Cannot communicate with Windows Update server no matter what I try

jmss · 04 Oct 2019

Hi,

I got my laptop reinstalled and right afterwards I made some uninstallations, e.g. all Windows Features and most of the programs, including programs from the Windows Store and Microsoft Visual C++ redistributables, etc.

After that I was no longer able to check for updates (I don't remember if, when I received the computer I tried updating, I think I did not). At first, the updates would download but after reaching 100% they would go to 0% and start again. Now it can't even connect:

"We ran into a problem while connecting to the Windows Update service. We'll try to connect again later, or you can select Retry now."

I've tried sfc /scannnow (in safe mode), dsi.exe, removing catroot2, windows updates dirs, troubleshooter.

I've tried all solutions I could find in the Internet.

I installed all MS visual c++ redistr. for all years 2005, 2008, ...... 2019. reinstalled most windows features.

Cannot reinstall .NET features, I get an error.

This should be a simple identifiable error, what's wrong with this?

Caledon Ken · 04 Oct 2019

I would perform the clean installation again, disconnected from the internet. Once installed, connect to Internet and check for updates. If working take an image of your machine, so you can restore, and slowly remove what you need to uninstall constantly checking for updates. Periodically take new Images.

Note order you uninstalled so you can recreate. Once updates stop working you will know which features or programs are needed.

jmss · 04 Oct 2019

The difficulty is that for each step of that experiment I need to go to IT and wait 2 h before the machine is reinstalled.

Not to mention that if I do this more than 2x they'll say no :)

Caledon Ken · 04 Oct 2019

I don't understand.

It sounds like IT manages machine yet they let you disable basic functions??

Anyway this is why we image. You take an Image so you can restore.

jmss · 04 Oct 2019

The problem is not with IT or me. The problem is with the OS. I bet not even the people that work in MS know how to solve this. There are thousands of threads on the Internet, where we clearly see that the MS employee does not have a clue of what's wrong with the OS. This could never happen in GNU/Linux where the system is well designed from scratch. In Windows, there are so many layers of obscurity that no one knows what's wrong. And the generalized solution for Windows supporters seems to be: reboot, reinstall, repeat. There are probably very few occasions where a Linux supporter will tell you to reboot, not even mention reinstalling the OS.

I've removed the components that I have removed this time before and had no problems. At least most of them. It makes no sense.

Caledon Ken · 04 Oct 2019

Agree with you. Layers upon layers and you are right, a change will be made in one area and it will break something in another area. No argument there.

My request to re-install and then systematically remove and test was to identify cause.

No doubt you could initiate a call for updates and then take a memory dump to analyze.

You could just try some network resets. I would try these.

Run the following five bolded commands. Use a Command Prompt(admin) or Powershell(admin)

Do not key in info in brackets, there for your information.

ipconfig /flushdns (Clear the dns cache)
nbtstat -RR (release and refresh NetBIOS names)
netsh int ip reset (reset ip settings)
netsh winsock reset (Reset Winsock Catalog)
netsh interface ip delete arpcache (reset Address Resolution Protocol cache)

jmss · 07 Oct 2019

Thank you very much.

I executed all command and then restarted, but no change.

Is there a way to debug this i.e. know exactly why it can't communicate to the server?

FreeBooter · 07 Oct 2019

Reset Windows Update in Windows 10

Caledon Ken · 07 Oct 2019

I do not know how hence the re-install and systematic removal.

jmss · 07 Oct 2019

I ran it but without success. I had to run in safe mode, otherwise I couldn't stop the crypto services (Traps didn't allow them to be stopped).

Now the PC is asking for Cisco VPN to be installed (it was one of the programs I uninstalled, but we don't use a VPN here), but I don't have the installation files.

The output from the .bat was:

The Background Intelligent Transfer Service service is not started.

More help is available by typing NET HELPMSG 3521.

Checking the bits service status.
STATE : 1 STOPPED
The wuauserv service is not started.

