Windows Auto Update not working!?

[tensai_jin]

Alright, as the title says, I am unable to download windows updates (IE, XP security, ALL updates...) The little yellow shield pops up on windows startup and notifies me that I have new updates to download and install...I click it, a list of the update appears. Then when I click "download now", the download % stays at ZERO forever...even after 2 hours of waiting. And possibly beyond.

So, disgusted, I went to the windows update website, and the site searched the possible updates for me. Great, same list, I click "download now". A window pop ups, showing me download and installation status. The status box remains blank, nothing happens. When I try to cancel it, it kind of hangs, and I can't do anything about it. After waiting for 1 hour or so, the window finally updates and shows that all updates failed to download.

Eventually, I managed to copy down the list and manually searched for the updates to download...finally worked.

The point is, does anyone experience the same problem? Is it possible that it's IBM software installer or any IBM updates interfering? Because the problem only surfaced a few weeks ago, after some updates to the software installer...

Any help or solutions would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks everyone!

BTW, I love my thinkpad. Haha though I got a scratch on the matt cover...heartbroken for a few days after that.

[GomJabbar]

I don't know if this will help, but I ran into a simular problem a couple of years ago. I had just got my DSL hooked up, and was browsing the internet just fine. When I tried Windows Update, it would hang. It turns out the problem was - I had to set up my router and DSL modem to use PPPOE. I don't remember everything just now, but with a little research I could find the particulars again. If you have access to a straight dial-up connection, you might see if that works.

I used Windows Update this afternoon and noticed that it has changed from when I used it last week. It's possible also, that this change may have something to do with your problem, although I doubt it.

[ibmuser]

In the Windows directory you'll find a notepad file calledWindowsUpdate.log - it records a log of everything you do with windows update. Examine it - any error statement (close to the bottom)?

[tensai_jin]

Yeah there are error mistakes...in fact there is a repeating of a chunk of text...but blame me for my technical inability, I can't understand the following...


