ERROR CODE 80072F8F

Question

Fixing a friends brand new acer laptop up model aspire 5732z. 

It won't automatically update, and keeps giving me error code 80072F8F.  I know this code has to do with the clock settings and I have tried all the recommended fixes.  it still doesnt work.  Anyone else having this problem

Answer 1

Hi Jcs1112, Error 0x80072F8F refers to incorrect date and time. You said you checked the date and time to verify that it was correct. I also want to verify that you ran the following commands in order to try and fix the issue:     1.    Open the Start Menu     2.    Type command prompt in the Start Search area     3.    Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator     4.    Click Continue in the UAC prompt     5.    Once in the command prompt, type regsvr32 Softpub.dll /s and press Enter     6.    Repeat for the following:                 regsvr32 Softpub.dll /s                 regsvr32 Wintrust.dll /s                 regsvr32 Initpki.dll /s                 regsvr32 Mssip32.dll /s     7.    Once completed, restart your computer and try Windows Update again If you are still having Windows Update issues then please tell us if you are receiving the same error code or a new one and whether or not that is consistent. Additional information:http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Windows-Update-error-80072f8f

Hope this helps. Let us know the results.

Thanks & Regards,

Vijay B – Microsoft Support ****Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think

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Answer 2

Thanks for answering my post Vijay, I tried that but did not work for me.

Found out on another post a method to try involving the Datastore folder under SoftwareDistribution.

This worked on my friends laptop and now everything is working as far as automatic updates are concerned.

Here is the link to the solution I found that worked for me.

http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistawu/thread/a3a901b1-059d-43ad-bac7-41e03d01dcdd/

My friends automatic updates now work.

Answer 3

Are you running ESET/NOD32 anti-virus? If so and you have SSL protocol filtering enabled you need to add an exception

1. Open the main ESET window by clicking the ESET icon next to the system clock or by clicking Start > All Programs > ESET > ESET Smart Security or ESET NOD32 Antivirus.
2. Press F5 on your keyboard to open the Advanced Setup window.
3. Navigate to Antivirus and antispyware > Protocol filtering > SSL. Click "Ask about non-visited sites (exclusions can be set)". Click OK.
4. Check for Windows updates
5. An ESET pop-up window will inform you about an attempt to communicate via SSL. Click Exclude.
6. This excludes Windows update from being checked by ESET. Exclusions are kept in Antivirus and antispyware > Protocol filtering > SSL > Certificates > Excluded certificates.
7. Navigate back to Antivirus and Antispyware > Protocol filtering > SSL. Revert SSL filtering mode to your previous setting, i.e. select the option "Always scan SSL protocol".
8. Verify the option "Apply created exceptions based on certificates" is selected. Click Ok to close the Advanced Settings window.

Alternatively you can simply turn off SSL filtering at step 3.

Answer 4

I have the same problem and I cannot get anything from Microsoft and nothing anyone says will work.

Answer 5

Hi ,

i have downlaoded & installed windows 7 utlimate 32- bit on 2 my dell laptops. managed to install windows in both the system, but cnt activate or update windows on one of my systems. getting a error code 0x80072f8f.

tried to find about this errors on microsoft support website, none of the solutions provided helped in getting this issue resolved.

steps that i have already tried.

1. chkd correct local date & time setting in windows as well as in bios
2. added microsoft update websites in trusted sites.
3. downloaded & installed system update readiness tool for windows7 32 bit . log file for system update rediness detects no error.

4.unchecked server certificate revocation & checked use ssl 2.0 option.

5. downloaded current root certificate
6. registered windows.dll

regsvr32 softpub.dll /s

regsvr32 wintrust.dll /s

regsvr32 initpki.dll /s

regsvr32 mssip32.dll /s

7. while trying to synchronize with internet time server

time.microsoft.com

got error " the peer is unresolved & synchronizing couldn't be completed"

8. Removed entries for windows update and microsoft update from host file.

9.removed proxy server entry form winhttp proxy sconfiguration.

can some one pls help me, as i have tried uninstalling & doing a clean install, even it didnt helped. thinking that this issues is coused because of inconsistencies in hdd as i had solaris installed on this system, did a debug & chkdsk on disk, on issues with hdd detected.

pls help vijay.