Windows Update Problem

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Windows Update Problems

Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit

For the couple of months Windows Updates gets stuck on searching for updates. Sometimes it finds some and gets stuck on 80% downloading them.

Also MS Security Essentials will not update. Sometimes it gets stuck on Searching, sometimes it says there is no internet connection – while in fact there is for browsing or email collection etc.

Things that partially work.

If I run WindowsUpdateDiagnostic.diacab and set IE as default browser and default settings and reboot, I can then run Windows Updates and Security Essentials. But this fix only works immediately after reboot. It does not work the next day after a starting from switching off for the night.

Also, although WindowsUpdateDiagnostic.diacab makes a difference, it never completes its operation no matter how long it is left running.

Other things tried. Turning off Private Firewall makes no difference either way.

Any help would be much appreciated.

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Replies

Try the update Fixit

http://support2.microsoft.com/fixit/

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Try the update Fixit

http://support2.microsoft.com/fixit/

Thank you. I have run this previously and it makes no difference unfortunately.

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…Any help would be much appreciated…

Download, install, and run Tweaking.com Windows Repair (All In One).

Follow all the recommended steps in the program and do not “second-guess” the default repair settings – just let it do its thing. Have run this program on many (more than one hundred) customers’ computers with total success.

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Download, install, and run Tweaking.com Windows Repair (All In One).

Follow all the recommended steps in the program and do not “second-guess” the default repair settings – just let it do its thing. Have run this program on many (more than one hundred) customers’ computers with total success.

Thank you for this. I have followed exactly the instructions from clean boot and right through. It seems to have corrected the problem with Security Essentials updating, but not with Windows Update. That still only works when I set IE to default browser with default settings and reboot.

On the other hand, Windows boots faster after running the programme, so it seems to have corrected some problems.

Thanks. Not sure what to do next. I have pasted some error messages below if that is any help.

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Just posted on MajorGeeks:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/windows_update_troubleshooter.html

Zig

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Thank you. I will try this and report back.

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What does Event Viewer have on this ?

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What does Event Viewer have on this ?

I do not know what to look for with the event viewer so cannot make a useful reply.

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I do not know what to look for with the event viewer so cannot make a useful reply.

When it has read the logs you will be presented with Critical, Errors, Warning etc. for the last hour, 24hrs and 7 days.

You shouldn’t have any Critical but you will have Errors.

Click on Errors then in the right pane, click on View All Instances of This Event and look for errors with the same date and time stamps for when the problems occur.

Clicking on any will display a brief description in the lower pane with an Event ID No. and sometimes MS can provide further info and possible solutions when you click on the blue Online help link.

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When it has read the logs you will be presented with Critical, Errors, Warning etc. for the last hour, 24hrs and 7 days.

You shouldn’t have any Critical but you will have Errors.

Click on Errors then in the right pane, click on View All Instances of This Event and look for errors with the same date and time stamps for when the problems occur.

Clicking on any will display a brief description in the lower pane with an Event ID No. and sometimes MS can provide further info and possible solutions when you click on the blue Online help link.

I have had a look at these events but do not know what to make of them! There are a number that are the same. Here is a copy of what they say when I copy them as text:

Log Name: Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-EventTracing/Admin
Source: Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-EventTracing
Date: 23/12/2014 22:32:19
Event ID: 3
Task Category: Session
Level: Error
Keywords: Session
User: SYSTEM
Computer: JXX-PC
Description:
Session “Microsoft Security Client OOBE” stopped due to the following error: 0xC000000D
Event Xml:

3
0
2
2
14
0x8000000000000010

668

Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-EventTracing/Admin
JosephMilne-PC

Microsoft Security Client OOBE
C:ProgramDataMicrosoftMicrosoft Security ClientSupportEppOobe.etl
3221225485
5

Log Name: System
Source: Service Control Manager
Date: 23/12/2014 22:26:30
Event ID: 7043
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: JXXX-PC
Description:
The Windows Update service did not shut down properly after receiving a preshutdown control.
Event Xml:

7043
0
2
0
0
0x8080000000000000

151185

System
JosephMilne-PC

Windows Update

Log Name: System
Source: Service Control Manager
Date: 23/12/2014 22:25:38
Event ID: 7006
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: JXXX-PC
Description:
The ScRegSetValueExW call failed for Start with the following error:
Access is denied.
Event Xml:

