http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058
and/or
Download, install, run, update and perform a full scan (separately)
with the following two applications (freeware versions are the ones
to use for this):
SuperAntiSpyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/
MalwareBytes
http://www.malwarebytes.com/
After performing a full scan with one and then the other and
removing whatever they both find completely, you may uninstall
these products,
if you wish.
Reboot.
Start button --> RUN and type in:
%SystemRoot%\system32\net stop wuauserv
--> Click OK.
Start button --> RUN and type in:
%SystemRoot%\system32\regsvr32 %SystemRoot%\system32\wups2.dll
--> Click OK.
Start button --> RUN and type in:
%SystemRoot%\system32\net start wuauserv
--> Click OK.
Download the latest version of the Windows Update agent from here
(x86):
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=91237
... and save it to the root of your C:\ drive. After saving it to
the root of the C:\ drive, do the following:
Close all Internet Explorer windows and other applications.
Start button --> RUN and type in:
%SystemDrive%\windowsupdateagent30-x86.exe /WUFORCE
--> Click OK.
(If asked, select "Run.) --> Click on NEXT --> Select "I agree" and
click on NEXT --> When it finishes installing, click on "Finish"...
Reboot.
Download/Install the latest Windows Installer (for your OS):
( Windows XP 32-bit : WindowsXP-KB942288-v3-x86.exe )
http://www.microsoft.com/downloadS/...6F-60B6-4412-95B9-54D056D6F9F4&displaylang=en
Reboot.
Log on as an user with administrative rights and open Internet
Explorer and 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 again.
If it did work - try the web page again - selecting no more than
3-5 at a time.
The Optional Software updates are generally safe - although I
recommend against the "Windows Search" one and any of the "Office
Live" ones for
now. I would completely avoid the Optional Hardware updates. Also
- I do not see any urgent need to install Internet Explorer 8 at
this time.
Come back - let us know if that worked.
... Really - come back and let everyone know if that worked.
** If it seemed to have failed, do this: **
Check the status of these two services:
- Automatic Updates
- Background Intelligent Transfer Service
Click Start, click Run, type services.msc, and then click OK. In
the list of services, find those two, right click on them one at a
time and choose properties. In the Startup type list, what is each
of them set to?
Report that here.
Then:
Click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open box, type: %windir%\windowsupdate.log
and then click OK.
Scroll down towards the bottom for the latest entries to locate any
error code(s) or explanation as to why the page cannot be displayed.
You can copy/paste the last 50 or so lines here...
How to read the Windowsupdate.log file:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/902093
Come back, reply to this conversation, let everyone know how it
turns out (whether or not you need more help...)