WU stalls during initial check of installation software

I'm trying to install updates on my coworker's laptop. When I run Windows
Update in IE 6, I only get as far as the message that says it's checking to
see if the latest update software is installed before everything stalls.

I believe ActiveX is enabled--at least I don't get that popup notification
underneath the location bar that ActiveX isn't enabled. I'm not sure where
to find ActiveX settings in IE otherwise. But when the page finishes
loading, I hear a "click" (as when you click on a link), and that's when all
activity stops. The message on the web page still says it's checking to see
if I have the latest update software, but nothing ever happens.

Does anyone know what settings I have to change for this to work?

The

Windows version?

See "Checking for the latest version of the Windows Update software" at
http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/troubleshoot/
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE, Shell/User, Security), Aumha.org VSOP, DTS-L.org


Sean F wrote:
> I'm trying to install updates on my coworker's laptop. When I run Windows
> Update in IE 6, I only get as far as the message that says it's checking
> to see if the latest update software is installed before everything
> stalls.
>
> I believe ActiveX is enabled--at least I don't get that popup notification
> underneath the location bar that ActiveX isn't enabled. I'm not sure
> where to find ActiveX settings in IE otherwise. But when the page
> finishes loading, I hear a "click" (as when you click on a link), and
> that's when all activity stops. The message on the web page still says
> it's checking to see if I have the latest update software, but nothing
> ever happens.
>
> Does anyone know what settings I have to change for this to work?
>
> The

XP Pro SP2.

I'm searching through these articles now. Thanks for pointing them out.

"PA Bear" wrote:

> Windows version?
>
> See "Checking for the latest version of the Windows Update software" at
> http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/troubleshoot/
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE, Shell/User, Security), Aumha.org VSOP, DTS-L.org
>
>
> Sean F wrote:
> > I'm trying to install updates on my coworker's laptop. When I run Windows
> > Update in IE 6, I only get as far as the message that says it's checking
> > to see if the latest update software is installed before everything
> > stalls.
> >
> > I believe ActiveX is enabled--at least I don't get that popup notification
> > underneath the location bar that ActiveX isn't enabled. I'm not sure
> > where to find ActiveX settings in IE otherwise. But when the page
> > finishes loading, I hear a "click" (as when you click on a link), and
> > that's when all activity stops. The message on the web page still says
> > it's checking to see if I have the latest update software, but nothing
> > ever happens.
> >
> > Does anyone know what settings I have to change for this to work?
> >
> > The
>
>

The problem I'm having is exactly the one described in the troubleshooting
section you mentioned, "Checking for the latest version of the Windows Update
Software," however, there are no third-party firewalls installed on the
laptop, including Zone Alarm. However, I found that it's necessary to
disable Windows Firewall, which is not mentioned.

I also tried a fix called "Manual installation instructions for Windows
Update controls" which didn't change the outcome. As a hailmary I updated
Java (no help), but this easily beyond the scope of my limited knowledge.

Sean

"PA Bear" wrote:

> Windows version?
>
> See "Checking for the latest version of the Windows Update software" at
> http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/troubleshoot/
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE, Shell/User, Security), Aumha.org VSOP, DTS-L.org
>
>
> Sean F wrote:
> > I'm trying to install updates on my coworker's laptop. When I run Windows
> > Update in IE 6, I only get as far as the message that says it's checking
> > to see if the latest update software is installed before everything
> > stalls.
> >
> > I believe ActiveX is enabled--at least I don't get that popup notification
> > underneath the location bar that ActiveX isn't enabled. I'm not sure
> > where to find ActiveX settings in IE otherwise. But when the page
> > finishes loading, I hear a "click" (as when you click on a link), and
> > that's when all activity stops. The message on the web page still says
> > it's checking to see if I have the latest update software, but nothing
> > ever happens.
> >
> > Does anyone know what settings I have to change for this to work?
> >
> > The
>
>

So it's Windows XP SP2 and disabling the Windows Firewall enabled Windows
Update to complete the scan, allowing you to download/install updates?
Doesn't sound right to me. Might this user have configured the Windows
Firewall to disallow Windows Update?