More help is available by typing NET HELPMSG 3521.

Checking the wuauserv service status.
STATE : 1 STOPPED
The Application Identity service is not started.

More help is available by typing NET HELPMSG 3521.

Checking the appidsvc service status.
STATE : 1 STOPPED
The Cryptographic Services service is stopping..
The Cryptographic Services service was stopped successfully.

Checking the cryptsvc service status.
STATE : 1 STOPPED

Windows IP Configuration

Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.
The system cannot find the path specified.
Could Not Find C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Network\Downloader\qmgr*.dat
Deleted file - C:\windows\Logs\WindowsUpdate\WindowsUpdate.20191004.171909.136.16.etl
Deleted file - C:\windows\Logs\WindowsUpdate\WindowsUpdate.20191007.122246.932.1.etl
Deleted file - C:\windows\Logs\WindowsUpdate\WindowsUpdate.20191007.122409.764.1.etl
Deleted file - C:\windows\Logs\WindowsUpdate\WindowsUpdate.20191007.122409.764.10.etl
Deleted file - C:\windows\Logs\WindowsUpdate\WindowsUpdate.20191007.122409.764.11.etl
Deleted file - C:\windows\Logs\WindowsUpdate\WindowsUpdate.20191007.122409.764.12.etl
Deleted file - C:\windows\Logs\WindowsUpdate\WindowsUpdate.20191007.122409.764.13.etl
Deleted file - C:\windows\Logs\WindowsUpdate\WindowsUpdate.20191007.122409.764.2.etl
Deleted file - C:\windows\Logs\WindowsUpdate\WindowsUpdate.20191007.122409.764.3.etl
Deleted file - C:\windows\Logs\WindowsUpdate\WindowsUpdate.20191007.122409.764.4.etl
Deleted file - C:\windows\Logs\WindowsUpdate\WindowsUpdate.20191007.122409.764.5.etl
Deleted file - C:\windows\Logs\WindowsUpdate\WindowsUpdate.20191007.122409.764.6.etl
Deleted file - C:\windows\Logs\WindowsUpdate\WindowsUpdate.20191007.122409.764.7.etl
Deleted file - C:\windows\Logs\WindowsUpdate\WindowsUpdate.20191007.122409.764.8.etl
Deleted file - C:\windows\Logs\WindowsUpdate\WindowsUpdate.20191007.122409.764.9.etl
Deleted file - C:\windows\Logs\WindowsUpdate\WindowsUpdate.20191007.134426.812.1.etl
Deleted file - C:\windows\Logs\WindowsUpdate\WindowsUpdate.20191007.134451.562.1.etl
Deleted file - C:\windows\Logs\WindowsUpdate\WindowsUpdate.20191007.134615.979.1.etl
ERROR: The system was unable to find the specified registry key or value.
ERROR: The system was unable to find the specified registry key or value.
ERROR: The system was unable to find the specified registry key or value.
ERROR: The system was unable to find the specified registry key or value.
Updating policy...

Computer Policy Update Failed.
User Policy Update Failed.

To diagnose the failure, review the event log or run GPRESULT /H GPReport.html from the command line to access information about Group Policy results.
[SC] SetServiceObjectSecurity SUCCESS
[SC] SetServiceObjectSecurity SUCCESS

Sucessfully reset the Winsock Catalog.
You must restart the computer in order to complete the reset.

Sucessfully reset the Winsock Catalog.
You must restart the computer in order to complete the reset.

[SC] ChangeServiceConfig SUCCESS
[SC] ChangeServiceConfig SUCCESS
[SC] OpenService FAILED 5:

Access is denied.

System error 1084 has occurred.

This service cannot be started in Safe Mode

System error 1084 has occurred.

This service cannot be started in Safe Mode

System error 1084 has occurred.

This service cannot be started in Safe Mode

The requested service has already been started.

More help is available by typing NET HELPMSG 2182.

- - - Updated - - -

IT is telling me they are changing SCCM. May be it?