Automatic Update Restart dialogue box wont go away

[TGN]

I am running Windows XP Pro 2002, SP2
Dell Latitude D600

My automatic updates is configured so that I am prompted before anything is
updated and installed. After the most recent Security Update for Windows
(12/20/07 I believe), the Automatic Update Restart dialogue popped up. I
restarted my computer, but the dialogue box continued to pop up no matter how
many times I restarted. I cannot get it to go away. After lots of research,
I have tried the following to no avail:

Start -> Run -> gpedit.msc -> Local Computer Policy -> Computer
Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows
Update -> Re-prompt for restart with scheduled installations.

Also:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU]
"RebootRelaunchTimeoutEnabled"=dword:00000000
"NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers"=dword:00000001

Also:
Run -> cmd -> 'sc stop wuauserv'

This last one actually makes the dialogue box disappear, but once I shut
down and boot up again the Restart Now/Later dialogue box reappears.

I also tried uninstalling the last update through Add/Remove programs to see
if reinstalling the update might fix the problem. However, once I did that
and tried to do a force update (online through microsoft update), it told me
I had a previous update in progress and that my computer needed to be
restarted before new updates could be installed. This means that I am
blocked out of any new updates until I get this box to go away. This also
means that some suggestions to just drag the box down to the corner of my
screen and ignore it isn't a good solution.

This is quite possibly the most annoying thing ever and I would appreciate
ANY help or suggestions that people have.

thanks!

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

The restart is by design, and it is expected behavior that it cannot be
turned off. If the security update is desired, so is the restart that makes
it function. If you don't want the restart, you will have to refuse the
update.

 

[TGN]

The restart is by design, and it is expected behavior that it cannot be
turned off. If the security update is desired, so is the restart that makes
it function. If you don't want the restart, you will have to refuse the
update.
--

Yes, I understand that. If you read my post you will see that I have
restarted my computer MANY times since the installation. I'm fine with
installing the updates and I understand that you must restart to have them
work properly. What I dont get is why it continues to prompt me to restart
after I've restarted over 20 times! I dont want to turn the behavior off, I
want it to work correctly!

Since my last post I have also done the following according to Windows
Update Error 0x8ddd0007 Resolution #2 (resolution #1 was to restart the
computer... gee, thanks).

Run -> regedit ->
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update

Deleted the RebootRequired sub-key

Restarted and Automatic Update Restart Now/Later dialogue box reappears,
just like magic! Grrrrrr...

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

The update might be failing. Then a reinstalling attempt is made on restart.
You might check the catroot2 and other fixes here.

You cannot install some updates or programs:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;822798&Product=winxp

 

[nass]

Yes, I understand that. If you read my post you will see that I have
restarted my computer MANY times since the installation. I'm fine with
installing the updates and I understand that you must restart to have them
work properly. What I dont get is why it continues to prompt me to restart
after I've restarted over 20 times! I dont want to turn the behavior off, I
want it to work correctly!

Since my last post I have also done the following according to Windows
Update Error 0x8ddd0007 Resolution #2 (resolution #1 was to restart the
computer... gee, thanks).

Run -> regedit ->
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update

Deleted the RebootRequired sub-key

Restarted and Automatic Update Restart Now/Later dialogue box reappears,
just like magic! Grrrrrr...

You will need to pay a visit to the Ms updates site and run the updates
engine, select the Custom instead of the Express.
On the Custom after the engine search for the available updates for your
machine you can elect to uncheck the check box beside each update you think
may be installed but offered again to you.
To be sure you can check your History of updates and see if All the Updates
are success or there is something failed somewhere and use the help to see
how to install it again.
If all history was a success then don't forget to uncheck the update check
box then check the don't show this update again:
[-] [ ] IE7 <=uncheck this ( expand the plus + to -)
Blah..blah about IE7 how .....
[ ] Do not show this update again <-check this box

HTH.
nass

 

[TGN]

Since my last post I have also done the following according to Windows

Update Error 0x8ddd0007 Resolution #2 (resolution #1 was to restart the
computer... gee, thanks).

Run -> regedit ->
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update

Deleted the RebootRequired sub-key

Restarted and Automatic Update Restart Now/Later dialogue box reappears,
just like magic! Grrrrrr...

You will need to pay a visit to the Ms updates site and run the updates
engine, select the Custom instead of the Express.
On the Custom after the engine search for the available updates for your
machine you can elect to uncheck the check box beside each update you think
may be installed but offered again to you.
To be sure you can check your History of updates and see if All the Updates
are success or there is something failed somewhere and use the help to see
how to install it again.
If all history was a success then don't forget to uncheck the update check
box then check the don't show this update again:
[-] [ ] IE7 <=uncheck this ( expand the plus + to -)
Blah..blah about IE7 how .....
[ ] Do not show this update again <-check this box

HTH.
nass

See, the problem is that when I go to the MS update website, it gives me this:

[Error number: 0x8DDD0007]
You need to restart your computer to finish installing a program or
updates. You cannot view or get other updates from the site until you
restart.
Read more about steps you can take to resolve this problem (error number
0x8DDD0007) yourself.

