This is a W2k Server, SP4
This is a manual wuau configuration.
I am NOT using thw new SUS servers.
I am NOT using group policies.
I AM going directly to the Microsoft WU site
(windowsupdate.microsoft.com)


Performing these steps:
1. stop wuauserv
2. delete DetectionStartTime and LastWaitTimeout
3. rename/delete "C:\WINNT\Windows Update.log"
4. start wuauserv

produces these results
1. DetectionStartTime and LastWaitTimeout re-appear with the 'current'
date/time stamps as expected.
3. "C:\WINNT\Windows Update.log" never ever never ever never
re-appears.

Its like the service is running, but is not trying to do anything.

If I go to the WU site manually, "C:\WINNT\Windows Update.log" gets
created and filled with self explanatory entries.

But the Automatic Updates never ever never seem to actually do
anything and never updates/creates the log file.

I have been reading for 6 hours now. I have seen lots of folks
describe this problem, but I have not seen anyone supply the solution.

Many Thanks,
Robert

Hi Robert,

The Windows Update configuration is separate from the Automatic Update
client configuration. Please try the following and verify this works OK
for you.

1. Open Control Panel-Windows Update. Select the checkbox "Keep my
computer up to date". This will enable Windows Update to automatically
connect to windowsupdate.com and scan your machine to determine if updates
are available. This scanning is done in the background while you are
connected to the Internet.

2. Select one of the three radio buttons to specify how the installation
will be handled. You can select to be notified before downloading any
update, downloading the updates and then notifying you they are ready or
download and install automatically.

3. When Windows Update connects to windowsupdate.com, an entry will be
written into the Windowsupdate.log file indicating the detection was
completed. It will also let you know this was accomplished at
windowsupdate.com.

If you specified an automatic installation of the updates, that will occur
at the time you specified in the settings dialog for Windows Update. The
detection cycle and the installation time do not necessarily occur
together.

In most cases, this configuration should be sufficient to keep your machine
up to date with critical updates and security updates.

The automatic update client does operate as a service on the machine.
Normally, the automatic update client is used with a SUS Server
configuration. Group Policy configurations are used to specify the SUS
Server and specify the schedule of operation.

Thanks.

Gary Whitley

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

I have this same problem.

Can anyone tell us why the "Auto" feature just doesn't work if your behind a
firewall or ISA Server?

Do we really have to install SUS? I would really rather not install another
thing I have to maintain. I thought that was the point of going to the
Microsoft site directly?
--
CHRISTINA FLEMING


"Robert G. Shurtleff III" <robert@jassent.com> wrote in message
news:1004e89.0401141722.5d0bc577@posting.google.co m...

Christina,

It is not necessary to install a SUS Server in order to maintain a single
machine.

Communication with windowsupdate.com will occur over tcp port 80. So, if
you can open a browser on your machine and you can connect with
windowsupdate.com, you should be able to keep your machine updated.

A good way to monitor the detection cycle is to open the windowsupdate.log
file located in the Windows directory. Each time a detection cycle occurs,
an entry will be made in the file indicating the cycle occurred and the
Internet site.

Thanks.

Gary

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

Gary, thanks for the response!

I understand the differences you described. It just did not show in
in the original email.

I have the W2kServer box configured exactly as you have described with
auto-install selected.

I have let this box run uninterupted since 1/14.

I just re-examined the log file.
There are ABSOLUTELY NO entries at all!
I would think that there would be some, "I woke up and checked for
updates and there were none" messages at least.

However, There should have been some updates!
Connecting manually I can see these critical updates that are
applicable to this box:

Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer 5.5 SP2 (KB824145)
Security Update for Microsoft Data Access Components (KB832483)
Security Update for Microsoft Windows (KB819696)


We are starting to wonder if MBSA or IIS lockdown or other similar
securty tool has had us do something that is preventing this from
working.???

Any more ideas?

If you would like to make this your personal challenge, I can set up a
WebEx for you to get on the box and look around.

Thanks,
Robert


garyw@online.microsoft.com (Gary Whitley [MSFT]) wrote in message news:<oH$g7NH3DHA.2996@cpmsftngxa07.phx.gbl>...

I have the very same annoying problem. Nothing on the
M.S. site solved the problem. Did u find a solution. If
so PLEASE let me know at cleverdick@webmail.co.za Thanks

Robert,

Please check a service on your machine for me. We want to make sure the
Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) is running on your machine.
It may be set to a manual start which is OK, but I want to make sure that
service can start without error.

Please let me know.

Thanks.

Gary
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.