As an system administrator, I know how difficult it can be to solve Windows Update errors. This is particularly the case with Windows Update, because Windows Update always returns generic errors. KB-articles will likely not help you, because these articles are written with theoretical knowledge, and are barely based on real-world scenarios.
I’ve been struggling with the 80072ee2 error for quite some hours and fixed it at the end by creating a rule in ISA 2006 that allowed all traffic to the Windows Update site. Therefore, I would like to sum up all the possible solutions, so you can (try to) fix the problem in a time-efficient way 🙂
Problem: When you try to update a Windows 7 or Windows 2008 computer, you get the Windows Update error 80072ee2
Solution: The possible solutions are written below. After every solution, check whether Windows Updates is working again or not.
Solution 1:
If you use a proxy server, first make sure you have the correct settings in your Internet Explorer on the client. Make sure you can reach any URL without being prompted for a username or password. If this is the case, try to create a rule in the firewall that allows all traffic to Windows Update without using the proxy. Then remove the proxy settings from Internet Explorer on the client and try again to receive Windows Updates. If Windows Update now discovers the updates, install them. Don’t forget to revert all changes you made. Windows Update should now work flawlessly with your proxy server. (In my case, this was the solution. Shoot me… :/ )
Solution 2:
If you have spyware on your computer, or if you HAD, your Internet Explorer may be set to use a proxy server. With a single command, you can set this back to the original IE settings. Type CMD in your Search bar of your Start Menu, and ENTER the command:
netsh winhttp import proxy source=ie
Solution 3:
In some rare cases, the MTU setting of your computer are set incorrectly (I had this problem when I tried to log on to MSN Live Messenger).
To adjust the MTU setting of your router, type REGEDIT in your Search bar of your Start Menu. Then navigate to the following key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\
Interfaces\[Adapter ID]]
Create a new DWORD value, or modify the existing value, called “MTU” and set it to a decimal value like 1492. Try Windows Update. If it did not help, change the MTU to 1500 and try again.
Solution 4:
Try to register some dll files, that may have become unregistered, somehow. To do this, Type CMD in your Search bar of your Start Menu, and ENTER the following commands:
regsvr32 oleaut32.dll
regsvr32 jscript.dll
regsvr32 vbscript.dll
regsvr32 msxml.dll
regsvr32 softpub.dll
regsvr32 wintrust.dll
regsvr32 initpki.dll
regsvr32 cryptdlg.dll
Every command should return a popup, that the registration completed successfully.
If you have more possible solutions for the Windows Update error 80072ee2, please post a comment. Also, when this article helped you, please leave a comment, so that I know for who I’m keeping this blog up 🙂
If you use a wireless connection and have a wired NIC (not connected), disable the wired NIC and try again.
what if the problem stil exists after doing all these?
and in my case in solution 4 two of those commands do not succeed and i get an error…
can u pls tell me why? and wat are the possible solutions to that?
Depending on your setup you may also have to open up port 8530. I know when going from say a ISA box internally to a WSUS server this port needs to be open.
Just quickly–
Make sure that in your router ActiveX monitoring/ firewalling/ blocking/ filtering is off (usually under ‘Security’ or similar, which is found in your router’s administration page).
Regards,
Kristof
kristof_wing@hotmail.com
Hello. im having problem with same error code but its on msn.if im to explain my problem,my pc finds and downloads updates tough i cannot go any of microsoft’s site.i can login my mail on hotmail but i cant open my msn.
Solution 3: i dont even have a file thats called MTU
Solution 4: initpki.dll and msxml.dll failed to be registered.
i really dont know what to do..
never mind
wont let me sign in on my phone under any screen name. tey it on regular messenger and this pops up?
Thanks a lot! needed a MTU value at 1500, then it worked perfekt! =D
Thanks.I needed a MTU DWORD at 1500 decimal.
Win7 Home 64-bit would not load msxml.dll or initpki.dll for me when I tried method 4 – I’ve gone through all four now, and still no updating. Thanks, though.
Had the 8007EE2 error which was in conjunction with the “Windows Update Managed by System Administrator” ….Turns out it was a group policy entry that I think McAfee did before I removed the bloatware from my new Dell Adamo.
Found that issue and had to resolve through registry since Win 7 Premium doesn’t have Group Policy Editor built in (Thx MS!)
Go here http://support.microsoft.com/kb/328010 and then drill to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU
Cleared up a bogus UseWUServer entry and now problem resolved. FINALLY!
Hope that may help the next guy.
You are my hero! This did the trick for me!
Worked for me on a new Dell E4310.
Thanks for the post.
This was the winner for me. I too had the bogus UseWUServer entry. Deleted it from registry, rebooted, and it connected immediately. Thank you!
This worked for me also…deleted the UseWUServer entry and problem solved! Thanks!
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!! Been searching for this for two months…finally!
i had to create a new DWORD value, 1492 worked for me. only place i could find help on this topic.
thanks so much.
worked for my Dell too! Awesome, thank you!
