Windows Vista Updata fails with 0x80072efd error.

OK, I have tried all the tech support bulletins you have been suggesting.
Nothing works. The only thing that does seem to work is if the update hangs
and searches forever, deleting the SoftwareDistribution directory clears this
up. Here is my current setup:

No firewall software
Windows firewall is OFF
Internet Explorer is set to it's original defaults
No virus protection
No proxies
Connected straight to broadband provider
All programs turned off
Here is a copy of the Windows Update log from the time Vista boots until the
time it returns with its error. I note two unusual things in the log file:

2007-05-13 19:54:58:381 1164 adc Setup WARNING: SelfUpdate is in an error
state

and

2007-05-13 19:55:05:151 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: WinHttp:
SendRequestUsingProxy failed for
<http://download.windowsupdate.com/vista/windowsupdate/redir/vistawuredir.cab>. error 0x80072efd

I shouldn't be using a proxy. The log even states I don't have one. Here
is the log from bootup to failure:

2007-05-13 19:52:01:157 1148 f1c AU AU initiates service shutdown
2007-05-13 19:52:01:172 1148 f1c AU ########### AU: Uninitializing
Automatic Updates ###########
2007-05-13 19:52:01:516 1148 f1c Service *********
2007-05-13 19:52:01:516 1148 f1c Service ** END ** Service: Service exit
[Exit code = 0x240001]
2007-05-13 19:52:01:516 1148 f1c Service *************
2007-05-13 19:54:58:303 1164 adc Misc =========== Logging initialized
(build: 6.0.6000.16386, tz: -0400) ===========
2007-05-13 19:54:58:318 1164 adc Misc = Process:
C:\Windows\system32\svchost.exe
2007-05-13 19:54:58:318 1164 adc Misc = Module:
c:\windows\system32\wuaueng.dll
2007-05-13 19:54:58:303 1164 adc Service *************
2007-05-13 19:54:58:318 1164 adc Service ** START ** Service: Service startup
2007-05-13 19:54:58:318 1164 adc Service *********
2007-05-13 19:54:58:334 1164 adc Agent * WU client version 6.0.6000.16386
2007-05-13 19:54:58:334 1164 adc Agent * Base directory:
C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution
2007-05-13 19:54:58:334 1164 adc Agent * Access type: No proxy
2007-05-13 19:54:58:334 1164 adc Agent * Network state: Connected
2007-05-13 19:54:58:381 1164 adc Setup WARNING: SelfUpdate is in an error
state
2007-05-13 19:54:58:584 1164 dec Agent *********** Agent: Initializing
Windows Update Agent ***********
2007-05-13 19:54:58:584 1164 adc Report *********** Report: Initializing
static reporting data ***********
2007-05-13 19:54:58:584 1164 dec Agent *********** Agent: Initializing
global settings cache ***********
2007-05-13 19:54:58:584 1164 adc Report * OS Version = 6.0.6000.0.0.66304
2007-05-13 19:54:58:584 1164 dec Agent * WSUS server: <NULL>
2007-05-13 19:54:58:584 1164 adc Report * OS Product Type = 0x00000003
2007-05-13 19:54:58:584 1164 dec Agent * WSUS status server: <NULL>
2007-05-13 19:54:58:584 1164 dec Agent * Target group: (Unassigned
Computers)
2007-05-13 19:54:58:584 1164 dec Agent * Windows Update access disabled: No
2007-05-13 19:54:58:584 1164 dec DnldMgr Download manager restoring 0
downloads
2007-05-13 19:54:58:584 1164 dec AU ########### AU: Initializing Automatic
Updates ###########
2007-05-13 19:54:58:584 1164 dec AU # AU disabled through User preference
2007-05-13 19:54:58:599 1164 dec AU AU finished delayed initialization
2007-05-13 19:54:58:693 1164 adc Report * Computer Brand = Hewlett-Packard
2007-05-13 19:54:58:693 1164 adc Report * Computer Model = HP Pavilion
dv6000 (RP285UA#ABA)
2007-05-13 19:54:58:708 1164 adc Report * Bios Revision = F.13
2007-05-13 19:54:58:708 1164 adc Report * Bios Name = Ver 1.00PARTTBLv
2007-05-13 19:54:58:708 1164 adc Report * Bios Release Date =
2007-01-02T00:00:00
2007-05-13 19:54:58:708 1164 adc Report * Locale ID = 1033
2007-05-13 19:55:02:343 1164 d94 AU Triggering AU detection through
DetectNow API
2007-05-13 19:55:02:343 1164 d94 AU Triggering Online detection (interactive)
2007-05-13 19:55:02:359 1164 adc AU #############
2007-05-13 19:55:02:359 1164 adc AU ## START ## AU: Search for updates
2007-05-13 19:55:02:359 1164 adc AU #########
2007-05-13 19:55:02:374 1164 adc AU <<## SUBMITTED ## AU: Search for updates
[CallId = {BDEC070E-BC5C-468F-82CD-0185B626F59B}]
2007-05-13 19:55:02:374 1164 8b8 Agent *************
2007-05-13 19:55:02:374 1164 8b8 Agent ** START ** Agent: Finding updates
[CallerId = AutomaticUpdates]
2007-05-13 19:55:02:374 1164 8b8 Agent *********
2007-05-13 19:55:02:390 1164 8b8 Setup Checking for agent SelfUpdate
2007-05-13 19:55:02:390 1164 8b8 Setup Client version: Core: 6.0.6000.16386
Aux: 6.0.6000.16386
2007-05-13 19:55:05:151 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: Send failed with hr = 80072efd.
2007-05-13 19:55:05:151 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: SendRequest failed with hr =
