Windows update stop working for XP

EDITED

everyone who is running windows xp and "windows server 2003" is experiencing the same problem with using the "microsoft update" website..

a simple way to work around the problem is to enable windows "automatic updates".. windows "automatic updates" will download any available updates..

besides enabling "automatic updates" in the "system" settings, in "control panel", the "automatic updates" service should be set to "startup type"-"automatic" and should be running..

after the windows-updates have been installed, you can turn of "automatic updates", if you want to..

the "background intelligent transfer service" (BITS) should be set to "startup type"-"manual".. it does not need to be running.. it will start running automatically when needed..

you can prompt windows "automatic updates" to check for- and download available windows-updates by using "command prompt" with the command "wuauclt.exe /detectnow" (minus quotations)..

enabling windows "automatic updates" and letting it download any available windows-updates is the best way to work around the problem.. we will have to wait for microsoft to fix the problem on their end..

if using windows "automatic updates" is not an option, another option is to:

stop the "windows updates" service, and stop the "background intelligent transfer service" (BITS), if needed, then rename the "SoftwareDistribution" folder, at "c:\windows\SoftwareDistribution" (like "XXXSoftwareDistribution" ), then check for updates at the "windows update" website.. NOT the "microsoft update" website, but at the "windows update" website.. if you try using the "microsoft update" website, all you will get is an error-message..

you may have to repeat the process of renaming the "software distribution" folder in order to be able to access the "windows update" website (NOT the "microsoft update" website! ).. otherwise, if your experience is like mine was, you will be redirected to the "microsoft update" website when trying to access the "windows update" website.. use the "windows update" website, not the "microsoft update" website..

here is some related content:

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windowsserver/en-US/77990b62-d97f-4648-815f-b021ddc07b5e/windows-update-for-windows-server-2003-will-not-load?forum=winservergen

https://isc.sans.edu/forums/diary/Microsoft+November+out-of-cycle+patch+MS14-068/18967

Split from this thread.

I  tried to do this with a screen shot, but  post failed -- the error message was there was to many characters --

See http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/feedback/wiki/fdbk_commsite-fdbk_getstart/how-to-embed-images-on-microsoft-community/f74dac61-38d6-492e-8e71-286ab2645b2a

Don

Hello -- 

Thanks for the reply ...  A  simple web search  will show 

http://www.computerworld.com/article/2850890/windows-update-is-broken-on-xp.html

http://www.computerworld.com/article/2850890/windows-update-is-broken-on-xp.html

Michael Horowitz will update his blog once he discovers a permanent fix to the problem.

This should help others who are affected by this problem.

Split from this thread.

Hello --

I  tried to do this with a screen shot, but  post failed -- the error message was there was to many characters -- Did I miss something?

[Moved from Community Participation Center]

In what *way* did it 'stop working'?  Support for Windows XP ended in April 2014; other than an Internet Explorer update a bit later - nothing else has been pushed for Windows XP - it's a legacy operating system.

Out of curiosity, however, I decided to do a clean install of Windows XP 32-bit with SP3.  I had to connect to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and get an update for Windows Updates... then...

I got it up and running, connected to the Internet and this is what I see:

Round 1:

Round 2:

(I am in the central time zone, if that matters...)

If I let it finish (probably will) and I recall (no promises there) I will post more of the same (there will be more rounds of updates, I think...) and the end result.

However, at this time, I see nothing wrong with Windows XP and the updates (given support ended several months ago after over a decade... I'd say I am actually surprised.)