Okay, Like every user on this thread, I've been getting the change your security settings, Enable Userdata persistence - 0x800A0046 error on all but one of my Windows 2000 Servers, these are not Domain Controllers. I've read all the threads and have tried all the suggested Microsoft fixes. I realized these fixes have worked for some people but they have not worked for me. To recap: Method 1: I am using the Administrator account as a Member Of only the Administrators group and nothing else. Method 2: I downloaded SC.exe that doesn't come builtin with Win2k from ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/reskit/win2000/ I got a "Success". Method 3: Administrator and Service is already part of the Impersonate a client after authentication policy. I even tried adding them again. Method 4: The Automatic Updates Service is logging in fine as a Local System account. Method 5: I am not using any remote control software. I have direct console access. And finally yes, I've logged off, even rebooted the machine everytime. I do however get the fuzzy Automatic Update globe with Windows logo icon on the lower right hand side of the taskbar. W hen I place my mouse cursor over it, it says "Updates are ready for your computer, click here to install your updates" but disappears when I click on it. It will reappear after a little while. Right now, my work around is to access v4 Windows Update by clicking on "Use Administrator options" on the left hand side and then Windows Update Catalog. I really hope Microsoft doesn't ignore this and continue spitting out their typical methods as the ultimate fixes for this issue since there are people who've done them and still have non-working machiness because it is pretty frustrating to think our servers are not being updated properly in light of the Internet worms that have been in the news lately.