Windows update site thinks my OS is Vista

[GW62]

I have XP MCE on the PC in question....

When I go to the Windows update site, it tells me the update is now part of
the start menu and it will not check my machine for updates. I suspect that
something in the registry is identifying my system as a Vista OS. I've done a
search and I cannot not find where I can edit the registry, or at least check
to see if it somehow has been changed to Vista.

It seems this problem started after IE updated to IE8, and I did try
uninstalling IE8 but that doesn't fix the problem.

Anybody run into this before?

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your
subscription current? What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)?
What third-party firewall (if any)? Were any of these applications running
in the background when you installed or uninstalled IE8?

Has a Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on this machine
(e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you bought it)?

Just asking for now!! Do NOT use such a Restore Point yet!! => Do you have
an available Restore Point which predates the install of IE8?

Open IE to this page: http://www.fiddlertool.com/ua.aspx

Copy/Paste the contents of the first 2 boxes into a reply to this post.

Example:

====================================
Your browser sent the following headers:
Connection: Keep-AliveAccept: image/gif, image/x-xbitmap, image/jpeg,
image/pjpeg, application/x-shockwave-flash, application/vnd.ms-excel,
application/msword, */*Accept-Encoding: gzip, deflateAccept-Language:
en-usHost: www.fiddlertool.comUser-Agent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 7.0;
Windows NT 5.1; .NET CLR 1.1.4322; InfoPath.1; MS-RTC LM 8)UA-CPU: x86
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASPNET's HTTPBrowserCapabilities object reports that, based on the
User-Agent, your Browser has the following capabilities:

Type = IE7
Name = IE
Version = 7.0
Major Version = 7
Minor Version = 0
Platform = WinXP
Is Beta = False
Is Crawler = False
Is AOL = False
Is Win16 = False
Is Win32 = True
Supports Frames = True
Supports Tables = True
Supports Cookies = True
Supports VBScript = True
Supports JavaScript = True
Supports Java Applets = True
Supports ActiveX Controls = True
===================================

--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002

[GW62]

I am using Window Live One Care as my security suite. My laptop (WinXPPRO)
experienced the same issue as my desktop and it uses WLOC. I recently had to
format the HD for other reasons, and it does have IE8 installed with no
issues as of now.

I also don't have a good point to restore from on my desktop. This problem
has been an issue for several weeks now.

And here is the info you requested:

Your browser sent the following headers:

Connection: Keep-AliveAccept: */*Accept-Encoding: gzip,
deflateAccept-Language: en-usHost: www.fiddlertool.comReferer:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/newsgroups/reader.mspx?dg=microsoft.public.windowsupdate&lang=en&cr=USUser-Agent:
Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 8.0; Windows NT 6.0; .NET CLR 1.0.3705; .NET
CLR 1.1.4322; Media Center PC 4.0; .NET CLR 2.0.50727; MS-RTC LM 8; .NET CLR
3.0.4506.2152; .NET CLR 3.5.30729; OfficeLiveConnector.1.3;
OfficeLivePatch.1.3)UA-CPU: x86Long UA Warning: Your User-Agent string is
longer than 200 characters. This may cause problems with some websites, which
may block you from visiting, render blank pages, or show error messages. More
Information is available about this problem and how to fix it.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASPNET's HTTPBrowserCapabilities object reports that, based on the
User-Agent, your Browser has the following capabilities:

Type = IE8
Name = IE
Version = 8.0
Major Version = 8
Minor Version = 0
Platform = WinNT

Is Beta = False
Is Crawler = False
Is AOL = False
Is Win16 = False
Is Win32 = True
Supports Frames = True
Supports Tables = True
Supports Cookies = True
Supports VBScript = True
Supports JavaScript = True
Supports Java Applets = True
Supports ActiveX Controls = True

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

[Crosspost to IE General]

Wow, that UA string's all over the place (and installing Office Live
Connector, etc., is partly responsible IMHO)!

When did you install OneCare? Have you purchased it and is your
subscription current?

Were all OneCare components (e.g., anti-virus; firewall; anti-spyware)
running in the background when you installed IE8?

Did you format & reinstall WinXP on the machine having this problem? By any
chance did you Slipstream IE7 or IE8 before doing the clean install?

Now, what to do about it? If you're technically gifted, you might want to
play around with UA Picker (http://www.enhanceie.com/ietoys/uapick.asp) but
that won't really fix the problem so I'll give you 2 other options (please
read & consider both):

#1 => See if uninstalling IE8 (which will automatically restore your
previous IE version) resolves the behavior.

How to uninstall or remove Internet Explorer 8
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/957700

NB: I would strongly recommend uninstalling IE8 in Safe Mode to avoid any
possible interference from OneCare! After rebooting twice (into normal
mode), go immediately to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com, select CUSTOM &
scan, then install any critical security updates offered.

NB: Do NOT reinstall IE8! Uncheck it & "hide" it instead.

NB: If uninstalling returns you to IE7 and a Root Certificates update is
listed in the Optional Updates category, install it to take full advantage
of IE7's enhanced security.

#2 => Open a free support incident. I suspect the engineers would /love/ to
work on this one!

No-charge support for Internet Explorer 8 installation, set-up and usage
(only) is available via the phone based on your locale through 31 December
2009. Customers must be running Windows XP or Windows Vista in a non-domain
environment.
=> US & CA Residents: 1-866-234-6020
=> Other locales: https://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?&prid=13043

Please keep us posted by replying to this thread! Good luck.

<snip>