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Windows Update Stalls

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5 replies

by n4syth 1 view

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I have an HP Pavilion 511n that I did a non-destructive reload of Windows XP Home.
Everything seems OK but when I try to do an update I get to the message "Checking for latest version of Windows Update software..." and it stalls there. Doesn't freeze, just won't proceed beyond that point.
I have managed to install some critical updates available on the HP site and have successfully (I hope) installed SP2.

The Windows website says that this problem occurs with the Zone Alarm firewall, but that software has never been installed on this computer....??

Any other suggestions??

5 replies

by craig herberg

You can go into Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel to see if Sp2 is indeed installed.

You probably have some services needed for the "new and improved" windows update disabled. Run services.msc to see what you have running, and compare to another WinXP computer. I know that BITS (Background Intelligent Transfer Service) needs to be enabled, but does not need automatic startup.

I hope this helps. Good luck.

Craig Herberg

by deepsand

This is a tech. problem, in search of a solution.

It properly belongs in "Technical Q&A," not in "Discussions." Please re-post there.

Not only will you be more likely to attract the attention of those seeking to provide answers, but you will also make it easier for those seeking discussions to find such.

Thank you.

by spookster

Possibly you are missing registration for the files needed for the update service.

The files for the following sequence should be in the \Windows\System32 directory

Copy the following lines onto the "Run" command line, one at a time and Enter:

net stop wuauserv
regsvr32 wups.dll
regsvr32 wuapi.dll
regsvr32 wuaueng.dll
net start wuauserv

Then check to see if windows update works.

by shoobe

I have the same problem on Vista and I do run Zone Alarm Security Software. Funny thing though. I thought the updates could be getting blocked so I turned Zone Alarm Off - and Windows Update still hangs. At least with XP you can download the updates and install them. With Vista, we mere mortals can't get them the reliable way.

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