Reset Windows Update

Windows Update

Automatic updates is Microsoft's way of getting critical updates to users as quickly as possible and is built into all modern Windows versions. Usually, everything works as it should, but sometimes it hangs up or does not download updates correctly. There will also be updates are trying to install over and over again without success. In this guide Reset Windows Update, Get help with how to solve problems that have Automatic Updates to do.

Step 1 – Check the configuration

The first thing to do is to look at how Automatic Updates is configured. There are more options that may result in it not working as expected. Depending on your operating system, To access the configuration in different ways.

Windows XP

Start > Control Panel > Double-click the "System" and select "Automatic Updates".

Windows Vista och Windows 7

Start > Control Panel > Double-click Windows Update, and then click "Change Settings" on the left side.

When you come there, there are three options:

Information about new updates
Download and tell when it is ready for installation
Install and prompt for reboot

What you choose depends on what you are most comfortable with. The updates are downloaded to a system called smart download (Background Intelligent Transfer Service). It uses the unused bandwidth to download the updates to prevent other downloads or other work on the computer is not significantly affected.

Step 2 – Troubleshooting

If you have a freshly installed system or a brand new computer, there will be lots of updates to install. By default, Windows for updates every 17-22 hours. If the update is not downloaded (will be an icon by the clock), then you can force the system to check for updates. Depending on the configuration, the following:

Methods 1

Go to Automatic Updates as above.
Uncheck "Automatic" and press the execution.
Go back again and select "Automatic" and press the execution and OK to close the window.

Methods 2

If the "Automatic Updates" is grayed out, and the computer is in a domain, when the updates are controlled centrally. You will then have a small registry hack to force the update to start. (The usual directory warning – do not do this unless you know what you're doing).

Go to Control Panel > Administrative > select Services, and then stop the service "Automatic Updates".
In the registry, go to
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update\]
and verify that the key ”AUState” has the value “2”.
Under AUState there is a key "LastWaitTimeout" you should erase.
Close the Registry Editor and restart “Automatic Updates”-service again.

If the "Automatic Updates" is grayed out, and the computer is not in a domain.

You are not logged in with an account that has administrator rights.

Automatic Update Policy is enabled.

Access to the Automatic Updates / Windows Updates is blocked by Group Policy.

To deal with these parts to try the following.

Go to

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update\]

and in the right pane, delete the values “AUOptions” and “NoAutoUpdate”.

Go to

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\WindowsUpdate]

and delete the value “DisableWindowsUpdateAccess”.

Group Policy Editor

If you are using Windows XP Professional on a single computer, you should also check the Group Policy Editor for configuration errors:

Start > Run and Write "gpedit.msc".
Open Datorkonfiguration > Administrativa mallar > Windows-komponenter > Windows Update.
Change / verify the settings are "Not Configured" to close the Group Policy fully, or verify the necessary settings.
Still in the GP you open Användarkonfiguration > Administrativa mallar > Windows-komponenter > Windows Update. Change / verify that the "Deny access to all Windows Update features" is set to "Not Configured".

Methods 3

This method only works when the latest version of Windows Update client installed in Windows Vista, Windows XP SP2, Windows 2003 Server or Windows 2000.
Open a command window and type the following:
wuauclt.exe /detectnow

Note the space between exe and “/” but no space after “/” or in the words detect, and now.

The computer will start updating the sequence immediately after the command is executed.

Methods 4

This method only works on Windows Vista. Open Windows Update from the Control Panel. Click on “Check for updates” left side.
Prompted to install the update every day. If you are prompted to install the update every day, it is likely that the catalog that keeps track of what you have updates installed is corrupt.

Solution 1

Find the update that would be installed at all times and to download it manually from the Microsoft Download Center. Often, you can install the update manually, but not via Windows Update. Microsoft Download Center can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads

Solution 2

Open Services from Kontrollpanelen > Administrationsverktyg and stop and start the service "Automatic Updates".

Solution 3

Stoppa ”Automatic Updates” i Tjänster > Kontrollpanelen > Administrationsverktyg.
Go to the application directory C:\Program or C:\Program filesWindows Update
You need to show hidden files and folders.
Delete everything except the directory “V4”.
Double-click the directory “V4”.
Delete everything except “iuhist.xml“.
Close Windows Explorer and start the "Automatic Updates" again.

Solution 3 (Windows Vista)
The only solution that seems to work is "Resetting the Automatic update system
(At versioner)”, see below.