80072efd. Proxy List used: <(null)> Bypass List used : <(null)> Auth Schemes
used : <>
2007-05-13 19:55:05:151 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: WinHttp:
SendRequestUsingProxy failed for
<http://download.windowsupdate.com/vista/windowsupdate/redir/vistawuredir.cab>. error 0x80072efd
2007-05-13 19:55:05:151 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: DoFileDownload
MakeRequest failed. error 0x80072efd
2007-05-13 19:55:07:663 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: Send failed with hr = 80072efd.
2007-05-13 19:55:07:663 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: SendRequest failed with hr =
80072efd. Proxy List used: <(null)> Bypass List used : <(null)> Auth Schemes
used : <>
2007-05-13 19:55:07:663 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: WinHttp:
SendRequestUsingProxy failed for
<http://download.windowsupdate.com/vista/windowsupdate/redir/vistawuredir.cab>. error 0x80072efd
2007-05-13 19:55:07:663 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: DoFileDownload
MakeRequest failed. error 0x80072efd
2007-05-13 19:55:10:174 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: Send failed with hr = 80072efd.
2007-05-13 19:55:10:174 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: SendRequest failed with hr =
80072efd. Proxy List used: <(null)> Bypass List used : <(null)> Auth Schemes
used : <>
2007-05-13 19:55:10:174 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: WinHttp:
SendRequestUsingProxy failed for
<http://download.windowsupdate.com/vista/windowsupdate/redir/vistawuredir.cab>. error 0x80072efd
2007-05-13 19:55:10:174 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: DoFileDownload
MakeRequest failed. error 0x80072efd
2007-05-13 19:55:12:686 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: Send failed with hr = 80072efd.
2007-05-13 19:55:12:686 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: SendRequest failed with hr =
80072efd. Proxy List used: <(null)> Bypass List used : <(null)> Auth Schemes
used : <>
2007-05-13 19:55:12:686 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: WinHttp:
SendRequestUsingProxy failed for
<http://download.windowsupdate.com/vista/windowsupdate/redir/vistawuredir.cab>. error 0x80072efd
2007-05-13 19:55:12:686 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: DoFileDownload
MakeRequest failed. error 0x80072efd
2007-05-13 19:55:12:686 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: DownloadFileInternal failed
for
http://download.windowsupdate.com/vi...tawuredir.cab:
error 0x80072efd
2007-05-13 19:55:15:619 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: Send failed with hr = 80072efd.
2007-05-13 19:55:15:619 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: SendRequest failed with hr =
80072efd. Proxy List used: <(null)> Bypass List used : <(null)> Auth Schemes
used : <>
2007-05-13 19:55:15:619 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: WinHttp:
SendRequestUsingProxy failed for
<http://download.microsoft.com/vista/windowsupdate/redir/vistawuredir.cab>.
error 0x80072efd
2007-05-13 19:55:15:619 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: DoFileDownload
MakeRequest failed. error 0x80072efd
2007-05-13 19:55:18:505 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: Send failed with hr = 80072efd.
2007-05-13 19:55:18:505 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: SendRequest failed with hr =
80072efd. Proxy List used: <(null)> Bypass List used : <(null)> Auth Schemes
used : <>
2007-05-13 19:55:18:505 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: WinHttp:
SendRequestUsingProxy failed for
<http://download.microsoft.com/vista/windowsupdate/redir/vistawuredir.cab>.
error 0x80072efd
2007-05-13 19:55:18:505 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: DoFileDownload
MakeRequest failed. error 0x80072efd
2007-05-13 19:55:21:360 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: Send failed with hr = 80072efd.
2007-05-13 19:55:21:360 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: SendRequest failed with hr =
80072efd. Proxy List used: <(null)> Bypass List used : <(null)> Auth Schemes
used : <>
2007-05-13 19:55:21:360 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: WinHttp:
SendRequestUsingProxy failed for
<http://download.microsoft.com/vista/windowsupdate/redir/vistawuredir.cab>.
error 0x80072efd
2007-05-13 19:55:21:360 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: DoFileDownload
MakeRequest failed. error 0x80072efd
2007-05-13 19:55:24:043 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: Send failed with hr = 80072efd.
2007-05-13 19:55:24:043 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: SendRequest failed with hr =
80072efd. Proxy List used: <(null)> Bypass List used : <(null)> Auth Schemes