2005-06-30 02:33:13 1380 574 DnldMgr FATAL: BITS service was not fixed up and thus CCI was not reattempted. (hr = 80080005)
2005-06-30 02:33:13 1380 574 DnldMgr FATAL: Failed to connect to the BITS service; unable to start new downloads or interact with existing download jobs. (hr = 80080005)
2005-06-30 02:33:13 1380 574 DnldMgr FATAL: DM:CAgentDownloadManager::GetDownloadDataAndHandler: GetBitsManager failed with 0x80246008.
2005-06-30 02:33:13 1380 574 DnldMgr FATAL: DM:CAgentDownloadManager::GenerateAllDownloadRequests: GetDownloadDataAndHandler failed with 0x80246008.
2005-06-30 02:33:13 1380 574 DnldMgr Error 0x80246008 occurred while downloading update; notifying dependent calls.
2005-06-30 02:33:14 1380 574 DnldMgr WARNING: Extended error for reported error 80246008 = 80080005
2005-06-30 02:33:14 1380 574 DnldMgr WARNING: Extended error for reported error 80246008 = 80080005
2005-06-30 02:33:14 3128 cfc DtaStor Update service properties: service registered with AU is {9482F4B4-E343-43B6-B170-9A65BC822C77}
2005-06-30 02:33:14 3128 cfc DtaStor WARNING: Update Service: Failed to update backup store
2005-06-30 02:33:14 1380 574 Agent *********
2005-06-30 02:33:14 1380 574 Agent ** END ** Agent: Downloading updates [CallerId = AutomaticUpdates]
2005-06-30 02:33:14 1380 574 Agent *************
2005-06-30 02:33:14 1380 928 AU >>## RESUMED ## AU: Download update [UpdateId = {D3AC165E-D7C4-4BDF-83F0-E249ECBE873B}]
2005-06-30 02:33:14 1380 928 AU # WARNING: Download failed, error = 0x80246008
2005-06-30 02:33:14 1380 574 DnldMgr *************
2005-06-30 02:33:14 1380 574 DnldMgr ** START ** DnldMgr: Downloading updates [CallerId = AutomaticUpdates]
2005-06-30 02:33:14 1380 574 DnldMgr *********
2005-06-30 02:33:14 1380 574 DnldMgr * Priority = 2, ServiceId = {9482F4B4-E343-43B6-B170-9A65BC822C77}
2005-06-30 02:33:14 1380 574 DnldMgr * Updates to download = 1
2005-06-30 02:33:14 1380 574 Agent * Title = Security Update for Windows XP (KB893066)
2005-06-30 02:33:14 1380 574 Agent * UpdateId = {4324AC78-FDB4-42DE-BEDF-769A40627897}.100
2005-06-30 02:33:14 1380 574 Agent * Bundles 1 updates:
2005-06-30 02:33:14 1380 574 Agent * {EFACDA33-F119-4495-B33B-79CCD1D188E9}.100
2005-06-30 02:33:14 3128 cfc DtaStor Update service properties: service registered with AU is {9482F4B4-E343-43B6-B170-9A65BC822C77}
2005-06-30 02:33:14 3128 cfc DtaStor WARNING: Update Service: Failed to update backup store
2005-06-30 02:33:14 1380 574 DnldMgr *********** DnldMgr: New download job [UpdateId = {EFACDA33-F119-4495-B33B-79CCD1D188E9}.100] ***********
2005-06-30 02:33:14 1380 574 DnldMgr * Queueing update for download handler request generation.
2005-06-30 02:33:14 1380 574 DnldMgr Generating download request for update {EFACDA33-F119-4495-B33B-79CCD1D188E9}.100
2005-06-30 02:34:44 1380 574 DnldMgr FATAL: BITS service was not fixed up and thus CCI was not reattempted. (hr = 80080005)
2005-06-30 02:34:44 1380 574 DnldMgr FATAL: Failed to connect to the BITS service; unable to start new downloads or interact with existing download jobs. (hr = 80080005)
2005-06-30 02:34:44 1380 574 DnldMgr FATAL: DM:CAgentDownloadManager::GetDownloadDataAndHandler: GetBitsManager failed with 0x80246008.
2005-06-30 02:34:44 1380 574 DnldMgr FATAL: DM:CAgentDownloadManager::GenerateAllDownloadRequests: GetDownloadDataAndHandler failed with 0x80246008.
2005-06-30 02:34:44 1380 574 DnldMgr Error 0x80246008 occurred while downloading update; notifying dependent calls.
2005-06-30 02:34:44 1380 574 DnldMgr WARNING: Extended error for reported error 80246008 = 80080005
2005-06-30 02:34:44 1380 574 DnldMgr WARNING: Extended error for reported error 80246008 = 80080005
2005-06-30 02:34:44 3128 cfc DtaStor Update service properties: service registered with AU is {9482F4B4-E343-43B6-B170-9A65BC822C77}
2005-06-30 02:34:44 3128 cfc DtaStor WARNING: Update Service: Failed to update backup store
2005-06-30 02:34:44 1380 720 AU >>## RESUMED ## AU: Download update [UpdateId = {4324AC78-FDB4-42DE-BEDF-769A40627897}]
2005-06-30 02:34:44 1380 574 Agent *********
2005-06-30 02:34:44 1380 574 Agent ** END ** Agent: Downloading updates [CallerId = AutomaticUpdates]
2005-06-30 02:34:44 1380 574 Agent *************
2005-06-30 02:34:44 1380 720 AU # WARNING: Download failed, error = 0x80246008
2005-06-30 02:34:44 1380 574 DnldMgr *************
2005-06-30 02:34:44 1380 574 DnldMgr ** START ** DnldMgr: Downloading updates [CallerId = AutomaticUpdates]
2005-06-30 02:34:44 1380 574 DnldMgr *********
2005-06-30 02:34:44 1380 574 DnldMgr * Priority = 2, ServiceId = {9482F4B4-E343-43B6-B170-9A65BC822C77}
2005-06-30 02:34:44 1380 574 DnldMgr * Updates to download = 1
2005-06-30 02:34:44 1380 574 Agent * Title = Security Update for Windows XP (KB890046)
2005-06-30 02:34:44 1380 574 Agent * UpdateId = {4CDB577B-FDD1-49D4-87CC-3808AD20ACBC}.101
2005-06-30 02:34:44 1380 574 Agent * Bundles 1 updates:
2005-06-30 02:34:44 1380 574 Agent * {91F70B48-C772-4C00-8020-FD2DD6F6D6E9}.101
2005-06-30 02:34:44 3128 cfc DtaStor Update service properties: service registered with AU is {9482F4B4-E343-43B6-B170-9A65BC822C77}
2005-06-30 02:34:44 3128 cfc DtaStor WARNING: Update Service: Failed to update backup store
2005-06-30 02:34:44 1380 574 DnldMgr *********** DnldMgr: New download job [UpdateId = {91F70B48-C772-4C00-8020-FD2DD6F6D6E9}.101] ***********
2005-06-30 02:34:44 1380 574 DnldMgr * Queueing update for download handler request generation.
2005-06-30 02:34:44 1380 574 DnldMgr Generating download request for update {91F70B48-C772-4C00-8020-FD2DD6F6D6E9}.101


