Windows Forum

Ask something
Discussion Locked

IE/Windowsupdate problems

0 helpful
7 replies

by samlowrey 1 view

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

I have a few machines I can't seem to run Critical Updates on - one of which is my workstation. The updates would download and "install" but all of them (11) would show up in red and say they failed.

I read on a discussion board about removing the root certificate for Microsoft and letting it reinstall. After trying other things (yes, I have local admin rights) I removed the Microsoft root certificate. I was expecting to be prompted to install a new certificate when I went to the updates page, but instead it just fails and says "Software Update Incomplete."

1) any suggestion why the updates won't install

2) any way to reinstall that microsoft root certificate? (reinstalling doesn't seem to help).

7 replies

by black panther

There is a known issue with the current Windows Update client. If the update service includes a notification for a driver and the system already has that driver installed, or a superiror driver, the update will continuously fail. Microsoft plan to release a new Windows Update client in May 2005. This issue effects the update for the VIA Rhine 2 Faster Ethernet Controller v3.43(dated 2005/01/28). Problem: Microsoft automatic update tells you about the update - click to download - downloads with no problem - click install - fails to install. Hence forth you are continuously asked to update the driver but it never works! The fix: Go to the Windows update website and scan for optional updates. The VIA Rhine 2 Faster Ethernet Controller should be listed as an option. Download it and install via the Windows update website instead of via the automatic update notification and it will work.

Automatic Windows Update silently does not update if you have a non-transparent web proxy between you and the Windows Update site. This is because AWU does not take account of any proxy settings which may be required, so it fails to connect to the update server. It doesn't log the failed attempt.
Running 'Windows Update' manually works because it runs within IE, and hence uses IE's proxy settings.
The only workaround I am aware of is to install Software Update Services on a machine which can be accessed without going through a proxy (e.g a server on the local network). SUS allows configuration of proxy settings for its own use.

Also check this forum

http://reviews.cnet.com/5208-6142-0.html?forumID=5&threadID=63921&messageID=1104707

by sgt_shultz

too many possibilities to guess with the info you have psrovided. what is the one that will install? have you tried uninstalling the updates installed previously? there are known issues with certain updates (other than drivers) what is the last update that you installed ok. i would email microsoft on this one

by samlowrey

Tried uninstalling the last batch before I saw the failures. Still fails. Good idea, though.

by samlowrey

Suggestions seem plausible so far, but right now I can't get the Updates page to work at all (can't even see install history) due to me removing the Microsoft Trusted Root cert (#2 above). I don't see anything about it on google. I feel like I am missing something simple here....

by samlowrey

Forget that last comment - I copied a cert from another machine and that worked. I will try the other suggestions shortly.

This discussion is closed to new replies.