.6001.784.


MowGreen [MVP 2003-2008]
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============


Jacinthe wrote:

> Okay, I consider myself a relatively computer saavy person. But this one has
> me stumped, and I need some further suggestions. Please note, though, that
> if you're going to give me a link, I cannot access it due to my work's
> firewall.
>
> Here is the situation. I have a co-worker (user) who is using a Windows XP
> Home machine. Until two weeks ago, he hadn't EVER run updates and was still
> pre-SP1. I set up updates to run on his computer and things were going fine
> until we got to SP2. I *guess* that there was an error with SP2's install,
> although it shows in the system as being installed and running. He doesn't
> have any other issues, besides that now he cannot get any updates. There is
> a batch downloaded, but they will not install. The error message reads:
> wuauclt.exe has encountered an error and needs to close. It is not just
> windows update that does not work. I get the same message if I go to the
> MSUpdate website and try to install from there.
>
> I have tried the following KB articles:
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/931852
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/906602
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/916259/en-us
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
>
> However, none of these have helped at all. Are there any other suggestions?
>
> Thanks, J

The anti-virus suite is Norton Corporate Edition. It is fully patched. It
was actively monitoring (as far as I know - technically that's my manager's
thing) when SP2 was applied. It is a clean system, but it was completely
unpatched for so long, there was probably no other cleanup done, either.
Typically I like to do defrag and CCleaner and so forth after an install, so
it didn't occur to me to do either beforehand (I know, it was a mistake.)

I am pretty sure that the system is all the same version, but right now the
user is needing the system, so I can't check. The other issue that was
recommended to be checked is that the dllcache wuauclt and the system32
wuauclt were the same version. However, this system does not have a dllcache
folder in system32. So I'm a little stuck on that one.

"MowGreen [MVP]" wrote:

