General and specific solutions for problems regarding AU/WU/MU in Windows XP

[UCyborg]

4 hours ago, AstroSkipper said:

7-Zip ZS sounds interesting but if not compatible with Windows XP

It probably is if you compile it on your own with an old compiler, but haven't tried to confirm.

[AstroSkipper]

17 hours ago, AstroSkipper said:

RL comes first. When I have a bit more time, I will update my post, of course. 

My post "4.2. My essential tools for solving problems in Windows XP — Part 2 — File extractors and packers" 

containg an article about 7-Zip has been updated now. Thanks again to @UCyborg for the hint! 

Edited July 2, 2023 by AstroSkipper

[AstroSkipper]

Solution for the error code 0x80244004 while accessing the WU/MU website using ProxHTTPSProxy or HTTPSProxy

If getting error code 0x80244004 while accessing the WU/MU website using ProxHTTPSProxy or HTTPSProxy, one should check or perform step 11 of  my complete guide for restoring IE's access to WU/MU website using ProxHTTPSProxy or HTTPSProxy in Windows XP. It has to be verified the existence of the patched file wuaueng.dll in the corresponding folders I mentioned in my guide. Be aware of SFC which tries to restore an original, old version of this file! After patching, restart your computer and check again! Now, the WU/MU website should finally work if there are of course no other errors.

Cheers, AstroSkipper 

Edited August 23, 2023 by AstroSkipper
Update of content

[AstroSkipper]

@WSC4! That's not going to work. 

5 hours ago, WSC4 said:

I am running Windows XP 64-bit, and I have studied your post that you posted over a year ago.  I have downloaded the file and installed it and the WU Patch and have done everything that you said to do.  This is what I get when running Windows Update:

Are these setting correct?  Any help on this please?

Why are you trying to access the url http://update.microsoft.com/?  This is not the correct link and will only end in an error page. Did you read the whole documentation? Here is a link: 

Under point 18, you will find the links you need to call up: http://fe2.update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=e or http://fe2.update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en&g_sconsumersite=1
But I recommend to read the whole documentation first to avoid further problems. Using this method to access MU/WU means that all components have to be configured 100% correctly. And please note that I have written my instructions mainly for Windows XP 32-bit! This means that a few steps can be skipped under Windows XP 64-bit. But you will realise this if you read everything carefully.

Cheers, AstroSkipper 

Edited November 6, 2023 by AstroSkipper
Update of content

[AstroSkipper]

On 6/27/2022 at 4:23 AM, AstroSkipper said:

UniExtract2:

Universal Extractor 2 is a tool to extract files from any type of archive or installer. After the release of UniExtract2 2.0.0 RC 3 in 2020, a new nightly build has been uploaded this month, UniExtract2 2.0.0 RC 4 Nightly (01.06.2022). Below are the download links of both versions: 

Link to UniExtract2 2.0.0 RC 3: https://github.com/Bioruebe/UniExtract2/releases/download/v2.0.0-rc.3/UniExtractRC3.zip
Link to UniExtract2 2.0.0 RC 4 Nightly (01.06.2022): https://update.bioruebe.com/uniextract/files/nightly.zip

My post "4.2. My essential tools for solving problems in Windows XP — Part 2 — File extractors and packers" contains an article about the file extractor UniExtract2 which has been updated on 15.10.2023. Therefore, I updated my post.

Cheers, AstroSkipper 

[AstroSkipper]

1 hour ago, Great_Life said:

Hello everyone and happy new year! Now I have transfer my Windows XP VM to Hyper-V, but MU and U don't work. I have intalled all the necessary updates and replaced waueng.dll. After I reinstalled all the programs on the client and server, it didin't work either. It returns me 0x80072F78. What should I do? (Firewall method have been tested)

If my tip An experimental solution for the error code 0x80072F78 while accessing the WU/MU website doesn't work for you, here some further ideas:

• Check the Windows Update log.
• Check the date and time of your computer and Windows XP.
• Check if Windows XP is activated.
• Try a more recent ProxHTTPSProxy version.
• Check if the proxy is installed correctly and is working properly.
• Update all certificates.

