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Cannot access Microsoft Updates!
Jim Hillier
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July 24, 2009 - 4:17 am
Member Since: August 9, 2011
Forum Posts: 2707
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As mentioned in another post, I have started a Microsoft support ticket for this issue. A little history; about 3 months back I disabled Microsoft Updates via the settings accessible in Windows Update. At the time I had received notification of an update called..'Office Genuine Advantage". Now I was really suss about that and did a little research on the net, it didn't take long to realise this update was not good. So, I didn't download it and disabled MS Updates so I would not keep receiving constant reminders.

Now I wish to enable MS Updates again but cannot. If I open Windows Update and and click on the link to.."Get updates for more products", Internet Explorer opens and takes me to the Microsoft Update site. I follow the on screen directions and get a message that I am not logged on as administrator, which is great because I am the only user account on this machine and it is an administrator account. Okay, so we can overcome that...open another instance of I.E. after clicking on 'Run as administrator', copy and paste the MS Update site URL and away we go. Now I get past the administrator issues but still end up with some kind of generic error message. MS, of course, have all this information and have been searching in vain for a problem with my system. So far, among their suggested steps have been; startup in selective mode, changing DNS server addresses, running sfc /scannow, running online OneCare scan, etc. etc.

I am in a somewhat unique situation because my lovely wife is also running Vista Home Premium on a completely different machine with slightly different security, installed programs, etc. I went through the same process on that machine with identical results.....error messages and all. When this first happened I immediately searched the net for any similar issues and there are quite a few reports on forums of this same problem. No solutions were forthcoming and the only advice was to start a Microsoft support ticket.

I have now responded to MS's latest list of things to try by stating; there is nothing wrong with my machine, I am experiencing no other issues or strange behaviour. The facts seem to suggest this is being caused by a problem either with MS or the MS Update site.

I am not 100% certain but, after following a link in the error message to..'Get more information', the resulting page seemed to suggest that the site was specifically for XP users only?? Surely MS support would know that??

Okay, now after that long winded dissertation..this is what I am asking. Is any one else experiencing similar issues with Microsoft Updates?

Please post here if you are!!

cheers......JIM

Chad Johnson
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July 24, 2009 - 8:47 am
Member Since: August 11, 2011
Forum Posts: 867
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My wife's Vista machine has not been able to access M$ updates for months now.

I download them all separately from various places and install them at my leisure. Maybe it's been broken for a while?

Jim Hillier
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July 24, 2009 - 5:37 pm
Member Since: August 9, 2011
Forum Posts: 2707
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Thanks for that Zig, much appreciated. Now..how do I convince M$ the problem is at [i:6rkikiyd]their [/i:6rkikiyd]end???

David Hartsock
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July 25, 2009 - 6:00 am
Member Since: August 7, 2011
Forum Posts: 1117
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I have no problems with updates, so I suspect it is a machine specific issue.

Vista keeps a manifest of installed updates. Is it possible you deleted that database while using a cleaner or manually deleting the update downloads?

You also might want to try to validate office before running the update process - http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/office ... laylang=en

Jim Hillier
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July 25, 2009 - 10:42 am
Member Since: August 9, 2011
Forum Posts: 2707
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Hey Dave - Sorry mate but I beg to differ. Firstly, mine and my wife's machines are completely different except they both run Vista yet share the same problem. Plus there are lots of similar reports through forums on the web....and Zig has said his wife's Vista machine also has the same problem.

Have you ever switched off Microsoft Updates? This issue seems happen after disabling them and then trying to switch them back on again. I have absolutely no problems with Windows Update and I am 99.9% certain this is not a localised issue but something to do with the Microsoft Update site...activeX control perhaps?

David Hartsock
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July 25, 2009 - 12:59 pm
Member Since: August 7, 2011
Forum Posts: 1117
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[quote="ozbloke":qkpucvak]with the Microsoft Update site...activeX control perhaps?[/quote:qkpucvak]

That's exactly why I suggested the Office validation page - it doesn't require ActiveX!

I wasn't insinuating anything, Jim, just making sure you hadn't deleted something by mistake or forgotten.

Jim Hillier
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July 25, 2009 - 7:24 pm
Member Since: August 9, 2011
Forum Posts: 2707
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[quote="DavesComputerTips":2e9h5n6l]That's exactly why I suggested the Office validation page - it doesn't require ActiveX!"[/quote:2e9h5n6l]

Yes mate, but that site just wants me to download and install the 'Office Genuine Advantage' notifications update...that's the very one I was trying to avoid in the first place!!!

I didn't mean to sound defensive Dave...sorry if that is the way it came across. Just stating the facts as I see them.

cheers.....JIM

Jim Hillier
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July 27, 2009 - 2:15 am
Member Since: August 9, 2011
Forum Posts: 2707
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Finally, M$ managed to sort this issue out for me...it took quite a few steps before finding one which was successful. In the end, logging on to the built in Administrator account and accessing the M$ update site (from within Windows Update) did the trick.

Now here's what I think happened; When I could finally access the M$ update site okay it asked for permission to install M$ Updates on my machine, even had to agree to the eula. There was no obvious download involved and it just took a split second. When I switched off the service I am almost certain nothing was uninstalled...all I did was remove the checkmark from that option in the Windows Updates settings. However, since then I have used CCleaner and Advanced SystemCare to cleanup the registry and it is entirely possible that a registry entry, deemed by one of them as no longer in use, was deleted and this is what the M$ Update site replaced. Does that theory make sense to you guys?

Anyway I'm pleased the problem has been resolved, just wish the solution had been a tad higher in the seemingly never ending list of suggestions.

cheers....JIM

Chad Johnson
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July 27, 2009 - 8:43 am
Member Since: August 11, 2011
Forum Posts: 867
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Hmmm...

My wife's computer -- I've never run CCleaner or any kind of registry cleaner. But I think my problem was different from yours to start with.

Glad it's working for you Jim!!

dodester
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October 25, 2009 - 6:26 pm
Member Since: August 8, 2009
Forum Posts: 24
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is it a legit copy of vista ? as if not maybe using the same disc on both pc's at home as resulted in a conflict with updates.

but knowing Ozbloke it will be a totally perfect legit copy of vista

yeah the only other thing could maybe be cc cleaner error, just like my partner done on her webook. deleted something so it didnt update and also deleted a file bonjour, ever since that the system was really weird.

sorry to steal your thread m8 but if anyone knows wat thins bonjour file is please mail me.

regards dodester

Jim Hillier
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October 25, 2009 - 9:49 pm
Member Since: August 9, 2011
Forum Posts: 2707
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Hey Dodester - Yes mate, my copy of Vista is 100% legit. I actually resolved the issue with the help of a very nice gentleman from MS support. I won't go into the details because it is a long list of trial and error...enough to confirm that all is now well.

Can you be a bit clearer with your question please mate: [b:31zxhvex][i:31zxhvex]"if anyone knows wat thins bonjour file is please mail me"[/i:31zxhvex][/b:31zxhvex]

A couple of typos make it a tad difficult to decipher exactly what you are after.

If it means you have a file (or some files) on the hard drive with 'Bonjour' in the name and don't know what they are:
Bonjour is a software which is developed by Apple specifically for their Mac machines but Bonjour components can also be included in software which is installed on computers running Windows...e.g. iTunes. If you have iTunes (or similar Apple software) installed on your machine then that will be the answer.

Cheers....JIM

dodester
Member
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November 3, 2009 - 5:33 pm
Member Since: August 8, 2009
Forum Posts: 24
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yep u answered the question m8

lol

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