> What is the installed antivirus\security suite and was it actively
> monitoring the system when SP2 was applied ?
>
> Did you have the system scanned for the presence of 'unwanted visitors'
> before applying SP2 ?
>
> Since you've already done the steps here:
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
> Open the WindowsUpdate.log located in WINDOWS
> Scoll down towards the bottom and check to see what Version level
> the updating components are now at.
>
> EX:
> 2008-08-13 11:20:32:653 2148 e84 Misc =========== Logging initialized
> (build: 7.2.6001.784, tz: -0700) ===========
>
> There will then be another section listing each componenet separately:
>
> 2008-08-14 08:06:01:717 980 bb8 Setup Update NOT required for
> D:\WINDOWS\system32\cdm.dll: target version = 7.2.6001.784, required
> version = 7.2.6001.784
> 2008-08-14 08:06:01:767 980 bb8 Setup Update NOT required for
> D:\WINDOWS\system32\wuapi.dll: target version = 7.2.6001.784, required
> version = 7.2.6001.784
> 2008-08-14 08:06:01:868 980 bb8 Setup Update NOT required for
> D:\WINDOWS\system32\wuapi.dll.mui: target version = 7.2.6001.784,
> required version = 7.2.6001.784
> 2008-08-14 08:06:01:898 980 bb8 Setup Update NOT required for
> D:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe: target version = 7.2.6001.784, required
> version = 7.2.6001.784
> 2008-08-14 08:06:01:898 980 bb8 Setup Update NOT required for
> D:\WINDOWS\system32\wuaucpl.cpl: target version = 7.2.6001.784, required
> version = 7.2.6001.784
> 2008-08-14 08:06:01:898 980 bb8 Setup Update NOT required for
> D:\WINDOWS\system32\wuaucpl.cpl.mui: target version = 7.2.6001.784,
> required version = 7.2.6001.784
> 2008-08-14 08:06:01:938 980 bb8 Setup Update NOT required for
> D:\WINDOWS\system32\wuaueng.dll: target version = 7.2.6001.784, required
> version = 7.2.6001.784
> 2008-08-14 08:06:01:958 980 bb8 Setup Update NOT required for
> D:\WINDOWS\system32\wuaueng.dll.mui: target version = 7.2.6001.784,
> required version = 7.2.6001.784
> 2008-08-14 08:06:01:998 980 bb8 Setup Update NOT required for
> D:\WINDOWS\system32\wucltui.dll: target version = 7.2.6001.784, required
> version = 7.2.6001.784
> 2008-08-14 08:06:02:018 980 bb8 Setup Update NOT required for
> D:\WINDOWS\system32\wucltui.dll.mui: target version = 7.2.6001.784,
> required version = 7.2.6001.784
> 2008-08-14 08:06:02:068 980 bb8 Setup Update NOT required for
> D:\WINDOWS\system32\wups.dll: target version = 7.2.6001.784, required
> version = 7.2.6001.784
> 2008-08-14 08:06:02:118 980 bb8 Setup Update NOT required for
> D:\WINDOWS\system32\wups2.dll: target version = 7.2.6001.784, required
> version = 7.2.6001.784
> 2008-08-14 08:06:02:158 980 bb8 Setup Update NOT required for
> D:\WINDOWS\system32\wuweb.dll: target version = 7.2.6001.784, required
> version = 7.2.6001.784
>
> If you did Method 2 in the KB article all files should now be at
> V. 7.2.6001.784.
>
>
> MowGreen [MVP 2003-2008]
> ===============
> *-343-* FDNY
> Never Forgotten
> ===============
>
>
> Jacinthe wrote:
>
> > Okay, I consider myself a relatively computer saavy person. But this one has
> > me stumped, and I need some further suggestions. Please note, though, that
> > if you're going to give me a link, I cannot access it due to my work's
> > firewall.
> >
> > Here is the situation. I have a co-worker (user) who is using a Windows XP
> > Home machine. Until two weeks ago, he hadn't EVER run updates and was still
> > pre-SP1. I set up updates to run on his computer and things were going fine
> > until we got to SP2. I *guess* that there was an error with SP2's install,
> > although it shows in the system as being installed and running. He doesn't
> > have any other issues, besides that now he cannot get any updates. There is
> > a batch downloaded, but they will not install. The error message reads:
> > wuauclt.exe has encountered an error and needs to close. It is not just
> > windows update that does not work. I get the same message if I go to the
> > MSUpdate website and try to install from there.
> >
> > I have tried the following KB articles:
> >
> > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/931852
> > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/906602
> > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/916259/en-us
> > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
> >
> > However, none of these have helped at all. Are there any other suggestions?
> >
> > Thanks, J
>

Give you co-worker this link and tell him to download the tool at home, Copy
it to removable media (e.g., USB key), Copy it from the removable media to
his computer, Remove any Read Only attribute the file might have, and then
run the tool: http://www.codeplex.com/aureset
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Jacinthe wrote:
> Okay, I consider myself a relatively computer saavy person. But this one
> has me stumped, and I need some further suggestions. Please note, though,
> that if you're going to give me a link, I cannot access it due to my
> work's
> firewall.
>
> Here is the situation. I have a co-worker (user) who is using a Windows
> XP
> Home machine. Until two weeks ago, he hadn't EVER run updates and was
> still
> pre-SP1. I set up updates to run on his computer and things were going
> fine
> until we got to SP2. I *guess* that there was an error with SP2's
> install,
> although it shows in the system as being installed and running. He
> doesn't
> have any other issues, besides that now he cannot get any updates. There
> is
> a batch downloaded, but they will not install. The error message reads:
> wuauclt.exe has encountered an error and needs to close. It is not just
> windows update that does not work. I get the same message if I go to the
> MSUpdate website and try to install from there.
>
> I have tried the following KB articles:
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/931852
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/906602
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/916259/en-us
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
>
> However, none of these have helped at all. Are there any other
> suggestions?
>
> Thanks, J

The user is less-than computer-saavy (hence the no-updates and no cleaning
whatsoever since he bought the computer). However, I can do that. No
problem. I will give it a shot first thing tomorrow.