The steps it gives me to resolve this problem is to 1) Restart. Yes, did
that, 50 times and it keeps telling me to restart again. 2) Delete the
RebootRequired sub key (see above).

Both of these solutions do not work. After I delete that subkey and then
restart, the prompt box reappears as does the subkey in the registry. So it
seems I'm stuck in some cycle that I can't get out of.

 

[bojimbo26]

Since my last post I have also done the following according to Windows
Update Error 0x8ddd0007 Resolution #2 (resolution #1 was to restart the
computer... gee, thanks).

Run -> regedit ->
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update

Deleted the RebootRequired sub-key

Restarted and Automatic Update Restart Now/Later dialogue box reappears,
just like magic! Grrrrrr...

You will need to pay a visit to the Ms updates site and run the updates
engine, select the Custom instead of the Express.
On the Custom after the engine search for the available updates for your
machine you can elect to uncheck the check box beside each update you think
may be installed but offered again to you.
To be sure you can check your History of updates and see if All the Updates
are success or there is something failed somewhere and use the help to see
how to install it again.
If all history was a success then don't forget to uncheck the update check
box then check the don't show this update again:
[-] [ ] IE7 <=uncheck this ( expand the plus + to -)
Blah..blah about IE7 how .....
[ ] Do not show this update again <-check this box

HTH.
nass

See, the problem is that when I go to the MS update website, it gives me this:

[Error number: 0x8DDD0007]
You need to restart your computer to finish installing a program or
updates. You cannot view or get other updates from the site until you
restart.
Read more about steps you can take to resolve this problem (error number
0x8DDD0007) yourself.

The steps it gives me to resolve this problem is to 1) Restart. Yes, did
that, 50 times and it keeps telling me to restart again. 2) Delete the
RebootRequired sub key (see above).

Both of these solutions do not work. After I delete that subkey and then
restart, the prompt box reappears as does the subkey in the registry. So it
seems I'm stuck in some cycle that I can't get out of.

Antivirus - SpywareGuard - Adaware is stopping the sub key from being
deleted ?

 

[nass]

Since my last post I have also done the following according to Windows
Update Error 0x8ddd0007 Resolution #2 (resolution #1 was to restart the
computer... gee, thanks).

Run -> regedit ->
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update

Deleted the RebootRequired sub-key

Restarted and Automatic Update Restart Now/Later dialogue box reappears,
just like magic! Grrrrrr...

You will need to pay a visit to the Ms updates site and run the updates
engine, select the Custom instead of the Express.
On the Custom after the engine search for the available updates for your
machine you can elect to uncheck the check box beside each update you think
may be installed but offered again to you.
To be sure you can check your History of updates and see if All the Updates
are success or there is something failed somewhere and use the help to see
how to install it again.
If all history was a success then don't forget to uncheck the update check
box then check the don't show this update again:
[-] [ ] IE7 <=uncheck this ( expand the plus + to -)
Blah..blah about IE7 how .....
[ ] Do not show this update again <-check this box

HTH.
nass

See, the problem is that when I go to the MS update website, it gives me this:

[Error number: 0x8DDD0007]
You need to restart your computer to finish installing a program or
updates. You cannot view or get other updates from the site until you
restart.
Read more about steps you can take to resolve this problem (error number
0x8DDD0007) yourself.

The steps it gives me to resolve this problem is to 1) Restart. Yes, did
that, 50 times and it keeps telling me to restart again. 2) Delete the
RebootRequired sub key (see above).

Both of these solutions do not work. After I delete that subkey and then
restart, the prompt box reappears as does the subkey in the registry. So it
seems I'm stuck in some cycle that I can't get out of.

Antivirus - SpywareGuard - Adaware is stopping the sub key from being
deleted ?

Adding to Boji advice, yes if you running a protection software in real time
protection it will block the changes to the registry and restore back
although you thought you removed it from the registry!, so try in safe mode
and remove the sub-key and also try this:
Open windows explorer and navigate to this folder
C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution = Look in the right pane /window and then
click on Edit on the bar menu and select Select All and press Del + SHIFT to
delete all folders there.
Run disk clean up and then reboot, does this help?.
HTH.
nass

 

[TGN]

The update might be failing. Then a reinstalling attempt is made on restart.
You might check the catroot2 and other fixes here.

You cannot install some updates or programs:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;822798&Product=winxp

I tried all of those and none of them worked

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

I wouyld turn off the auto-update (run sysdm.cpl) and do a 'custom' install
to uncheck the update and offer for 'do not ask again'

 

[TGN]

I wouyld turn off the auto-update (run sysdm.cpl) and do a 'custom' install
to uncheck the update and offer for 'do not ask again'

I can't get to the custom install page because I get this:

[Error number: 0x8DDD0007]
You need to restart your computer to finish installing a program or
updates. You cannot view or get other updates from the site until you
restart.

