I have got a 2 month old Acer laptop and I am having problems with the windows update. When I try to update I get the message:
Files required to use Windows Update are no longer registered or installed on your computer. To continue:

I then get the option ro redownload the missing files. It goes through the motions but does not actually change anything, because next time I get exactly the same message. Can anyone help as I can't update at all!

Thx

what happens when you visit:

http://update.microsoft.com

MSI KT4AV-L
AMD Athlon XP 2800
1Gb Crucial 3200 DDR
160Gb Seagate Barracuda
ATI 256Mb 9600XT
16x DL DF DVD/RW
16x DVD ROM
9-in-1 Flash Media FDD

Have you registered your Windows XP online ??
Bill Gates wants to know all about you, and who owns this Windows XP.

Also some thing to check--
Make sure that BITS and the Automatic Updates service are started. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Click Start, click Run, type services.msc, and then click OK.
2. In the list of services, right-click Automatic Updates, and then click Properties.
3. In the Startup type list, click Automatic, and then click Apply.
4. If Service status is set to Stopped, click Start, and then click OK.
5. Right-click Background Intelligent Transfer Service, and then click Properties.
6. In the Startup type list, click Manual, and then click Apply.
7. If Service status is set to Stopped, click Start, and then click OK.

Also make sure Cryptographic Services and Event Log are set to automatic.

i_XpUser

Gee read the decreeds of Windows XP Services Guru Blackviper:

Manual updates via Windows Update Version 5 web site requires Automatic Updates, Cryptographic Services, Background Intelligent Transfer Service, and Event Log to be running. Place all three, plus Automatic Updates.....

i_XpUser

In Windows HELP, click Index, then type

registration

Below that double click "Registration Wizard"

OK... I tried all these and still not working. It did work up until the 10th august and then just stopped, I think it was about the time I used regseeker.

About that time Microsoft stop providing Updates
(except Critical ones) to XP's that were illegal
copies.

OR
Maybe your problem is related to this article-

Windows Update Is Not Installed
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811269

Maybe you have Some software installed in your Computer microsoft do not like
& it give you a bunch of Excuses
Ps:also if you are using Some type of anonymous proggies Sometimes windows update will not work
Finally :My advice to you if you can get
"Autopatcher" it will Suite you very Well if you do not like to Start all over with Windows XP
Bon Courage..

now I am really confused... I have reloaded using the supplied cd's (so not illegal!!!) and the problem is still there!

http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.aspx?dg=microsoft.public.windowsupdate&cat=en_US_56d1dd45-de9e-4fc5-9bc1-2d1d0de6daee&lang=en&cr=US

this is the answer!!! It works
(BTW maybe people should read posts before using the word illegal)

Had exactly the same problem. Fixed it by opening run and typing regsvr32 MSXML3.dll

Go to update and you will be prompted to validate your XP then all will work properly