Is this a company-owned machine? ...on a company network?

Is Automatic Updates enabled?
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=306525

Look in %windows%\System32 for a file named MSHTML.DLL and tell me its
version, please. I've got a hunch.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE, Shell/User, Security), Aumha.org VSOP, DTS-L.org

Sean F wrote:
> The problem I'm having is exactly the one described in the troubleshooting
> section you mentioned, "Checking for the latest version of the Windows
> Update Software," however, there are no third-party firewalls installed
> on the laptop, including Zone Alarm. However, I found that it's
> necessary to disable Windows Firewall, which is not mentioned.
>
> I also tried a fix called "Manual installation instructions for Windows
> Update controls" which didn't change the outcome. As a hailmary I updated
> Java (no help), but this easily beyond the scope of my limited knowledge.
>
> Sean
>
> "PA Bear" wrote:
>
> > Windows version?
> >
> > See "Checking for the latest version of the Windows Update software" at
> > http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/troubleshoot/
> > --
> > ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> > MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE, Shell/User, Security), Aumha.org VSOP, DTS-L.org
> >
> >
> > Sean F wrote:
> > > I'm trying to install updates on my coworker's laptop. When I run
> > > Windows Update in IE 6, I only get as far as the message that says
> > > it's checking to see if the latest update software is installed
> > > before everything stalls.
> > >
> > > I believe ActiveX is enabled--at least I don't get that popup
> > > notification underneath the location bar that ActiveX isn't enabled.
> > > I'm not sure where to find ActiveX settings in IE otherwise. But
> > > when the page finishes loading, I hear a "click" (as when you click
> > > on a link), and that's when all activity stops. The message on the
> > > web page still says it's checking to see if I have the latest update
> > > software, but nothing ever happens.
> > >
> > > Does anyone know what settings I have to change for this to work?
> > >
> > > The

It may have been Windows Firewall that blocked the initial security warning,
but disabling the firewall still does not permit the scan.

It's a company-owned machine, but it's not networked. The laptop isn't in
my possession anymore. A company networking specialist double-checked what I
did, but couldn't find the problem on his own. He's given the machine to
another IT person to figure out, so I didn't get a chance to look for the
MSHTML.DLL file.

However, before the network guy gave up, I know he logged in as an
administrator, and was able to access the WU site and scan for updates
(everything was up-to-date). I had been logging on under the user's profile,
which has administrator's rights. So, it appears there is a problem related
to the user's profile.

If I find out in the near future what the problem was, I'll post the fix.

Sean

"PA Bear" wrote:

> So it's Windows XP SP2 and disabling the Windows Firewall enabled Windows
> Update to complete the scan, allowing you to download/install updates?
> Doesn't sound right to me. Might this user have configured the Windows
> Firewall to disallow Windows Update?
>
> Is this a company-owned machine? ...on a company network?
>
> Is Automatic Updates enabled?
> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=306525
>
> Look in %windows%\System32 for a file named MSHTML.DLL and tell me its
> version, please. I've got a hunch.
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE, Shell/User, Security), Aumha.org VSOP, DTS-L.org
>
> Sean F wrote:
> > The problem I'm having is exactly the one described in the troubleshooting
> > section you mentioned, "Checking for the latest version of the Windows
> > Update Software," however, there are no third-party firewalls installed
> > on the laptop, including Zone Alarm. However, I found that it's
> > necessary to disable Windows Firewall, which is not mentioned.
> >
> > I also tried a fix called "Manual installation instructions for Windows
> > Update controls" which didn't change the outcome. As a hailmary I updated
> > Java (no help), but this easily beyond the scope of my limited knowledge.
> >
> > Sean
> >
> > "PA Bear" wrote:
> >
> > > Windows version?
> > >
> > > See "Checking for the latest version of the Windows Update software" at
> > > http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/troubleshoot/
> > > --
> > > ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> > > MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE, Shell/User, Security), Aumha.org VSOP, DTS-L.org
> > >
> > >
> > > Sean F wrote:
> > > > I'm trying to install updates on my coworker's laptop. When I run
> > > > Windows Update in IE 6, I only get as far as the message that says
> > > > it's checking to see if the latest update software is installed
> > > > before everything stalls.
> > > >
> > > > I believe ActiveX is enabled--at least I don't get that popup
> > > > notification underneath the location bar that ActiveX isn't enabled.
> > > > I'm not sure where to find ActiveX settings in IE otherwise. But
> > > > when the page finishes loading, I hear a "click" (as when you click
> > > > on a link), and that's when all activity stops. The message on the
> > > > web page still says it's checking to see if I have the latest update
> > > > software, but nothing ever happens.
> > > >
> > > > Does anyone know what settings I have to change for this to work?
> > > >
> > > > The
>
>