7006
0
2
0
0
0x8080000000000000

151178

System
JosephMilne-PC

ScRegSetValueExW
Start
%%5

Log Name: System
Source: Microsoft-Windows-WMPNSS-Service
Date: 23/12/2014 22:17:47
Event ID: 14332
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: JXXX-PC
Description:
Service ‘WMPNetworkSvc’ did not start correctly because CoCreateInstance(CLSID_UPnPDeviceFinder) encountered error ‘0x80004005’. Verify that the UPnPHost service is running and that the UPnPHost component of Windows is installed properly.
Event Xml:

14332
0
2
0
0
0x80000000000000

151114

System
JosephMilne-PC

WMPNetworkSvc
0x80004005

Log Name: System
Source: Service Control Manager
Date: 23/12/2014 22:17:46
Event ID: 7026
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: JXXX-PC
Description:
The following boot-start or system-start driver(s) failed to load:
SASDIFSV
SASKUTIL
Event Xml:

7026
0
2
0
0
0x8080000000000000

151113

System
JosephMilne-PC

SASDIFSV
SASKUTIL

Log Name: System
Source: Microsoft-Windows-BitLocker-Driver
Date: 23/12/2014 20:12:48
Event ID: 24620
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords:
User: SYSTEM
Computer: JXXX-PC
Description:
Encrypted volume check: Volume information on \?Volume{489ad043-ac52-11e3-87c0-806e6f6e6963} cannot be read.
Event Xml:

24620
0
2
0
0
0x8000000000000000

150447

System
JosephMilne-PC

0x80000010
\?Volume{489ad043-ac52-11e3-87c0-806e6f6e6963}
0x0

Log Name: Application
Source: VSS
Date: 23/12/2014 19:28:55
Event ID: 8193
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: JXXX-PC
Description:
Volume Shadow Copy Service error: Unexpected error calling routine CoCreateInstance. hr = 0x80040154, Class not registered
.

Operation:
Instantiating VSS server
Event Xml:

8193
2
0
0x80000000000000

138974
Application
JosephMilne-PC

CoCreateInstance
0x80040154, Class not registered

Operation:
Instantiating VSS server
2D20436F64653A2042554543584D4C4330303030343336352D2043616C6C3A2042554543584D4C4330303030343333342D205049443A202030303030313934382D205449443A202030303030323232302D20434D443A202063686B64736B2020433A2020202020202D20557365723A204E616D653A204A6F736570684D696C6E652D50435C4A6F73657068204D696C6E652C205349443A532D312D352D32312D3435363139313738352D3230373036333336352D3734303231393333392D31303031202020202020

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Open a command prompt as an administrator and enter sfc /scannow and let us know what it reports.

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Open a command prompt as an administrator and enter sfc /scannow and let us know what it reports.

Thank you. I ran as suggested and at the end got this message:

Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations

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Do you still have WUs outstanding ?

Now that you’ve run WR and sfc, try these two and then WUs if you have any left to install.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/What-is-the-System-Update-Readiness-Tool

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/troubleshoot-problems-installing-updates#1TC=windows-7

If either have problems running, check Event Viewer again to see what are the latest errors, also if WUs still fail.

I don’t think it’s your Windows installer but it can cause problems. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2642495

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Do you still have WUs outstanding ?

Now that you’ve run WR and sfc, try these two and then WUs if you have any left to install.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/What-is-the-System-Update-Readiness-Tool

Thanks Sudo15.

The second fixit you suggest I have run before and it makes no difference to the problem.

The Readiness-Tool got stuck and after 30 minutes I cancelled it, so it did not install KB947821.

Looking on google it seems I should have allowed it to run as it can take several hours sometimes. I will have to do this overnight.

I have not followed up your Windows Installer suggestion as I have no problems installing.

However, neither of these fixes are addressing the exact problem I have. My problem is connecting to Windows Updates and Security essentials. Sometimes no connection is made and they stay on ‘searching’. Other times downloads gets stuck sometimes 37% sometimes 80%.

But when the downloads do complete there is no problem with them installing. The fixes you suggest appear to address problems installing, rather than problems connecting and downloading.