Step 3 – Recovering, repair and reinstall the Automatic Updates

If none of the previous tips work, you can try to restore the Windows Automatic Updates. This works on Windows XP SP2 or Windows 2003 Server utan problem. I Windows 2000 requires that your computer updated with the latest update client before it works.

Windows Vista

Where it says that it works with Windows Vista, you must have the script file is saved on the local computer. You also need to run them as Administrator, right-click the script file and select "Run as Administrator".

Resetting the Automatic update system (At versioner)

The file you download will stop the service "Automatic Updates" then empties the directory “Software Distribution” on content. Then restart the service "Automatic Updates" again before forcing Started update sequence.

net stop "Automatic Updates"
del /f /s /q %windir%\SoftwareDistribution\*.*
net start "Automatic Updates"
wuauclt.exe /detectnow

Repair of the Automatic uppdateringssyte meth (Ej Windows Vista)

The file stops “Background Intelligent Transfer Service” and "Automatic Update" service, then re-register the required DLL files. When finished, restart the two services again before the update sequence is forced off.

net stop bits 
net stop /s wuauserv 
%windir%\system32\regsvr32.exe /s %windir%\system32\atl.dll 
%windir%\system32\regsvr32.exe /s %windir%\system32\jscript.dll 
%windir%\system32\regsvr32.exe /s %windir%\system32\msxml3.dll 
%windir%\system32\regsvr32.exe /s %windir%\system32\softpub.dll 
%windir%\system32\regsvr32.exe /s %windir%\system32\wuapi.dll 
%windir%\system32\regsvr32.exe /s %windir%\system32\wuaueng.dll 
%windir%\system32\regsvr32.exe /s %windir%\system32\wuaueng1.dll 
%windir%\system32\regsvr32.exe /s %windir%\system32\wucltui.dll 
%windir%\system32\regsvr32.exe /s %windir%\system32\wups.dll 
%windir%\system32\regsvr32.exe /s %windir%\system32\wuweb.dll 
net start bits 
net start wuauserv 
wuauclt /resetauthorization /detectnow

Reinstalling the Automatic uppdateringssytemet (Ej Windows Vista)

The file stops “Background Intelligent Transfer Service” and "Automatic Update" service, then erased all the Automatic update system, logs and downloaded program files. After reinstalling the automatic update system, launch services, and forcing running an update sequence.

net stop bits 
net stop /s wuauserv 
regsvr32 /u wuaueng.dll /s
del /f /s /q %windir%\SoftwareDistribution\*.*
del /f /s /q %windir%\windowsupdate.log
regsvr32 wuaueng.dll /s
net start bits
net start wuauserv
wuauclt.exe /resetauthorization /detectnow

Windows Vista

To make everything a little easier so we'll start by trying with a fully automatic repairing of Windows Automatic update system. First discharged proxy cache, then stopped services “Background Intelligent Transfer Service” och ”Automatic Update”. Then a re-registration of the necessary DLLs, purge of all pending downloads from BITS and sound BITS recover URqmgr0.dat and URqmgr1.dat, then renamed Catroot2, because it is automatically created. Check if there are remnants of previous skriptexekveringar in the temp directory. Clears out old data while retaining Windows update temp directory. Starts and stops the "Automatic Update" so that the temp directory is recreated. Restarts the "Automatic Update" and all other necessary services and ask about them to start automatically. Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS), Automatic Updates (WUAUSERV), Event Log (EventLog), Cryptographic Services (CryptSvc), :Remote Procedure Call (RpcSs).