> It's a company-owned machine, but it's not networked...
> He's given the machine to another IT person to figure out

Are you a member of the company's IT department?

> So, it appears there is a problem related to the user's profile.

More or less, yes.
--
~PA Bear

Sean F wrote:
> It may have been Windows Firewall that blocked the initial security
> warning, but disabling the firewall still does not permit the scan.
>
> It's a company-owned machine, but it's not networked. The laptop isn't in
> my possession anymore. A company networking specialist double-checked
> what I did, but couldn't find the problem on his own. He's given the
> machine to another IT person to figure out, so I didn't get a chance to
> look for the MSHTML.DLL file.
>
> However, before the network guy gave up, I know he logged in as an
> administrator, and was able to access the WU site and scan for updates
> (everything was up-to-date). I had been logging on under the user's
> profile, which has administrator's rights. So, it appears there is a
> problem related to the user's profile.
>
> If I find out in the near future what the problem was, I'll post the fix.
>
> Sean
>
> "PA Bear" wrote:
>
> > So it's Windows XP SP2 and disabling the Windows Firewall enabled
> > Windows Update to complete the scan, allowing you to download/install
> > updates? Doesn't sound right to me. Might this user have configured
> > the Windows Firewall to disallow Windows Update?
> >
> > Is this a company-owned machine? ...on a company network?
> >
> > Is Automatic Updates enabled?
> > http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=306525
> >
> > Look in %windows%\System32 for a file named MSHTML.DLL and tell me its
> > version, please. I've got a hunch.
> > --
> > ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> > MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE, Shell/User, Security), Aumha.org VSOP, DTS-L.org
> >
> > Sean F wrote:
> > > The problem I'm having is exactly the one described in the
> > > troubleshooting section you mentioned, "Checking for the latest
> > > version of the Windows Update Software," however, there are no
> > > third-party firewalls installed on the laptop, including Zone Alarm.
> > > However, I found that it's necessary to disable Windows Firewall,
> > > which is not mentioned.
> > >
> > > I also tried a fix called "Manual installation instructions for
> > > Windows Update controls" which didn't change the outcome. As a
> > > hailmary I updated Java (no help), but this easily beyond the scope
> > > of my limited knowledge.
> > >
> > > Sean
> > >
> > > "PA Bear" wrote:
> > >
> > > > Windows version?
> > > >
> > > > See "Checking for the latest version of the Windows Update
> > > > software" at http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/troubleshoot/
> > > > --
> > > > ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> > > > MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE, Shell/User, Security), Aumha.org VSOP,
> > > > DTS-L.org
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Sean F wrote:
> > > > > I'm trying to install updates on my coworker's laptop. When I run
> > > > > Windows Update in IE 6, I only get as far as the message that says
> > > > > it's checking to see if the latest update software is installed
> > > > > before everything stalls.
> > > > >
> > > > > I believe ActiveX is enabled--at least I don't get that popup
> > > > > notification underneath the location bar that ActiveX isn't
> > > > > enabled. I'm not sure where to find ActiveX settings in IE
> > > > > otherwise. But when the page finishes loading, I hear a "click"
> > > > > (as when you click on a link), and that's when all activity
> > > > > stops. The message on the web page still says it's checking to
> > > > > see if I have the latest update software, but nothing ever
> > > > > happens.
> > > > >
> > > > > Does anyone know what settings I have to change for this to work?
> > > > >
> > > > > The

I'm not a member of the IT department. I work at a university that has
centralized IT support, but some departments choose to hire their own on-site
IT support so the IT department isn't so burdened and problems can be solved
quicker. Our on-site network tech recently left, and I try to help in the
interim while we find a replacement. If I can't help, we submit a request, a
ticket is created, etc. If I can't solve it, I pass it on to the centralized
IT desk. Usually this approach is quicker.