My solution if I really want to make sure I have the Windows Updates and Security Essentials updates is to:

Set IE as default browser and in advanced settings restore all defaults.

Do a clean book of computer, letting Avira Free run.

Check for Updates in Windows Updates. This gives me any Windows updates and lets me select updates for Security Essentials. They then download and install without any problems.

If I then set Firefox as my default browser and do a Normal boot, the original problem returns.

The only thing in the history of this problem that may be connected with it is that some months ago I installed EMET, but that prevented MS Word from working so I uninstalled EMET.

Thanks for your help. It is appreciated.

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If the Update Readiness Tool is taking that long to run then it’s obviously encountering problems.

WUs no longer requires IE as I’ve learned on here, so not sure why you are having to set that up in order for things to work and I thought MSE was maintenance free in that it auto updated.

You don’t need FF or IE running for WUs.

Although you were getting warnings about not being connected to the Internet but were, changing the DNS servers in the computer could resolve that.

I don’t know if you already know how to do this but right click on the WiFi icon in the Taskbar and select Open Networking and Sharing Center.

Click on Change adapter settings – right click on whichever you are using (Wireless or Ethernet) and select Properties.

Click on (TCP/IPv4) then on Properties.

In the lower part of that window click the radio button for Use the following DNS server addresses.

In the top row type 8.8.8.8 and that will tab the boxes and in the lower row type 8.8.4.4

Check the box for Validate upon exit – OK – Close and that should activate the troubleshooter which should report no problems found.

When you’ve performed the clean boot, have you added bits back to see what is conflicting ?

It’s possible that aspects of EMET remain and could still have something listed in msconfig, so a manual check may be prudent https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/security/en-US/25bdba43-e74c-41b8-97f5-d36490e58691/how-do-i-uninstall-emet-41?forum=emet

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If the Update Readiness Tool is taking that long to run then it’s obviously encountering problems.

WUs no longer requires IE as I’ve learned on here, so not sure why you are having to set that up in order for things to work and I thought MSE was maintenance free in that it auto updated.

You don’t need FF or IE running for WUs.

Although you were getting warnings about not being connected to the Internet but were, changing the DNS servers in the computer could resolve that.

I don’t know if you already know how to do this but right click on the WiFi icon in the Taskbar and select Open Networking and Sharing Center.

Click on Change adapter settings – right click on whichever you are using (Wireless or Ethernet) and select Properties.

Click on (TCP/IPv4) then on Properties.

In the lower part of that window click the radio button for Use the following DNS server addresses.

In the top row type 8.8.8.8 and that will tab the boxes and in the lower row type 8.8.4.4

Check the box for Validate upon exit – OK – Close and that should activate the troubleshooter which should report no problems found.

When you’ve performed the clean boot, have you added bits back to see what is conflicting ?

It’s possible that aspects of EMET remain and could still have something listed in msconfig, so a manual check may be prudent https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/security/en-US/25bdba43-e74c-41b8-97f5-d36490e58691/how-do-i-uninstall-emet-41?forum=emet

I will run the Update Readiness Tool later tonight when I can just leave it to run.

The reason I found making IE the default browser with default settings was I found that as a suggestion on a google search. When I do that and reboot I can update MSE. It no longer updates automatically.

If I do not do this and try to update it I get the massage:
“The virus spyware definitions didn’t update on 24/12/2014, 14:15 because of an Internet or network connectivity problem.”

On another page it is suggested that other browsers should be set to default settings. I have not tried this with Firefox yet.

I followed your instructions with Ethernet Adapter. It brought up a Windows trouble shooter when the connection broke and then reconnected to the Internet. The settings in (TCTP/IPv4) reverted back to the original settings. It was after this I got the MSE message above when I tried to update it.

In the Windows Services panel Windows Update is set to “Automatic delayed start”. Is that what it should be?

When trying to “Restart” Windows Update Service Windows could not stop the service. It gave: Error 1053 – did not respond in timely fashion.

I did a search for any remaining references to EMET in misconfig and found none. I also found no folders for EMET installation.

I have yet to try loading services and startups one at a time in msconfig to see which if any are causing a connection problem for WU.

Again, thank you for your patience.

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Yes, the Windows Update service should be Auto (Delayed) but also showing as Started.

