Strange windows update errors.
I’ve run across this a couple times now so I figured I’d write something about it so the fix would linger in my head next time. After installing windows on an Acer laptop from the set of restore CDs I would immediately go to windows update and get current. After a reboot or two I would get this error.
Files required to use Windows Update are no longer registered or installed on your computer. To continue:
Click option 1: Register or reinstall the files for me now (Recommended)
Click option 2: Let me read about more steps that might be required to solve the problem.”
If I clicked on option 1 it would just cycle back through windows update and fail again. No change at all. I even tried doing a custom update but that didn’t make any difference either. Option 2 just drops you to a microsoft help search page. It doesn’t make any attempt to point you in the right direction. I don’t even remember seeing an error code to go with this.
Either way, I ran into a site that had the fix. All you have to do is re-register some DLL files in windows. I’m not 100% sure you even have to register all of the ones listed. I, for some reason, believe it stems from the msxml3.dll, although I have nothing to back that up.
click Start->Run (or optionally hold the windows key down and tap the letter R) and, one at a time, run each of the following commands to re-register the DLL files. This worked for me.
regsvr32 wuapi.dll
regsvr32 wups.dll
regsvr32 wuaueng.dll
regsvr32 wucltui.dll
regsvr32 atl.dll
regsvr32 msxml3.dll
That has done the trick for me every time but failing that, another individual found that downloading and re-installing the windows update agent fixxed it. You can download that here: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=43264
If windows is not letting you install the update agent becuase it’s already installed. Open the run screen again and run this.
WindowsUpdateAgent20-x86.exe /wuforce
I’ve never had to take it that far so I’m not sure if that actualy helps or not. I still don’t know why it happens. The only thing I did after freshly installing XP from restore CD’s was hit up windows update.
Hahaha. How ironic, I ran into this problem again this morning on another acer laptop.
Comment by Josh Houghtelin — March 9, 2007 @ 9:04 am
I’ve probably come across hundreds of cases of the ailment known as “broken Windows Update”… There is no one true fix. Sometimes particular fix will work five times in a row, probably because of a specific glitch from something that was just released, but then another computer will put up a fight. Sometimes it’s just a matter of setting the BITS service to “automatic” startup and then start it, and sometimes it’s a 3 hour long nightmare of searching and trying, ending in: “Forget it. Let’s just reload.”
Windows Update does not make me happy. I’m all worked-up now.
Comment by Blayne — March 9, 2007 @ 9:26 pm
Hello recently i had a problem on my dads ACER laptop… a few days ago the windows update yellow shield appeared denoting it was indeed time for trouble …again… after the updates it was the usual reboot… upon startup we got DLL errors similar to those above.. after a few attempts of half assed fixes (ie trying to windows update again) and with the laptop being pretty bogged down we decided to reinstall windows by means of built-in recovery all was going well untill the latest update (about 3-5 days ago) and these DLL error came up again! Even more strangely a friend of mine has an ACER laptop and after he downloaded the same updates he to was getting the DLL errors? coincidence? i dont know? any ideas. especially other acer owners, this problem i the nearest to mine i can find? many thanks in advance
Skootay
Comment by Skootay — April 8, 2007 @ 6:51 pm
What was the DLL error you recieved? I belive I was getting MSXML.DLL error’s. Installing Ubuntu Linux fixed that problem. ^_^
All joking aside, re-registering those DLLs above seemed to have fixed the problems associated to windows update for me. Were you recieving the same windows update loop from their website? I also seemed to have a difficult time associated with the latest flash player security update. Email with some more details if you need some help with this. I work with a lot of Acer laptops and have seen this happen repeatedly with the Acer Aspire 3000/5000 restore CD set.
Comment by Josh Houghtelin — April 8, 2007 @ 8:23 pm
seems to be just the one windows update thats causing all the problems… any ideas on stopping these errors coming up ?
many thanks…thanks for your time!
Comment by Skootay — April 11, 2007 @ 9:09 am
I just re-registered all those DLL’s. and in some cases un-checked the flash update so it wouldn’t harass me anymore. problems would vanish. I noticed some issues with acer laptop hdd’s though. Some of them like to go bad in certain sectors which cause crazy errors windows tripps balls over.
Comment by Josh Houghtelin — April 11, 2007 @ 2:10 pm