As I described earlier, the Windows Update 5 would hang at the Checking for latest software screen...And im not running zonealarm or any firewalls. I took Windows advice, and downloaded this "iuctl.inf" file and installed it. I go to WU, and it tells me i still need new software, so I click install. It goes through "Downloading 100%" on the screen and then to "Registering 100%" and hangs there. Doesn't freeze, but hangs. Before I did this, I remove the Windows Update software from my Dl'd Programs File, if that make a difference. Please Help!!! Thanks.

Dell Dimension 4600i
Windows XP Home SP1
Pentium 4 @ 2.8GHz
512MB Dual Channel RAM
40GB HD

Why can't I download updates?
Another Possible Cause Of Failed Updates
http://www.noc.utoronto.ca/~mikep/winxx/winupdate.html
http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2003/2003-05-05.htm
http://www.jsiinc.com/SUBN/tip6700/rh6701.htm
Lift All Update Restrictions by downloading and running this regfile. For Permission issues read this article.

To get the updates to re-appear and/or to be listed as available again. Go to Start/Run/CMD and type in ( or copy & paste ):
del /q "%SystemRoot%\System32\Catroot2\Edb.log. Then try again.

Updates - Won't Install
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_u.htm
Go to Start/Run and type in: regsvr32 wintrust.dll. If that doesn't help: Go to Start/Run and type in CMD. At the command prompt, type ( or copy & paste ) the following commands, pressing ENTER after each line:

net stop cryptsvc
ren %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 oldcatroot2
net start cryptsvc

Or run this script, then try the install again.

Correct the Cryptographic Service Error Message
Another issue: When you use the Windows Update scan feature, the scan quickly reaches 100%, and then displays the "There are no updates available at this time" message. To correct this:

Verify that your computer's date and time are accurate and that the Internet Explorer language option is not empty.

To check the language setting in Internet Explorer:

1. Click "Tools" and then choose "Internet Options"
2. Click the "Languages" button
3. Make sure at least one language is listed in the "Language Options" dialog.

If the above hasn't helped: Go to Internet Explorer/Tools/Internet Options/Connections/Lan Settings and uncheck: Automatically detect settings.

===========================================

Troubleshooting Windows Update Issues:
http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/troubleshoot/
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_u.htm#update
Problems Accessing Windows Update
http://www.infinisource.com/techfiles/winup-errors.html
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=193701
Alternate direct link to Windows Update
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/R824/v31site/default.htm

==========================================

Updates fail to install on XP
http://www.windows-help.net/WindowsXP/troub-08.html
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;817753
Catroot2 folder on your system may be corrupt . Follow the steps mentioned below to rename the Catroot2 folder .

1. Close all open programs, including McAfee or other Anti-virus program.

2. Rename the C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 folder to C:\Windows\System32\CR2OLD by rightclicking on catroot2 and choosing rename. (If you have upgraded to Windows XP from Windows 2000, the CATROOT2 folder should be located in C:\Winnt\System32 folder).

Now try installing the updates.

Or repair Update .
http://www.tweaktown.com/document.php?dType=guide&dId=434&dPage=11

hi Matt, if you get this to work please post here what you did. I am having the exact same problem and it's driving me nuts. I have submitted it to microsoft and obviously had no response. i can't seem to find any help on the windows site or anywhere else online. cheers, and good luck..
-dan

Same Problem....No luck!

Let me know if someone figures this out.

I can't discribe the problem better then Matt has above in his original post.

MY STUFF:
Compaq Presario 6000 (Pent. 4)
XP Home Edition -- Same problem in SP1 & SP2

ran SFC /scannow ... nothing found wrong.
tried all sugestions (i.e., removed catroot2, manually installed Windows Update software and got the "Downloading 100%, Registering 100%...", found Windows Script 5.6 for XP and installed it...nada)

Like I said above, I installed SP2 thinking it would rectify this problem, but doesn't.

SP2 Thing (I don't know if this is related but):
SP2 includes an application called Security Advisor. This application groups the status of: Windows Firewall, Windows Updates, and Virus Scanner into one easy dialog.
after installing SP2 the Windows Update section of the security advisor was not able to detect that automatic updates was running (even though the service is enabled and running.)

That's all I got. Oh and I removed SP2....since it didn't help it was confusing the issue.

I had the same problem on four of our company computers. After talking with Microsoft, we found a solution. I had to complete all of Step 1 before it would work.

Here's the instructions as provided by Microsoft:

Based on the case log, I understand that we have installed Service Pack 2 on the computer. However, when we check for updates on the Windows Update website, it hangs and does not work.

At this point, I suggest that we perform the following steps to narrow down the cause of the issue.

Step 1: Re-register the Windows Update client
=====
1. Quit all programs that are running.

2. Click Start, and then click Run.

3. Type "regsvr32 jscript.dll" (without the quotation marks), and then click OK.

4. When you receive the "DllRegisterServer in urlmon.dll succeeded" message, click OK.

If this does not resolve the problem, repeat inputting the following commands and click OK after each command.

regsvr32 wuapi.dll
regsvr32 wuaueng.dll
regsvr32 wuaueng.dll
regsvr32 wuauserv.dll (May have the error " DllRegisterServer entry point was not found". It is normal.)
regsvr32 wucltui.dll
regsvr32 wups.dll
regsvr32 wuweb.dll
regsvr32 iuengine.dll (May have the error " DllRegisterServer entry point was not found". It is normal.)

Please test if the issue has been resolved. If not, let's go step 2.

Step 2: Check the ActiveX settings for Windows Update website =====
1. Open Internet Explorer (IE), go to Tools > Internet Options > Security tab.

2. Press the Custom level button.

3. In the "Script ActiveX controls marked safe for scripting" section, please click to choose Enable.

4. Click OK.