From: Sharon on
Hello Gurus,

I'm using WinXP SP3.
The Windows Update is hanging.
When I tries to open the IE8 to do the Windows Update it hang at the stage
where is writes on screen:
“Checking if your computer has the latest version of Windows updating
software for use with website” and in the status bar is shows 38%.
The Windows XP is licenses and activated correctly.
No events is shown In the Windows Event Viewer.

Can you help me resolve this issue?


-------
Thanks
Sharon
From: Shenan Stanley on
Sharon wrote:
> I'm using WinXP SP3.
> The Windows Update is hanging.
> When I tries to open the IE8 to do the Windows Update it hang at
> the stage where is writes on screen:
> "Checking if your computer has the latest version of Windows
> updating software for use with website" and in the status bar is
> shows 38%.
> The Windows XP is licenses and activated correctly.
> No events is shown In the Windows Event Viewer.
>
> Can you help me resolve this issue?

Thanks for the information. Here is what I suggest...

Reboot and logon as administrative user.

Download, install, run, update and perform a full scan with the following
(freeware version):

SuperAntiSpyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/

Reboot and logon as administrative user.

Download, install, run, update and perform a full scan with the following
(freeware version):

MalwareBytes
http://www.malwarebytes.com/

Reboot and logon as administrative user.

Download and run the MSRT manually:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx

Reboot and logon as administrative user.

Visit this web page:

How do I reset Windows Update components?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058

.... and click on the "Microsoft Fix it" icon. When asked, select "RUN",
both times. Check the "I agree" box and click on "Next". Check the box
for "Run aggressive options (not recommended)" and click "Next". Let
it finish up and follow the prompts until it is done. Close/exit.

Reboot and logon as administrative user.

Visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and select to do a
CUSTOM scan...

Every time you are about to click on something while at these web pages -
first press and hold down the CTRL key while you click on it. You can
release the CTRL key after clicking each time.

Once the scan is done, select just _ONE_ of the high priority updates
(deselect any others) and install it.

Reboot and logon as administrative user.

If it did work - try the web page again - selecting no more than 3-5 at a
time. Rebooting as needed.

The Optional Software updates are generally safe - although I recommend
against the "Windows Search" one and any of the "Office Live" ones or
"Windows Live" ones for now. I would completely avoid the
Optional Hardware updates.

Come back - especially if you get stuck someplace, but even if you don't -
and let everyone know how it turns out.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html


From: PA Bear [MS MVP] on
Is this a sudden, new problem?

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 the
computer (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


Sharon wrote:
> I'm using WinXP SP3.
> The Windows Update is hanging.
> When I tries to open the IE8 to do the Windows Update it hang at the stage
> where is writes on screen:
> “Checking if your computer has the latest version of Windows updating
> software for use with website” and in the status bar is shows 38%.
> The Windows XP is licenses and activated correctly.
> No events is shown In the Windows Event Viewer.

From: Sharon on
Yes, it's a new problem for me. the updates was working nicely.

I'm using the Avast Pro anti-virus. And Ad-Aware anti-spyware.
I'm also using the built-in Windows Firewall.
I have never used Norton or McAfee application on my PC.


Any help will be very much appreciation.

--------
Thanks
Sharon
From: PA Bear [MS MVP] on
[To keep track of things, it helps immensely if you quote all of the
previous message(s) in your replies to the newsgroup. Thank you.]

Is Automatic Updates enabled? Has it always been enabled?

Try...

How do I reset Windows Update components?
[Access KB971058 via Internet Explorer (32-bit) only; Run the Fix It in
DEFAULT and AGGRESSIVE modes, then reboot]
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058


Sharon wrote:
> Yes, it's a new problem for me. the updates was working nicely.
>
> I'm using the Avast Pro anti-virus. And Ad-Aware anti-spyware.
> I'm also using the built-in Windows Firewall.
> I have never used Norton or McAfee application on my PC.
<paste>
PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
> Is this a sudden, new problem?
>
> 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 the
> computer (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you
> bought
> it)?
>
> Sharon wrote:
>> I'm using WinXP SP3.
>> The Windows Update is hanging.
>> When I tries to open the IE8 to do the Windows Update it hang at the
>> stage
>> where is writes on screen:
>> “Checking if your computer has the latest version of Windows updating
>> software for use with website” and in the status bar is shows 38%.
>> The Windows XP is licenses and activated correctly.
>> No events is shown In the Windows Event Viewer.