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

> Give you co-worker this link and tell him to download the tool at home, Copy
> it to removable media (e.g., USB key), Copy it from the removable media to
> his computer, Remove any Read Only attribute the file might have, and then
> run the tool: http://www.codeplex.com/aureset
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/
>
> Jacinthe wrote:
> > Okay, I consider myself a relatively computer saavy person. But this one
> > has me stumped, and I need some further suggestions. Please note, though,
> > that if you're going to give me a link, I cannot access it due to my
> > work's
> > firewall.
> >
> > Here is the situation. I have a co-worker (user) who is using a Windows
> > XP
> > Home machine. Until two weeks ago, he hadn't EVER run updates and was
> > still
> > pre-SP1. I set up updates to run on his computer and things were going
> > fine
> > until we got to SP2. I *guess* that there was an error with SP2's
> > install,
> > although it shows in the system as being installed and running. He
> > doesn't
> > have any other issues, besides that now he cannot get any updates. There
> > is
> > a batch downloaded, but they will not install. The error message reads:
> > wuauclt.exe has encountered an error and needs to close. It is not just
> > windows update that does not work. I get the same message if I go to the
> > MSUpdate website and try to install from there.
> >
> > I have tried the following KB articles:
> >
> > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/931852
> > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/906602
> > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/916259/en-us
> > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
> >
> > However, none of these have helped at all. Are there any other
> > suggestions?
> >
> > Thanks, J
>
>

Okay, user is away from his desk, so I got a chance to check the logfile. It
looks like all the components are correct. However, your example lists

> (build: 7.2.6001.784, tz: -0700) ===========

His reads:

build: 7.2.6001.784, tz: -0500

Does that tz number make a difference??

All right, I had a brainstorm. I tried stopping WU via "net stop wuauserv"
and then running it from the website. No joy, but I did figure out that the
update it's trying (and failing miserably) to install is KB888162. I don't
think it's the update itself, but I guess it could be.

Does that alter opinions or cause brainstorms for anyone?

KB888162 does not point to an update.

Jacinthe wrote:
> All right, I had a brainstorm. I tried stopping WU via "net stop
> wuauserv"
> and then running it from the website. No joy, but I did figure out that
> the
> update it's trying (and failing miserably) to install is KB888162. I
> don't
> think it's the update itself, but I guess it could be.
>
> Does that alter opinions or cause brainstorms for anyone?

Jacinthe wrote:

> Okay, I consider myself a relatively computer saavy person. But this one has
> me stumped, and I need some further suggestions. Please note, though, that
> if you're going to give me a link, I cannot access it due to my work's
> firewall.

I'm puzzled by this - typically Windows Update/Automatic Updates won't work at
all from behind that strong a firewall.

> Typically I like to do defrag and CCleaner and so forth after an install, so
> it didn't occur to me to do either beforehand (I know, it was a mistake.)

To the contrary, using registry cleaners is a mistake, whether before or after
an install. They rarely help and often cause damage. Defragmenting the disk
drive after an install might speed the system up (though probably only
marginally) but won't make any difference to the reliability of the system,
except perhaps to make it harder to recover if something goes wrong. If you're
going to defragment, I'd recommend doing it at a different time to any
installs/updates, if only so you have a better idea of what caused any problems
you might encounter.

Harry.

--
Boycott Beijing 2008 http://www.rsf.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=174

I know. But it does apply to a known issue in the knowledge base ...
basically that an incomplete install of SP2 will cause problems. (I just
typed kb888162 into the regular MS search) So, I'm proceeding with an
uninstall/reinstall of SP2 for the user and I'll see what happens.

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

> KB888162 does not point to an update.
>
> Jacinthe wrote:
> > All right, I had a brainstorm. I tried stopping WU via "net stop
> > wuauserv"
> > and then running it from the website. No joy, but I did figure out that
> > the
> > update it's trying (and failing miserably) to install is KB888162. I
> > don't
> > think it's the update itself, but I guess it could be.
> >
> > Does that alter opinions or cause brainstorms for anyone?
>
>