Vista (Business) won't download Windows updates

Vista (Business) won't download Windows updates

I have 3 Vista PCs in my office which won't download Windows Updates, either automatically or manually. When I click on "Check for Updates", I get the message "Windows could not search for new updates", error code 80072EFD. I have tried the suggestions in the Help and KB articles which the error links to (mainly regarding firewalls and antivirus software), but to no avail. I suspect there is some setting on my server (SBS2003) which is preventing these updates, though all the XP machines on the network have no problem with updates, only the 3 Vistas. Any thoughts on where I might look for a setting which might be causing this problem? These PCs have not been able to be updated since they were first added to the network 2 years ago (though I didn't notice it till about 6 months ago, and have been trying to solve it since then). Thanks!

Asked by: Guest | Views: 348

Total answers/comments: 3

Comments display order:

Guest [Entry]

"80072EFD. Hmm...

Go into the registry on the Vista machines and check the value of the registry key UseWUServer in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windowsupdate\AU.

Is it 1?

If so, set it to 0 and restart.

A forum thread on this very problem can be found here."

Guest [Entry]

"Last time I saw this problem, it was due to the Conficker worm. Do the other MS security elements work fine? I don't know, Conficker might be quite irrelevant by now, but run this simple check:
Conficker eye chart"

Guest [Entry]

"I'll suggest you to follow a REPAIR INSTALL, as soon as possible, this tutorial proved all its valor many times and i've used personally for our ""fragile"" Vistas.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html

""Litte off-topic""
If you are responsible of your office LAN you are taking needless risks leaving this pcs without updates and linked to the net for so long especially if we seen the huge quantity of bugs viruses and vulnerabilities developed and discovered during these 2-3 years, that kind of errors may cause a lot of problem to your company and yourself."