When you changed the DNS servers to Google (8.8.8.8 etc.) and the troubleshooter ran – did it find a problem ?

When adding bits back in msconfig, start with the items under the Startup tab, adding one item at a time until the error reoccurs and instead of running the Update Readiness Tool, work on the msconfig as that is where the conflict is and once you ID that, the rest should work okay.

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Yes, the Windows Update service should be Auto (Delayed) but also showing as Started.

When you changed the DNS servers to Google (8.8.8.8 etc.) and the troubleshooter ran – did it find a problem ?

When adding bits back in msconfig, start with the items under the Startup tab, adding one item at a time until the error reoccurs and instead of running the Update Readiness Tool, work on the msconfig as that is where the conflict is and once you ID that, the rest should work okay.

When I changed the DNS servers Windows straightaway opened a troubleshooter, looked for a problem and resolved it. In that time operation the network icon changed to no connection, then reconnected with the troubleshooter. No error was reported about the event.

Since then I have done several things which have made a difference.

First I uninstalled Comodo Dragon browser because I read that browser settings can interfere with WU.

Next I removed traces of uninstalled software that had links in msconfig. For example Dropbox which I had previously uninstalled. I used Ccleaner toolbox to remove all redundant entries in Startup. I next turned off with Ccleaner all helpers in IE. Also turned off most of the Scheduled Tasks. I left any Microsoft things alone.

I then made Firefox my default browser and set msconfig to normal boot and rebooted. On reboot both SE and WU were able to look for new updates when asked to check. SE downloaded and installed an update, Windows Update said the computer was already up to date.

This is the first time it worked without setting IE as default browser since the problem began. I suspect Comodo Dragon was partly the problem and the redundant autostarts partly the problem.

After this I ran the registry analyzer in Ccleaner and it list a lot of invalid firewall rules and a number of ActiveX entries, and a couple left from removal of Comodo Dragon. I am trying to see if I can attach an image of these entries because they are all new as I had run the registry cleaner recently and found only 3 entries which I left.

Again, thank you for your help. Hopefully this has cured the problem.

38828-registry-clean

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Yes, I think you’ve correctly ID’d Comodo as the cause and those invalid firewall rules were probably responsible for the MSE network error reporting.

When you uninstall a program that you had previously disabled in msconfig, you will be left with orphaned files and obsolete entries in msconfig – so bear in mind when next uninstalling anything – check – had you ever disabled it and if so, recheck its box before uninstalling.

Is MSE auto updating now ?

Sometimes when you change the DNS servers they have been known not to stick – not sure if that was Comodo’s doing as in your case, but you could change them back to Google’s to check if you want, just to see.

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Yes, I think you’ve correctly ID’d Comodo as the cause and those invalid firewall rules were probably responsible for the MSE network error reporting.

When you uninstall a program that you had previously disabled in msconfig, you will be left with orphaned files and obsolete entries in msconfig – so bear in mind when next uninstalling anything – check – had you ever disabled it and if so, recheck its box before uninstalling.

Is MSE auto updating now ?

Sometimes when you change the DNS servers they have been know not to stick – not sure if that was Comodo’s doing as in your case, but you could change them back to Google’s to check if you want, just to see.

Thanks Sudu15. I will follow your advice in future about uninstalling programs.

We shall have to wait and see if automatic updates now works in MSE. I am not sure how often it checks.

Will try the DNS servers again tomorrow and see what happens. Then we will be sure if the problem is really solved or not.

Wishing you a Happy Christmas

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And a Happy Christmas to you too

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Sudo15, just to let you know, MSE is now automatically updating and WU is saying it is up to date.

It would seem removing Comodo Dragon and the redundant startups in msconfig did the trick. I did not remove the lines in the registry that Ccleaner found as some say it is best to leave the registry alone.

Thank you again for your help. This seems to be the best support forum.

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Glad that’s all worked out and thanks for the update.

Sometimes having CCleaner remove residue is okay as it’s an intelligent cleaner and won’t remove all items that it displays and it gives you the option to make a back up, although when I’ve checked to see if I could restore those items – it didn’t work, so creating a manual restore point is the better option.

If you want, you can use the Thread Tools dropdown to Mark this thread as Solved.

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