Is the Windows Update site down?

Avoriaz

I am in the middle of reinstalling Windows XP on my laptop from a five year old Dell CD so it is XP SP1.

I did this about 6 weeks ago with no problems. Unfortunately my Windows got corrupted so I have had to do it all again from scratch.

I’ve done all the basics and everything is fine but I want to upgrade to SP 2 or SP3 and get all the other updates.

I have tried to update several times but the site is unavailable.

I didn’t have these problems 6 weeks ago.

This is the site that Windows Update tries to access.

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

This is all I get.

The page cannot be displayed The page you are looking for is currently unavailable. The Web site might be experiencing technical difficulties, or you may need to adjust your browser settings.


Please try the following:
 Click the Refresh button, or try again later.
 If you typed the page address in the Address bar, make sure that it is spelled correctly.
 To check your connection settings, click the Tools menu, and then click Internet Options. On the Connections tab, click Settings. The settings should match those provided by your local area network (LAN) administrator or Internet service provider (ISP).
 If your Network Administrator has enabled it, Microsoft Windows can examine your network and automatically discover network connection settings.
If you would like Windows to try and discover them,
click javascript:doNetDetect()Detect Network Settings
 Some sites require 128-bit connection security. Click the Help menu and then click About Internet Explorer to determine what strength security you have installed.
 If you are trying to reach a secure site, make sure your Security settings can support it. Click the Tools menu, and then click Internet Options. On the Advanced tab, scroll to the Security section and check settings for SSL 2.0, SSL 3.0, TLS 1.0, PCT 1.0.
 Click the javascript:history.back(1)Back button to try another link.

Cannot find server or DNS Error
Internet Explorer

Is that last bit about server or DNS error relevant? I am connected to the Internet and I can access other sites with IE and Firefox.



Is there a way around this.

I can’t install the latest versions of AVG or other software because it won’t install on XP SP1.

posted_2

Try

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=049C9DBE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en

to speed things along

flossy_splodge

I have just tried and the update site is NOT down.
Havre you by any chance accepted an update from AVG in last few hours?
I did this yesterday and got no end of probs with accessing several sites.
Have for now downloaded another antivirus and taken AVG off and all is back to normal.
Hope this helps.

Avoriaz

posted wrote: »

Try

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=049C9DBE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en

to speed things along

Thanks but I can't access that.

I appear to be unable to access any Microsoft site with either IE or Firefox.

Any ideas what I am doing wrong?

I can access every other site I have tried?

Including MSE obviously.

flossy_splodge

What is the answer to the question I asked above?
Did you accept an update from AVG in the last few hours?

fas3robinj

Avoriaz not sure what the problem is but a few things to try:
Make sure you use Microsoft Explorer not Firefox. Microsoft won't allow updates using Firefox. Second ... is there a chance your system has been hijacked? Run Adaware, Spybot, or Malwarebytes to check. A third possibility, check your Host file (c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc). Open it with notepad and have a look for an entry that says something like "127.0.0.1 windowsupdate.microsoft.com" if it's there delete it and resave the host file. Delete any line that referres to windowsupdate.microsoft.com.When saving the Host file should be called just 'host' so if notepad puts a .txt on the end rename it to just host.

posted_2

What have you installed apart from XP, are you using a router? Does the pc you are using work (if different)?

Does this work?

http://207.46.192.254/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=049C9DBE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en

Avoriaz

flossy_splodge wrote: »

I have just tried and the update site is NOT down.
Havre you by any chance accepted an update from AVG in last few hours?
I did this yesterday and got no end of probs with accessing several sites.
Have for now downloaded another antivirus and taken AVG off and all is back to normal.
Hope this helps.

I haven't been able to install AVG yet.

I'm probably getting viruses as I type. :rolleyes:

posted_2

Not if you are using a router.

Avoriaz

posted wrote: »

What have you installed apart from XP, are you using a router? Does the pc you are using work (if different)?

Does this work?

http://207.46.192.254/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=049C9DBE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en

Thanks.

So far I have installed XP SP1 and IE 6.0 from the old Dell CD.

I have also installed Word, Excel, some Dell drivers and TalkTalk broadband plus a modem (not a router) from various CDs. Same as I did in December.

I have installed Firefox 3,0,5 from a download I got today.

I haven’t installed anything else yet.

As far as I can see I am doing exactly what I did six weeks ago. I have done plenty of Windows installations over the years without any difficulty like this.

Maybe I should reformat the disk and start again just in case I have a virus or other nasty.:rolleyes:


I can access that site you linked. It tells me to go to MS update for single installations.

posted_2

The firewall isn't on by default in sp1, so it is likely you may catch a worm pretty quickly, which is why a router is better than a modem (unless it is nat'd lan variety)

If you don't have a router available, reinstall windows, turn firewall on, download and install sp2, then go from there. (or download sp2 on another pc, and install it before connecting the laptop to the net).