Erm...sorry to post a block of technical junk...if moderator says its inappropriate, can tell me where to get help? Thanks and sorry...

Can anyone decipher the error msg?

[jdhurst]

Make sure your firewall is not getting in the way - disable it temporarily to see if that allows Windows Update to work.

The problem of windowsupdate.microsoft.com not working is fairly old and affected machines with initial versions of SP1 and then beta versions of SP2. But I thought Microsoft had fixed that. Certainly, going to the Windows update site works reliably for me. You need to be at least at SP1 for this to work, and I see as of a few days ago, update is now at version 6. It was at version 5 for a long while, and non-XP machines are still at version 4.

The automatic update feature does not always work for me. It works fairly well on my T41, and less well on my Desktop NetVista A30. If the auto update fails, I just do it with windowsupdate.microsoft.com.

One thing to try is to find and download the SP2 file (very large at 250Mb) and apply or re-apply SP2. That may fix update.

... JD Hurst

[GomJabbar]

Go into Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services. See if 'Background Intellegent Transfer Service' is set to either manual or automatic. I have mine set to manual with no problems. If it's disabled, that might be your problem.

Also, I believe 'Automatic Updates Service' needs to be set on automatic, and should be showing as started.

[tensai_jin]

Well after 2 days of research, i have come to the source of the problem...

BITS service is set to manual, but not started. When I try to start it, it gives an error msg, with error code -2147024894

I have googled (AHA! Now no one can say "go google for solutions") for help and apparently there's a lot of people with the similar problems, just different types of error.

I have tried ALL the fixes and solutions on other forums like CastleCops and stuff, to the extent of adding weird entries to my registry, but to no avail. No matter what I do, BITS just will not start, always giving me the same error code msg....

Any insight on this? Maybe this forum is more technical-talented...

[jdhurst]

I don't think that is the problem. BITS on my T41 is set to manual and not started. Auto Update is on, started, but set to manual in Control Panel in the sense that it needs my OK to start downloading and again my OK to start installation. Yet everything works. ... JD Hurst

[GomJabbar]

After checking my system again, 'Background Intellegent Transfer Service' depends on the 'Remote Procedure Call (RPC)' service. This RPC service is set to Automatic and Started on my system (no problems with Windows Update).

You also might go into Device Manager and click on View, then on Show hidden devices. See if any yellow exclaimation marks or red X's show up.

You can check the Event Viewer under Administrative Tools in Control Panel. Most errors should show up there. Double-click on the error, then click on the weblink displayed to get more information about the error.