THANKS!!! Solution 2 worked like a champ. I did not have any viruses that I know of. I use the DOD Symantec Endpoint for anitvirus, Win 7, Dell XPS.
Pat yourself on the back!
solution 2 worked for me! you’re great! KEEP IT UP. 2 thumbs up for you!
Bloody brilliant. Windows Update fixed via the registry editing, bloody IT dept!
Please try this:
1. Stop Windows Update service. Open an Command Promt and type: net stop wuauserv
2. Delete all temporary windows update distribution files and folders. Don’t worry! Everything will be fresh recreated after point 3. Open Windows Explorer, go to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistributon and delete all file and folders
3. Start Windows Update service. Open an Command Prompt and type: net start wuauserv
4. Try to Update your computer
Thanks, this solution worked for me!
Thank you a lot.
Your solution is working for me
I had this problem too and it turned out to be the WindowsUpdate registry key. I compared the registry of the problem machine to one that did not have a problem and found that on the problem machine I had: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate This key had 3 entries, but on the working machine the key did not even exist. Two of the entries WUServer and WUStatusServer had the value of http://172.23.49.241 which is not a routable Internet IP address, so obviously bogus. I deleted the WindowsUpdate key, stopped and then started the wuauserv service and it is now working. Thanks to all… Read more »
Thanks man, this worked great!
Thanks, worked for me.
It Works for me! Tks guys.
Been fighting no-working updates since I got a new Dell V130 (Win 7 Pro 64 bit) in March, but this site lead me the solution:
Go here http://support.microsoft.com/kb/328010 and then drill to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU
Deleted “UseWUServer” entry and now everything is back to where XP worked for years… 🙂
THANK YOU!!!!
For my solution when in the domain and coming up with the error 80072EE2, I ran all patches on the 2008 R2 server including installing SP1 and Microsoft .NET Framework 4 for Windows Server 2008 R2 x64-based Systems (KB982671) NOT using our WSUS server After doing manual updates after the .NET 4 install I ran the update using our WSUS server updates and the error was cleared. My next set of servers I built them using windows server 2008 R2 with SP1 this build has .NET 4 also and I did not see the 80072EE2 issue when using WSUS. Hope… Read more »
Thanks for this solution!!!
Same with me. I am always getting the error code 80072EE2 when checking for windows update. I don’t have the MTUSolution file and initpki.dll and msxml.dll failed to be registered too. I have been trying to work this out for days and am getting really annoyed.
Solution 5 – delete the host file (in C:\Windows\System32\dirvers\etc) and either recreate it or copy a host file from a working server.
Thanks! This problem has been bugging me for 6 months and deleting that key solved the problems.
Hey all!
i faced the same problem but soved by addnig the proxy address and port to my Server’s internet explorer.
Thaks for this articel,
solution three solved my problem.
Now I can procced my software installation 🙂
regsvr32 initpki.dll regsvr32 msxml.dll NOT INSTALLED WAT DO I DO THANKS SILL GETIN A UPDATE REEOR 80072EE2
Thanks for this articel,
solution three solved my problem.
Now I can procced my software installation 🙂
What do you mean by adaptotr ID!?!??!
Thanks!!!!! I was trying several options which took me ~2hrs, and finally I found this page and option1 works! going to slap myself 🙂
The solution for me was to delete my E1000 NIC (on VMware) and put a VMXNET3 NIC instead
I tried the above solutions and none of them seemed to fix my problem. I fixed mine is a different way as follows:
1. Open command prompt to stop services
net stop wuauserv
net stop bits
2. I then went to the following folders and deleted everything inside it.
c:\windows\softwaredistribution\Downloads – delete all files in it
c:\windows\softwaredistribution\DataStore – delete DataStore.edb
c:\windows\softwaredistribution\Datastore\Logs – delete all files in it
c:\windows\softwaredistribution\PostRebootEventCache – delete all files in it
3. Back to command prompt again to restart services
net start wuauserv
net start bits
Reboot server. Fixed my problem.
Thank you for all your help.
Solution 1 worked for me! Thanks!
I have tried all kinds of solutions and nothing has worked but your solution 2 worked – Thanks!
Hello
I have fixed up by using the “System Update Readiness Tool (KB947821)”, you can download it directly from Microsoft, the link I have used is
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/949104
I have this problem in a Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, but this tool is available for the whole Windows Versions.
Once you intall it, it is possible it takes a while to do the Windows Update starts to work fine, so be patient…
Cheers!
Hello
I have fixed up by using the “System Update Readiness Tool (KB947821)”, you can download it directly from Microsoft, the link I have used is
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/949104
I have this problem in a Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, but this tool is available for the whole Windows Versions.
Once you intall it, it is possible it takes a while to do the Windows Update starts to work fine, so be patient…
Cheers!
Solution 3 Helped me ! Thanks!!