Windows Update Fix
From CastleCopsWiki
For Windows XP SP2 and SP1 Systems Only
Keeping current with Windows Updates is critical to maintaining your system's overall security. If you find you are unable to download updates automatically or manually from the Windows Update Website, then chances are our Windows Update Fix may remedy that problem. The Fix consists of a few preparation steps and a DOS script that you can download and run, to automatically correct the most common problems associated with being unable to download Windows Updates.
WINDOWS UPDATE TROUBLESHOOTING FIX
Preliminary Recommendations,
1. Ensure following conditions are met:
- You are signed on with an XP User Account that has Administrative privledges
- You are using Internet Explorer or a browser that supports activeX downloads
- Verify that time and date settings for your computer are correct - Click Start->Click Control Panel->Click Date and Time
2. Enable Javascript and Disable Script Blocking Programs
Since Windows Updates is script dependent, any preventative programs which employ script blocking or restrict javascript should be disabled. The automated fix will adjust Internet Explorer's javascript settings, so that it is enabled for the Windows Update sites only.
It is important that you have the most current Java Runtime Environment (JRE) installed on your system. The current JRE version is Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 6 Update 10.
Older versions of the Sun Java Platform are know to contain Critical Vulnerabilities which are corrected by the current version.
- Determine what Java version you have installed on your system by doing the following
- Click Start-> Control Panel -> Add/Remove Programs
- Check the listings under JRE or J2SE Runtime Environment for your Java Version
- Alternatively, you can check the Java version you have installed by clicking here
- You should update your version of the Sun Java Platform (JRE) to the newest version which is Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 6 Update 10:
Download the latest JRE version at the Sun Microsystem's website
- Select the option that says: Java SE Runtime Environment (JRE) 6 Update 10 -The Java SE Runtime Environment (JRE) allows end-users to run Java applications. and click Download button
- Check the box that says: Accept License Agreement
- Under the Windows Platform - Java (TM) SE Runtime Environment 6 Update 10 section, click on the link to download the Windows Offline Installation and save the installer to your desktop.
- Close any programs you may have running - especially your web browser.
- Next, remove all older versions of the Sun Java Platform using the Control Panel's Add/Remove Program feature (as they may contain security vulnerabilities).
- Reboot your system
- Then from your desktop double-click on jre-6u5-windows-i586-p.exe to install the newest version of the Sun Java Platform
- You may verify that the current version installed properly by clicking here
Now it is very important, that you turn off any script blocking applications you may have running such as Norton Script blocking.
3. Disable Blocking Programs
Many popular programs, even some security applications used to protect you, can actually interfere with the ability to obtain Windows Updates. The following programs have been associated with such issues, and you should check to see if you have any of them running/installed on your system:
- Download Accelerator
- Download Accelerator Plus
- GetRight
- Browser Blaster
- Pop-up blocker
- BitTorrent
- PC-cillin - WebTrap component
- eMule
- Surfin Guard Pro
- Sygate Personal Firewall
- Norton Internet Security
- Freedom Firewall
- Zone Alarm Firewall
If you are using one of the above programs, please do the following:
- If if the interfering program is a firewall, enable the built-in WIndows Firewall (ICF):
- Click start->Control Panel->Security Center->Windows Firewall and Check the 'automatic' circle next to the green shield icon to turn ON the WIndows Firewall.
- Temporarily turn off your resident firewall program which can usually be accomplished by right-clicking it's icon in the system tray and selecting the appropriate action to disable it. For example, if you have the ZoneAlarm firewall, click "Shutdown ZoneAlarm".
- After Windows Updates is complete, re-enable the your resident firewall by clicking start->All Programs->navigate and open your resident firewall program, then reactivate it. This will automatically disable the Windows Firewall.
- Next, temporarily disable any of the other blocking programs listed above. If you are using any other Spam/Popup/Ad Blocker programs which are not on the list, disable them, as well. Also, disable any download accelerator software.
- Disabling can usually be accomplished by right-clicking the program's system tray icon and selecting the disable/shutdown option.
- After Windows Updates is complete, you may re-enable all disabled programs.
4. Disable registry monitoring/blocking software
If you use a registry monitoring program, you must disable it before running the automated fix. Some popular programs which do that are Adwatch, TeaTimer, and Windows Defender / Microsoft Antispyware. Please follow these directions to Temporarily Disable Real Time Monitoring Programs
To return to this page after the disabling, just click Malware Prevention (in bottom template) --> Windows Updates --> Windows Update Fix
You have now finished all the preparatory steps and are ready to run the automated fix.
The automated fix (WUFix) performs the following functions:
Clears out the proxy cache, places Windows Update sites in the Trusted Zone, places Windows Update sites in the exception list of IE Popup Blocker, starts all dependent services, registers required DLLS, empties the Windows Update temporary folder (with backup), renames the catroot2 folder, retains update history and Event log, and deletes BITS pending download queue.
Automated Windows Update Fix
Download WUFix.zip and unzip to your desktop.
- Double-Click WUFix.bat to run fix.
You will see a window open and commands processing. When the window closes the fix will have completed.
Another problem which can sometimes occur when attempting to the access the Windows Update website, and which is not corrected by WUFix, is a blank page which hangs at this address: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
- If you are experiencing this problem, then you may follow the suggestions in this: Blank Page Hang Workaround
Now, you can return to the Windows Update Website, to see if your problem has been resolved.
If you are still experiencing problems with acquiring updates after applying all the troubleshooting measures suggested above, additional solutions can be found in this article called Help! I’m having problems with Microsoft Update
The series was developed as the key deliverable of the Cleaning Malware Project. |
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