"PA Bear" wrote:

> > It's a company-owned machine, but it's not networked...
> > He's given the machine to another IT person to figure out
>
> Are you a member of the company's IT department?
>
> > So, it appears there is a problem related to the user's profile.
>
> More or less, yes.
> --
> ~PA Bear
>
> Sean F wrote:
> > It may have been Windows Firewall that blocked the initial security
> > warning, but disabling the firewall still does not permit the scan.
> >
> > It's a company-owned machine, but it's not networked. The laptop isn't in
> > my possession anymore. A company networking specialist double-checked
> > what I did, but couldn't find the problem on his own. He's given the
> > machine to another IT person to figure out, so I didn't get a chance to
> > look for the MSHTML.DLL file.
> >
> > However, before the network guy gave up, I know he logged in as an
> > administrator, and was able to access the WU site and scan for updates
> > (everything was up-to-date). I had been logging on under the user's
> > profile, which has administrator's rights. So, it appears there is a
> > problem related to the user's profile.
> >
> > If I find out in the near future what the problem was, I'll post the fix.
> >
> > Sean
> >
> > "PA Bear" wrote:
> >
> > > So it's Windows XP SP2 and disabling the Windows Firewall enabled
> > > Windows Update to complete the scan, allowing you to download/install
> > > updates? Doesn't sound right to me. Might this user have configured
> > > the Windows Firewall to disallow Windows Update?
> > >
> > > Is this a company-owned machine? ...on a company network?
> > >
> > > Is Automatic Updates enabled?
> > > http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=306525
> > >
> > > Look in %windows%\System32 for a file named MSHTML.DLL and tell me its
> > > version, please. I've got a hunch.
> > > --
> > > ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> > > MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE, Shell/User, Security), Aumha.org VSOP, DTS-L.org
> > >
> > > Sean F wrote:
> > > > The problem I'm having is exactly the one described in the
> > > > troubleshooting section you mentioned, "Checking for the latest
> > > > version of the Windows Update Software," however, there are no
> > > > third-party firewalls installed on the laptop, including Zone Alarm.
> > > > However, I found that it's necessary to disable Windows Firewall,
> > > > which is not mentioned.
> > > >
> > > > I also tried a fix called "Manual installation instructions for
> > > > Windows Update controls" which didn't change the outcome. As a
> > > > hailmary I updated Java (no help), but this easily beyond the scope
> > > > of my limited knowledge.
> > > >
> > > > Sean
> > > >
> > > > "PA Bear" wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > Windows version?
> > > > >
> > > > > See "Checking for the latest version of the Windows Update
> > > > > software" at http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/troubleshoot/
> > > > > --
> > > > > ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> > > > > MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE, Shell/User, Security), Aumha.org VSOP,
> > > > > DTS-L.org
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Sean F wrote:
> > > > > > I'm trying to install updates on my coworker's laptop. When I run
> > > > > > Windows Update in IE 6, I only get as far as the message that says
> > > > > > it's checking to see if the latest update software is installed
> > > > > > before everything stalls.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I believe ActiveX is enabled--at least I don't get that popup
> > > > > > notification underneath the location bar that ActiveX isn't
> > > > > > enabled. I'm not sure where to find ActiveX settings in IE
> > > > > > otherwise. But when the page finishes loading, I hear a "click"
> > > > > > (as when you click on a link), and that's when all activity
> > > > > > stops. The message on the web page still says it's checking to
> > > > > > see if I have the latest update software, but nothing ever
> > > > > > happens.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Does anyone know what settings I have to change for this to work?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > The
>
>