Edited February 4, 2024 by AstroSkipper

[Great_Life]

1 hour ago, AstroSkipper said:

If my tip An experimental solution for the error code 0x80072F78 while accessing the WU/MU website doesn't work for you, here some further ideas:

• Check the Windows Update log.
• Check the date and time of your computer and Windows XP.
• Check if Windows XP is activated.
• Try a more recent ProxHTTPSProxy version.
• Check if the proxy is installed correctly and is working properly.
• Update all certificates.

My copy of Windows XP is activited and the time is correct. Differnet proxies show me the same result. All the information shows that "The remote host forced an existing connection to close".

[AstroSkipper]

56 minutes ago, Great_Life said:

My copy of Windows XP is activited and the time is correct. Differnet proxies show me the same result. All the information shows that "The remote host forced an existing connection to close".

Did you also check if ProxHTTPSProxy is working on other websites, for example, accessing the website https://www.howsmyssl.com/ in the Internet Explorer, as it should?  Please, post one screenshot of this website including the programme window of ProxHTTPSProxy!

Edited February 4, 2024 by AstroSkipper

[Great_Life]

16 hours ago, AstroSkipper said:

Did you also check if ProxHTTPSProxy is working on other websites, for example, accessing the website https://www.howsmyssl.com/ in the Internet Explorer, as it should?  Please, post one screenshot of this website including the programme window of ProxHTTPSProxy!

I have tested two versions of the Proxy, but none of them can success. I have used v1.5 on my client to test your website, and it can access howsmyssl. When I use v1.3a, it returns me SSL: CERTIFICATE_VERIFY_FAILED. Interesting.

Edited February 5, 2024 by Great_Life

[AstroSkipper]

10 hours ago, Great_Life said:

I have tested two versions of the Proxy, but none of them can success. I have used v1.5 on my client to test your website, and it can access howsmyssl. When I use v1.3a, it returns me SSL: CERTIFICATE_VERIFY_FAILED. Interesting.

As you surely noticed, you have to use a more recent version v1.5 of ProxHTTPSProxy when using IE8 for connecting with MU/WU. The error code 0x80072F78 is described as "ERROR_HTTP_INVALID_SERVER_RESPONSE = The server response could not be parsed." You should check everthing related to your internet connection. Did you already read my Complete guide for restoring IE's access to WU/MU website using ProxHTTPSProxy or HTTPSProxy in Windows XP?  I think you missed something.

Edited February 5, 2024 by AstroSkipper

[Great_Life]

20 hours ago, AstroSkipper said:

As you surely noticed, you have to use a more recent version v1.5 of ProxHTTPSProxy when using IE8 for connecting with MU/WU. The error code 0x80072F78 is described as "ERROR_HTTP_INVALID_SERVER_RESPONSE = The server response could not be parsed." You should check everthing related to your internet connection. Did you already read my Complete guide for restoring IE's access to WU/MU website using ProxHTTPSProxy or HTTPSProxy in Windows XP?  I think you missed something.

Yes, I have seen it many time from one year ago due to my home lab. I have configured it for many times, every time it will cause a new problem. I have tried diffierent methods but any of them will return the same code. Anyway, I caputred my network traffic using wireshark hope it can be useful! Thank you in advance.Network Traffic.pcapng

[AstroSkipper]

1 hour ago, Great_Life said:

Yes, I have seen it many time from one year ago due to my home lab. I have configured it for many times, every time it will cause a new problem. I have tried diffierent methods but any of them will return the same code.

If all steps in my guide are performed thoroughly, it should work in any case.  My guide was tested successfully by different users. You mentioned that you are using VM and Hyper-V in a network with a server and clients. I assume that rather could be the cause of the problem. I use Windows XP installed on real hardware. The method "Restoring WU/MU by using the patch + proxy method" worked like a charm there. So, you unfortunately have to check all your network and internet settings. BTW, I couldn't open your attached file on my Android tablet. I will try it later at my desktop computer where Wireshark is installed. A pcapng file is a special file format used by Wireshark. But one thing is clear. If my guide and other methods don't work in your system, then your system itself is the causer of all problems.  
My advice to you: Try first one of the methods on a standalone (no client or server) computer without VM or other virtualisation techniques! If it is working then, you rather will get an idea what's the cause of errors.  The more complex a system, the more difficult to find the cause of a problem. 

