GetCookie failure, error = 0x80244008

Question

Greetings,

Suddenly I am unable to update Windows XP PRO. This is a copy of my Windows Update log from the point of the first warning:

2010-10-24    21:25:24:024    1776    e34    PT    WARNING: Cached cookie has expired or new PID is available

2010-10-24    21:25:26:707    1776    e34    PT    WARNING: GetCookie failure, error = 0x80244008, soap client error = 8, soap error code = 0, HTTP status code = 200

2010-10-24    21:25:26:707    1776    e34    PT    WARNING: PTError: 0x80244008

2010-10-24    21:25:26:707    1776    e34    PT    WARNING: GetCookie_WithRecovery failed : 0x80244008

2010-10-24    21:25:26:707    1776    e34    PT    WARNING: RefreshCookie failed: 0x80244008

2010-10-24    21:25:26:707    1776    e34    PT    WARNING: RefreshPTState failed: 0x80244008

2010-10-24    21:25:26:707    1776    e34    PT    WARNING: Sync of Updates: 0x80244008

2010-10-24    21:25:26:707    1776    e34    PT    WARNING: SyncServerUpdatesInternal failed: 0x80244008

2010-10-24    21:25:26:707    1776    e34    Agent      * WARNING: Failed to synchronize, error = 0x80244008

2010-10-24    21:25:26:738    1776    e34    Agent      * WARNING: Exit code = 0x80244008

2010-10-24    21:25:26:738    1776    e34    Agent    *********

2010-10-24    21:25:26:738    1776    e34    Agent    **  END  **  Agent: Finding updates [CallerId = MicrosoftUpdate]

2010-10-24    21:25:26:738    1776    e34    Agent    *************

2010-10-24    21:25:26:738    1776    e34    Agent    WARNING: WU client failed Searching for update with error 0x80244008

2010-10-24    21:25:26:778    3728    7f4    COMAPI    >>--  RESUMED  -- COMAPI: Search [ClientId = MicrosoftUpdate]

2010-10-24    21:25:26:778    3728    7f4    COMAPI      - Updates found = 0

2010-10-24    21:25:26:778    3728    7f4    COMAPI      - WARNING: Exit code = 0x00000000, Result code = 0x80244008

2010-10-24    21:25:26:778    3728    7f4    COMAPI    ---------

2010-10-24    21:25:26:778    3728    7f4    COMAPI    --  END  --  COMAPI: Search [ClientId = MicrosoftUpdate]

2010-10-24    21:25:26:848    3728    7f4    COMAPI    -------------

2010-10-24    21:25:26:898    3728    868    COMAPI    WARNING: Operation failed due to earlier error, hr=80244008

2010-10-24    21:25:26:898    3728    868    COMAPI    FATAL: Unable to complete asynchronous search. (hr=80244008)

2010-10-24    21:25:31:745    1776    e34    Report    REPORT EVENT: {BB3F755B-D510-4EBD-815B-A6C4A5A4529D}    2010-10-24 21:25:26:738-0700    1    148    101    {00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}    0    80244008    MicrosoftUpdate    Failure    Software Synchronization    Windows Update Client failed to detect with error 0x80244008.

If someone could help I would greatly appreciate it. I have researched the internet extensively & understand that this is indicative of a different issue involving connection with the update server. I will post the entire log if someone requests it to help.

Thank you,

Rich

Answer 1

OK, apparantly an obscure remedy from your link fixed my error:

Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 To remove the proxy server entry from the WinHTTP proxy configuration for Windows XP and for Windows Server 2003, follow these steps:

1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options .
3. Click the Connections tab, and then click LAN Settings .
4. In the Local Area Network (LAN) Settings dialog box, click to select theAutomatically detect settings check box, and then click OK .
5. Exit Internet Explorer.
6. Click Start , and then click Run .
7. Copy and then paste (or type) the following command in the Run box, and then press ENTER:

cmd 8. Type the following commands. Press ENTER after each command. 1. proxycfg -d 2. net stop wuauserv 3. net start wuauserv 4. exit 9. Go back to the Windows Update or Microsoft Update site and try to download and install the updates again.

Why I suddenly needed to do this to my system is a mystery to me but thanks for the nudge.

Rich

Answer 2

You may encounter temporary connection-related errors when you use Windows Update or Microsoft Update to install updates

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/836941>

Answer 3

Maybe our reply posts crossed in cyberspace. If you look at my last reply, I noted that following one of the advanced troubleshooting procedures  from this link:

 "http://support.microsoft.com/kb/836941"

did indeed fix my problem. I have no idea what changed my proxy configuration that required it to be repaired for Windows update. By the way, I use ESET Antivirus & no 3rd party firewalls (other than a hardware router with NAT). Thanks for asking & offering the help.

Rich

Answer 4

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your subscription current?  What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)?  What third-party firewall (if any)?

Has a(nother) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on the computer?

Did a Norton or McAfee free-trial come preinstalled on the computer when you bought it? (Doesn't matter if you never used or Activated it.)

---

~Robear Dyer (PA Bear) ~ MS MVP (IE, Mail, Security, Windows & Update Services) since 2002 ~ Disclaimer: MS MVPs neither represent nor work for Microsoft

Answer 5

Thank you for responding with the link. Yeah, I found that page during my internet search & none of the gesticulations fixed the issue. The consensus is that when you get this error code, including a line about a cached cookie expiring & being unable to acquire a new one, it is indicative of a connection issue between your computer & the update server. When the entire update log was analyzed by an expert, usually a suspect entry was found before the cookie failure that triggered the error message due to a flaw connecting to the server. I scanned for malware & viruses & cleaned some issues but none involved connection or DNS hijacking.

I'm still hoping someone whould take a stab at my update log to spot the issue causing this error & delineate the steps required to correct it. Or, direct me to a site on the internet that routinely performs this good samatritan service.

Thank you.

Rich