windows update not working

[Matt E]

The windows security center says automatic updates is off. When I look in the
control panel it says automatic updates are on. When I try to update through
the website I get an error 'The website has encountered a problem and cannot
display the page you are trying to view'

Not sure what steps to take to diagnose the problem.

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Always state your full Windows version (e.g., WinXP SP3; Vista SP1; Vista
64-bit SP2; Win7; Win7 64-bit) when posting in a forum or newsgroup. Please
do so in your next reply.

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)?

Has a(another) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on this
machine (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you bought
it)?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002
www.banthecheck.com

[Matt E]

I'm running WinXP SP3. It was up to date as of a few days ago, when windows
update stopped working. I recently installed Avira AntiVir Personal as my
virus protection. I'm not running any third party anti-spyware or firewall
products. Neither Norton nor McAfee have ever been installed on my machine.
Installing Avira seems to coincide with the Windows Update problem.

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[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

What anti-virus application was installed before you installed AntiVir?

[Matt E]

There wasn't one. Security center kept telling me to install one, so I
installed AntiVir.

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[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Help: I Got Hacked. Now What Do I Do?
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc700813.aspx

Back-up any personal data (none of which should be considered 100%
trustworthy at this point) then do a format & clean install of Windows.
Please note that a Repair Install (AKA in-place upgrade) will NOT fix this!

HOW TO do a clean install of WinXP: See
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html#steps and/or Method 1 in
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/978307

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

Other helpful references include:

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

NB: Any Norton or McAfee free-trial that came preinstalled on the computer
when you bought it will be reinstalled (but invalid) when Windows is
reinstalled. You MUST uninstall the free-trial and download/run the
appropriate removal tool before installing any Windows Service Packs or IE
upgrades and before installing your new anti-virus application.

Norton Removal Tool
ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/removal_tools/Norton_Removal_Tool.exe

McAfee Consumer Products Removal Tool
http://download.mcafee.com/products/licensed/cust_support_patches/MCPR.exe

Also see:

Steps To Help Prevent Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/security/spyware/prevent.aspx

Steps to Help Prevent Computer Worms
http://www.microsoft.com/security/worms/prevent.aspx

Avoid Rogue Security Software!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/antivirus/rogue.aspx
--
~PA Bear
www.banthecheck.com

[steven]

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