Unable to turn on automatic updates for Windows XP

Question

Can anyone please tell me how I can get the windows automatic updates in the security centre to 'on'? I have tried troubleshooting suggestions from windows with no luck. Only response is error message 1058 ' The service cannot be started, either because it is disabled or because it has no enabled devices associated with it' I honestly don't know what else to try or what has caused this to happen.

byker49 · Answer

Click on   Start Control Panel Automatic Updates Check the Automatic (recommended)

sparky786 · Answer

I have done this already but when you then go in to control panel, security centre auto updates continues to show as 'off'

tomron · Answer

Maybe this link will help,theres another step you can try which is click on the 'log on tab'   Tom       http://support.microsoft.com/kb/241584

jmwills · Answer

What third party security software is running?

jmwills · Answer

The only widely known issues that have been reported have been with some AMD chipsets and Sigmatel Audio drivers, both of which Dell uses.

I would tell you to check the Mcafee site for any updates they may have for that program.

nicedaveus · Answer

Sorry to duplicat my post but I'm experiencing the same issue. Whenever I try to go to Windows Update I get the following error:

Error number: 0x8DDD0018

The solution that was listed in another thread about reregistering windows update service will only fix it temporarily. I've been through every workaround I can find on the internet, but it seems the basic problem is the Windows update service keeps getting marked for deletion (why?? what is causing this??). If I go under services, it lists windows update as disabled. If I try to change it to 'automatic', I get an error saying the service is marked for deletion. I've even gone into regedit and deleted the deleteflag and am able to start the service. However, again whenever I restart, it gets marked for deletion again. What is causing Windows Update to be marked for deletion?

I updated to Service Pack 3 (Windows XP Pro) and hadn't noticed any issues from that. Are there any known issues with that? I also have the latest McAfee Security Center installed which came with this brand new Dell computer (XPS 630i), but it had been working fine with windows update. Any known issues with that? Do I need to reinstall everything??

I'm pretty much at a dead end and have no idea where to go from here. Does anyone have any ideas about a possible solution?

Thanks in advance!

Dave

sparky786 · Answer

I have tried this method already, but as soon as you click on automatic the error code '1058' appears or it goes back to 'disabled'. On my task bar there is a red shield icon with a white cross that alerts me that my updates are positioned 'off' so I click the balloon to rectify the problem but doesn't do anything but asks me to do it manually.

sparky786 · Answer

I am unsure what you mean by third party software (novice!) but I know that I don't have AMD or Sigmatel but I can e-mail you a diagnostic report if it would be of any use?

jmwills · Answer

Go to Control Panel>Administrative Tools>Services and scroll down the list to Automatic Updates. Right Click and go to Properties and make sure it is set to Autuomatic.

sparky786 · Answer

I have tried this already, as soon as I exit admin tools>services>automatic>apply it goes back to 'disabled'

jmwills · Answer

If all this is happening, there must be some sort of malware blocking the service.

Windows General

Unable to turn on automatic updates for Windows XP

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