 

[TGN]

Adding to Boji advice, yes if you running a protection software in real time

protection it will block the changes to the registry and restore back
although you thought you removed it from the registry!, so try in safe mode
and remove the sub-key and also try this:
Open windows explorer and navigate to this folder
C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution = Look in the right pane /window and then
click on Edit on the bar menu and select Select All and press Del + SHIFT to
delete all folders there.
Run disk clean up and then reboot, does this help?.
HTH.
nass

I disable both Spybot and Symantec realtime protection, deleted the subkey,
emptied the Software Distribution folder, ran disk clean up, restarted and it
STILL tells me that I need to restart my computer. Also uninstalled all
security hotfixes from Windows dated 12/12/07 and tried to do an update
through Windows Update and it tells me I have to restart my computer for new
updates to take effect.

Arrrrrggg.

 

[bojimbo26]

I disable both Spybot and Symantec realtime protection, deleted the subkey,
emptied the Software Distribution folder, ran disk clean up, restarted and it
STILL tells me that I need to restart my computer. Also uninstalled all
security hotfixes from Windows dated 12/12/07 and tried to do an update
through Windows Update and it tells me I have to restart my computer for new
updates to take effect.

Arrrrrggg.

I would look into Symantec realtime protection to see if it is doing
anything ; some programs have *stealth* issues .

 

[nass]

I would look into Symantec realtime protection to see if it is doing
anything ; some programs have *stealth* issues .

Try to repair the updates engine:

Please copy and paste the following into a Notepad and safe as Reg.bat on
your Desktop then double click the Reg.bat to execute it and click "YES" to
register the Required DLLs for the windows updates engine.

regsvr32 Msxml.dll
regsvr32 Msxml2.dll
regsvr32 atl.dll
regsvr32 wuapi.dll
regsvr32 inetcomm.dll
regsvr32 wups.dll
regsvr32 wuaueng.dll
regsvr32 wucltui.dll
regsvr32 wuweb.dll
regsvr32 MSXML3.dll
regsvr32 cryptsvc.dll
regsvr32 dssenh.dll
regsvr32 qmgr.dll
regsvr32 wuapi.dll
regsvr32 qmgrprxy.dll
regsvr32 wups2.dll
net start wuauserv

You may receive an "Error 0x80072EE2," "Error 0x80072EE7," "Error
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/836941

You may receive an error message when you search for available updates on
the Windows Update Web site or on the Microsoft Update Web site
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=883821

If you still having an issue, then try the Repair install of XP, but Backup
your data first.
Good luck.

 

[TGN]

Try to repair the updates engine:

Please copy and paste the following into a Notepad and safe as Reg.bat on
your Desktop then double click the Reg.bat to execute it and click "YES" to
register the Required DLLs for the windows updates engine.

regsvr32 Msxml.dll
regsvr32 Msxml2.dll
regsvr32 atl.dll
regsvr32 wuapi.dll
regsvr32 inetcomm.dll
regsvr32 wups.dll
regsvr32 wuaueng.dll
regsvr32 wucltui.dll
regsvr32 wuweb.dll
regsvr32 MSXML3.dll
regsvr32 cryptsvc.dll
regsvr32 dssenh.dll
regsvr32 qmgr.dll
regsvr32 wuapi.dll
regsvr32 qmgrprxy.dll
regsvr32 wups2.dll
net start wuauserv

Ok, I did the above and got the following:

"cryptsvc.dll was loaded, but the DllRegisterServer entry point was not
found. The file cannot be registered"

Are we getting closer to the solution (I hope)?

 

[dkohfeld]

Ok, I did the above and got the following:

"cryptsvc.dll was loaded, but the DllRegisterServer entry point was not
found. The file cannot be registered"

Are we getting closer to the solution (I hope)?

I am stuck at the same place. I got this error last December, I think, and
have had zero luck fixing it since. I have tried all the ususal suspects
found through a brazillion other XP forums:
- Deleted rebootrequired
- remove latest updates
- regsrv32 all the au DLLs (same error as above)
- Ran Dial-a-Fix (pretty much the same as manual regsrv32)
- Deleted all wuau-type files and let XP restore them
- Turned off McAfee
- Elevated registry permissions
- Deleted Software Distribution folder

Still at square one. I can not install patches/fixes because "a previous
installation needs the computer to restart." Actually, I can not install
ANYTHING that uses MS Installer (I tried installing Installer 3.1). At one
point in the update log there was an entry that stated which Update failed,
and that subsequent updates could not be installed until I restarted to
finalize installation. I no longer have this though since mucking with all
these Update files/folders.

So now I simply dont update or install anything and pretend that whats on my
PC now is good enough.