windows update error (0x3)

recently the microsoft site for “windows update” has stopped functioning. i have XP home edition.

i get a message at the microsoft site saying “error (0x3)”. i searched “knowledge base” and found document Q243787 which seems to describe my problem but….when i try to find a file they reference called “wuhistv3.log” it seems to be missing(yes i unhid hidden files). i also searched my recycle bin.

i’d appriciate any thoughts anyone might have. thanks