used : <>
2007-05-13 19:55:24:043 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: WinHttp:
SendRequestUsingProxy failed for
<http://download.microsoft.com/vista/windowsupdate/redir/vistawuredir.cab>.
error 0x80072efd
2007-05-13 19:55:24:043 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: DoFileDownload
MakeRequest failed. error 0x80072efd
2007-05-13 19:55:24:043 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: DownloadFileInternal failed
for http://download.microsoft.com/vista/...tawuredir.cab:
error 0x80072efd
2007-05-13 19:55:26:430 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: Send failed with hr = 80072efd.
2007-05-13 19:55:26:430 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: SendRequest failed with hr =
80072efd. Proxy List used: <(null)> Bypass List used : <(null)> Auth Schemes
used : <>
2007-05-13 19:55:26:430 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: WinHttp:
SendRequestUsingProxy failed for
<http://update.microsoft.com/vista/windowsupdate/redir/vistawuredir.cab>.
error 0x80072efd
2007-05-13 19:55:26:430 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: DoFileDownload
MakeRequest failed. error 0x80072efd
2007-05-13 19:55:28:816 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: Send failed with hr = 80072efd.
2007-05-13 19:55:28:816 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: SendRequest failed with hr =
80072efd. Proxy List used: <(null)> Bypass List used : <(null)> Auth Schemes
used : <>
2007-05-13 19:55:28:816 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: WinHttp:
SendRequestUsingProxy failed for
<http://update.microsoft.com/vista/windowsupdate/redir/vistawuredir.cab>.
error 0x80072efd
2007-05-13 19:55:28:816 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: DoFileDownload
MakeRequest failed. error 0x80072efd
2007-05-13 19:55:31:188 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: Send failed with hr = 80072efd.
2007-05-13 19:55:31:188 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: SendRequest failed with hr =
80072efd. Proxy List used: <(null)> Bypass List used : <(null)> Auth Schemes
used : <>
2007-05-13 19:55:31:188 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: WinHttp:
SendRequestUsingProxy failed for
<http://update.microsoft.com/vista/windowsupdate/redir/vistawuredir.cab>.
error 0x80072efd
2007-05-13 19:55:31:188 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: DoFileDownload
MakeRequest failed. error 0x80072efd
2007-05-13 19:55:33:590 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: Send failed with hr = 80072efd.
2007-05-13 19:55:33:590 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: SendRequest failed with hr =
80072efd. Proxy List used: <(null)> Bypass List used : <(null)> Auth Schemes
used : <>
2007-05-13 19:55:33:590 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: WinHttp:
SendRequestUsingProxy failed for
<http://update.microsoft.com/vista/windowsupdate/redir/vistawuredir.cab>.
error 0x80072efd
2007-05-13 19:55:33:590 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: DoFileDownload
MakeRequest failed. error 0x80072efd
2007-05-13 19:55:33:590 1164 8b8 Misc WARNING: DownloadFileInternal failed
for http://update.microsoft.com/vista/wi...tawuredir.cab:
error 0x80072efd
2007-05-13 19:55:33:590 1164 8b8 Setup WARNING: SelfUpdate check failed to
download package information, error = 0x80072EFD
2007-05-13 19:55:33:590 1164 8b8 Setup FATAL: SelfUpdate check failed, err =
0x80072EFD
2007-05-13 19:55:33:590 1164 8b8 Agent * WARNING: Skipping scan,
self-update check returned 0x80072EFD
2007-05-13 19:55:33:606 1164 8b8 Agent * WARNING: Exit code = 0x80072EFD
2007-05-13 19:55:33:621 1164 8b8 Agent *********
2007-05-13 19:55:33:621 1164 8b8 Agent ** END ** Agent: Finding updates
[CallerId = AutomaticUpdates]
2007-05-13 19:55:33:621 1164 8b8 Agent *************
2007-05-13 19:55:33:621 1164 8b8 Agent WARNING: WU client failed Searching
for update with error 0x80072efd
2007-05-13 19:55:33:621 1164 93c AU >>## RESUMED ## AU: Search for updates
[CallId = {BDEC070E-BC5C-468F-82CD-0185B626F59B}]
2007-05-13 19:55:33:621 1164 93c AU # WARNING: Search callback failed,
result = 0x80072EFD
2007-05-13 19:55:33:621 1164 93c AU # WARNING: Failed to find updates with
error code 80072EFD
2007-05-13 19:55:33:621 1164 93c AU #########
2007-05-13 19:55:33:621 1164 93c AU ## END ## AU: Search for updates
[CallId = {BDEC070E-BC5C-468F-82CD-0185B626F59B}]
2007-05-13 19:55:33:621 1164 93c AU #############
2007-05-13 19:55:38:598 1164 93c Report REPORT EVENT:
{14873348-6157-43F5-A67D-09B3F1A38455} 2007-05-13
19:55:33:590-0400 1 148 101 {D67661EB-2423-451D-BF5D-13199E37DF28} 1 80072efd SelfUpdate Failure Software
Synchronization Windows Update Client failed to detect with error 0x80072efd.