Windows Updates and Downloads - Cannot Display Web Pages

[NYCJeremyB]

My Windows Version is Windows XP SP3, with IE7 but as part of troubleshooting
my problem, I've uninstalled SP3 and IE7. I have the same issue, however,
with SP2 and IE6:

When I try to do Windows Updates or download IE8 I get the message that The
Page Cannot Be Displayed. I can surf all other websites. When checking my
computer I can see that my last security update was from October of 2008,
which I just removed to see if that would fix the problem. It didn't. I
removed XP Service Pack 3 and other browsers that I had but that didn't help.
I'm running XP Professional in English but I have some things on my computer
in French. I live in Belgium so when I go to the IE8 download page it
suggests the Belgian French version. I've gone to that page as well as the
U.S. page to try to download but I always get the response that the page
cannot be displayed. I get the same error when I try to do a Windows or
Microsoft Update from IE6, after removing IE7, or from the Start Menu. It's
as if my legal version of Windows XP is not recognized or all of the update
sites are blocked by something. I have Norton 360 but I turn the Firewall
and Virus Scanner off each time I try so I don't think that is the problem.
I also notice the Update Icon in the Taskbar comes up from time to time but
stays on 0% downloaded.

[Ǝиçεl]

Hello Jeremy,

Try the following article that has steps on internet connectivity
troubleshooting to make sure the connection is OK.

You receive an error message in Internet Explorer:
"Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage"

<http://support.microsoft.com/kb/956196>

Let us know what hªppens.

Ǝиçεl
-=-

[NYCJeremyB]

I can connect to the Internet and have no trouble with any sites with the
exception of Microsoft's Download and Update sites. The only thing in the
article I haven't already tried is disabling 3rd party programs that it
suggests might be interfering with IE. But is that test really necessary
when I have problems with only the Microsoft sites I mentioned? Can a 3rd
party program interfere with just those sites and none others?

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

You've not been able to install (or haven't installed) any critical security
updates for the past 9 months and you're only attending to it now?

Save yourself a lot of grief and time: Backup your personal data, then do a
format & clean install of Windows. Please note that a Repair Install (AKA
in-place upgrade) will NOT fix this!

cf. http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html#steps

After the clean install, you'll have the equivalent of a "new computer" so
take care of everything on the following page before otherwise connecting
the machine to the internet or a network and before using a USB key that
isn't brand-new or hasn't been freshly formatted:

5 steps to help protect your new computer before you go online
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/advanced/xppc.mspx

HOW TO get a computer running WinXP Gold (no Service Packs) fully patched
(after a clean install)
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsupdate/msg/3f5afa8ed33e121c

HOW TO get a computer running WinXP SP1(a) or SP2 fully patched (after a
clean install)
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/a066ae41add7dd2b

Also see:

Steps To Help Prevent Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/spyware/prevent.mspx

Rogue Security Software - Microsoft Security:
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/viruses/rogue.mspx
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002

[NYCJeremyB]

It's my kids computer and he lives with his mother so don't pass judgement.
I became aware of the problem for the first time two days ago. We're simply
looking for help from Microsoft. If you know that a repair will not fix
this, we'll do a clean install. I was hoping it could be fixed by changing a
registry entry. Since we can see that others in this Forum are having the
same problem, until we do the install, we'll keep monitoring their threads to
see if a better solution is offered. Are you really a VP at Microsoft? Your
response leads me to believe otherwise. But thanks anyway.

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

I was not passing judgement on anything or anyone other than the owner of
the machine's casual disregard for security.

A Repair Install will NOT fix this. You should NOT follow specific
instructions or suggestions posted for any user other than yourself.

It's possible that an expert in such matters might be able to get the
computer cleaned-up and fully-patched. Having done just that for a living
for several years, I can tell you that a format & clean install would be a
much quicker and safer resolution.

No one here works for or represents MS and these newsgroups are not official
MS Support. We're all volunteers, including MVPs (cf.
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/gp/mvpexecsum).
--
~PA Bear

[NYCJeremyB]

thank you very much. I do appreciate your support.

[NYCJeremyB]

I think this other guy "paulderdash" has the same problems on the other
thread. Here are the suggestions you gave him:
See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/883614 and/or
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/914226, or possibly even
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058.

Why wouldn't these apply for me?
Thank you

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

No.

[NYCJeremyB]

We were monitoring your communication with paulderdash and called tthe
support number you gave him. They solved our problem in 5 minutes. We were
amazed at the quality of their support and still don't understand why you
didn't provide us with the same level of support you provided to paulderdash.

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

And the fix was...?

Not that I need to defend myself but paulderdash was experiencing a sudden,
new problem and his computer was fully-patched when the problem started.

You, however, have been having the problem for over 9 months and the
computer was seriously unpatched and subject to innumerable vulnerabilities.
Even if you've gotten Windows Update working again, I still wouldn't trust
the security of the computer.

We're all volunteers here, including MVPs who neither work for nor represent
Microsoft; cf. http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/gp/mvpexecsum