cd \
color 0e
Rem Clear out proxy cache
proxycfg -d
REG QUERY "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings" /v Security_HKLM_only | find /i "Security_HKLM_Only" | find "1"
GOTO CONTROL%ERRORLEVEL%
:CONTROL0
:Stop the Windows Update and BITS service while applying fixes
Net stop WuAuServ
Net stop BITS
:Register required DLLs
regsvr32 /s wuapi.dll 
regsvr32 /s wups.dll
regsvr32 /s wuaueng.dll
regsvr32 /s wuaueng1.dll
regsvr32 /s wucltui.dll
regsvr32 /s wuweb.dll
regsvr32 /s jscript.dll
regsvr32 /s atl.dll
regsvr32 /s softpub.dll
regsvr32 /s msxml3.dll
:Added next two DLLs in v1.03
regsvr32 /s wups2.dll
regsvr32 /s msxml.dll
regsvr32 /s qmgr.dll
regsvr32 /s qmgrprxy.dll
:
:CONTROL1
::Clear all the pending downloads from BITS & let BITS recreate qmgr0.dat and qmgr1.dat
cd %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Network\Downloader
del *.* /Q
:
: Rename the Catroot2  directory, since it is automatically recreated by Windows
:
net stop cryptsvc
IF EXIST %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 attrib -r -s -h %systemroot%\system32\catroot2
REM Make allowances for the fix having been run more than once. Check if the dir was already renamed in prior run 
IF EXIST %systemroot%\system32\oldcatroot2 rmdir /Q /S %systemroot%\system32\oldcatroot2
IF EXIST %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 ren %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 oldcatroot2
:
cd %WINDIR%
::See if temp dir exists from previous execution of script, and delete if it does (XP & 2000)
IF EXIST Sdold rmdir /Q /S Sdold
:Clear old data but save Windows Update temp dir
attrib -r -h -s SoftwareDistribution
ren SoftwareDistribution Sdold
:
:Stop and start the Automatic Update service,  so it will recreate the temp folder
Net start WuAuServ
Net stop WuAuServ
:
:Restart automatic updates service. Start all other dependent services and set to automatic startup.  Set the following services to autostart 
:Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS),  Automatic Updates (WuAuServ), Event Log (EventLog), Cryptographic Services (CryptSvc), :Remote Procedure Call (RpcSs)
:
Net start WuAuServ
sc config WuAuServ start= auto
::Set to automatic
::Start Background Intelligent Transfer Service
Net start BITS
::Set BITS to manual
sc config BITS start= demand
::Start  Event Log Service
Net start EventLog
sc config EventLog start= auto
::Start Cryptographic Services
Net start CryptSvc
sc config CryptSvc start= auto
::Turn on Remote Procedure Call Service
Net start RpcSs
sc config RpcSs start= auto
:EXIT

Reregister DLL files

If not URWuVista.bat help, you try to manually. Click on “Start” enter CMD in the field, the program list you will get the command prompt, right click it and select “Run as administrator”. You will now see the command prompt and can run the following commands:

Write in: Regsvr32 Atl. FILE press ENTER, Click OK in the window that opens

Do it again with the following command

Regsvr32 CRYPTDLG.DLL
Regsvr32 DSSENH.DLL
Regsvr32 JSCRIPT.DLL 
Regsvr32 MSXML3.DLL
Regsvr32 QMGRPRXY.DLL
Regsvr32 RSAENH.DLL
Regsvr32 SOFTPUB.DLL
Regsvr32 WINTRUST.DLL
Regsvr32 WUAPI.DLL
Regsvr32 WUAUENG.DLL
Regsvr32 WUPS.DLL
Regsvr32 WUPS2.DLL

Once you have done this, restart your computer, och provar Windows Update igen

Verify that services are started and functioning

1. Click Start and type in "Services" in the Start Menu search field and right-click it and select “Run as administrator”.
2. Then double-click on “Background Intelligent Transfer Service”.
3. Click on “Log Tab, check that “Local System Account” is selected, and that “Allow service to interact with desktop” not in ticked.
4. Check that all profiles in the box hardware configuration is enabled. If not activate all the profiles here.
5. Click the General tab; Check that the startup type is set to Automatic, if it is not, then change it to Automatic and click Apply. Then click the Start button, it is possible.
6. Then perform the above instructions on the Windows Update service.
Clear the Windows Update temporary folder (Software Distribution)
1. Start your computer in Safe Mode, that is, restart the computer and repeatedly press the F8 key (before Windows starts up) so you will get the menu for Advanced
Start. Select Safe Mode and press Enter. Login as usual and so is in Safe Mode.
2. Click Start, and then type: %windir% and press Enter.
3. In the folder that opens, you can find Software Distribution folder and you should then right click on it and choose “Flat n?mn?” change to the Software Distribution-old.
4. Afterwards, open the System32 folder and locate the folder “Catroot2” and right-click it and select “Flat n?mn?” and change it to CatRoot2-old.
Once you have done this, restart your computer, and then try again.

Still problems?

Is Windows automatic update system is still a problem, you start a new thread in a forum with these data in thread.

1. URWindowsUpdate.log file, it is inside C:\Windows-mappen,
(obs. there are 2, with a gap and a gapless between Windows and Update, there is NO space I need).
2. Error code that may be on the screen when you do a manual Windows Update. Note also love the KB update there is a problem with.
3. What do you have for Antivirus software installed on your computer?
4. What do you have for firewall software installed on your computer?
5. What do you have for anti-spyware software installed on your computer?
6. How is your computer connected to the Internet? Via modem, ADSL, network socket? Cable or Wireless? Behind a router / broadband splitters?