wuauclt.exe at 100% and Windows updates will not work

I have a client's computer with XP home on it. I've installed XP SP 2
from a CD and the problem persists.

Whenever the Windows update app is run the browser (eventually) goes to
the update site, sometimes. The wuauclt.exe thread takes about 98% of
CPU and drives it up to 100%. As soon as I stop the process it
restarts. If I get onto the update site and click 'custom' or 'express'
I get a message telling me to clear my temporary internet files - not
very helpful. I can suspend the thread using process explorer from
sysinternals, but this prevents me getting updates.

Sometimes wuauclt.exe runs 2 threads. If left to its own devices of
course, it brings the computer almost to a standstill and switching off
auto updates seems to do nothing to discourage it.

I've searched and searched for a solution. I've tried netsh winsock
reset at the cmd prompt. I've tried disabling Norton antivirus. I've
tried disabling the XP firewall. I've tried turning off automatic
updates. I've tried all the permutations of those 3. I've tried safe
mode. I've uninstalled nearly all the software. I've updated drivers.
I've scanned with Trend's Home Call app and the PC is clean. I've
updated Norton and I've run Ad Aware scans. I've removed BHOs like
Yahoo, Google etc. I've manually started a load of services including
BITS.

Other symptoms include a very long time with the "windows is shutting
down" screen up.

SOLUTION FOUND just after posting. Thank heavens because I've been
hours on this one.
http://www.updatexp.com/0x80248011.html

I renamed the directory c:\windows\softwaredistribution after stopping
the service and then re-enabled the service. Two minutes that could
have saved me a whole afternoon! I hope this helps someone else.

Pete


petethebl...@googlemail.com wrote:

> I have a client's computer with XP home on it. I've installed XP SP 2
> from a CD and the problem persists.
>
> Whenever the Windows update app is run the browser (eventually) goes to
> the update site, sometimes. The wuauclt.exe thread takes about 98% of
> CPU and drives it up to 100%. As soon as I stop the process it
> restarts. If I get onto the update site and click 'custom' or 'express'
> I get a message telling me to clear my temporary internet files - not
> very helpful. I can suspend the thread using process explorer from
> sysinternals, but this prevents me getting updates.
>
> Sometimes wuauclt.exe runs 2 threads. If left to its own devices of
> course, it brings the computer almost to a standstill and switching off
> auto updates seems to do nothing to discourage it.
>
> I've searched and searched for a solution. I've tried netsh winsock
> reset at the cmd prompt. I've tried disabling Norton antivirus. I've
> tried disabling the XP firewall. I've tried turning off automatic
> updates. I've tried all the permutations of those 3. I've tried safe
> mode. I've uninstalled nearly all the software. I've updated drivers.
> I've scanned with Trend's Home Call app and the PC is clean. I've
> updated Norton and I've run Ad Aware scans. I've removed BHOs like
> Yahoo, Google etc. I've manually started a load of services including
> BITS.
>
> Other symptoms include a very long time with the "windows is shutting
> down" screen up.