Windows XP Update Keeps checking for Updates

Question

It worked fine in October, bur November it just goes around in a circle.  It never finds the updates.  There is no error message.  It just keeps checking.  I tried to run fixit but it couldn’t fix it.  What should I do?

Answer 1

That is last months cumulative security update which has been superseded by the later one and there was a similar issue last month.  Each time a new cumulative security update for IE issues each month it is black Tuesday and the issue reappears.

Go to Start>Run>services.msc>OK 

look down the list and highlight BITS

In the left column restart BITS Background Intelligent Transfer Service

You could have an issue needing the windows installer package update if you were seeing the updates before but the install of the updates would not proceed.

Answer 2

I tried http://download.microsoft.com/download/3/E/A/3EA4BE84-A12B-4E1B-8E60-21A36DA85A99/IE8-WindowsXP-KB2888505-x86-ENU.exe

Now Windows update doesn't find any updates at all.  It just spins around in a circle.  When I installed http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=40390  (Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer 8 for Windows XP (KB2879017)), at least I could see the updates, I just couldn't install them.  What to do now?

Answer 3

Try this manual install and reboot.  Then see if windows update is working. 

http://download.microsoft.com/download/3/E/A/3EA4BE84-A12B-4E1B-8E60-21A36DA85A99/IE8-WindowsXP-KB2888505-x86-ENU.exe

Answer 4

I went to

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=40390  (Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer 8 for Windows XP (KB2879017))

and installed that update.  Now it finds the Nov. updates but it can’t install them (error code: 0x80246008).  I’m not too good at computers.  How can I resolve error code: 0x80246008?

Answer 5

See http://www.infoworld.com/t/microsoft-windows/microsoft-fix-windows-xp-update-svchost-redline-issue-soon-230940

Assuming IE8 => In the meantime, try installing KB2888505 manually, reboot & see if the behavior persists: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=41074