Edited February 6, 2024 by AstroSkipper
Update of content

[AstroSkipper]

On 11/15/2022 at 6:33 PM, AstroSkipper said:

Legacy Update - An alternative to Microsoft or Windows Update

Legacy Update is a community-run resource to help you fix the Windows Update service on earlier versions of Windows. More information and instructions can be found on the homepage of Legacy Update.
Here is the link: https://legacyupdate.net/
And this is the download link of the program which is needed to be installed: https://content.legacyupdate.net/legacyupdate/LegacyUpdate-1.6.2.exe
Changelogs & older versions on GitHub: https://github.com/kirb/LegacyUpdate/releases 
Some screenshots of this service:



I didn't try this service, no need for me at the moment, but as far as I read in different comments, it works properly with Windows XP and other OSs. Thanks to @maile3241 for the hint!

Cheers, AstroSkipper

The programme LegacyUpdate has been updated and is now available in version 1.9.
Changelog from GitHub:

Quote

Important

If nothing happens when you open Legacy Update setup on Windows XP, follow these steps to work around a Windows bug.

Legacy Update can now update itself when you use it. If you already have Legacy Update installed, just visit the website in Internet Explorer to update to 1.9!

Adds support for installing Service Pack 3 of the original 2001 edition of Windows XP Embedded. (Contributed by @renodr - thanks!)

Adds support for installing Update Rollup 4 of Windows Home Server 2011. (Contributed by @renodr and @stdin82 - thanks!)

Fixes Legacy Update setup crashing when it attempts to enable Microsoft Update on Windows 7.

Fixes Certificate Trust List being unnecessarily redownloaded after Legacy Update restarts the computer.

General internal cleanup of the Legacy Update setup code.

Very important is the hint for Windows XP users on their homepage:

Quote

Windows XP users: You may need to follow the workaround here to run Legacy Update.

I'll also update my original post as soon as possible.

Cheers, AstroSkipper

[AstroSkipper]

12 hours ago, AstroSkipper said:

The programme LegacyUpdate has been updated and is now available in version 1.9.
Changelog from GitHub:

Very important is the hint for Windows XP users on their homepage:

I'll also update my original post as soon as possible.

Cheers, AstroSkipper

I've just updated my original post.

Cheers, AstroSkipper 

[AstroSkipper]

On 9/28/2022 at 1:42 PM, AstroSkipper said:

Resource Hacker:

Resource Hacker is a resource editor for 32bit and 64bit Windows® applications. It's both a resource compiler (for *.rc files), and a decompiler - enabling viewing and editing of resources in executables (*.exe; *.dll; *.scr; etc) and compiled resource libraries (*.res, *.mui). While Resource Hacker™ is primarily a GUI application, it also provides many options for compiling and decompiling resources from the command-line. I think Resource Hacker is one of the best in this category. The latest version is Resource Hacker 5.1.8 (360) and compatible with Windows XP. Unfortunately, the installer (exe file) doesn't work anymore in Windows XP, but the portable version (zip file) does.

Download links: 
Exe file: http://www.angusj.com/resourcehacker/reshacker_setup.exe 
Zip file: http://www.angusj.com/resourcehacker/resource_hacker.zip 

Resource Hacker is unfortunately no longer compatible with Windows XP.  Resource Hacker 5.1.7 is the last XP-compatible installer release. Resource Hacker 5.1.8 is the last XP-compatible portable release. As this thread targets Windows XP only, the original links in my initial post point to the most recent versions which no longer work under Windows XP. Therefore, I'll edit my post to get the correct versions again via archived links from the Wayback Machine.

Cheers, AstroSkipper

Edited July 27, 2024 by AstroSkipper
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