Windows Media Player Will Not Install

I have a Dell Dimension L with Windows 98 Operating System.  I uninstalled my Media Player 9.  I downloaded the Media Player 9 setup from MS website.  When I try to install the Media Player I get the following Message:  Windows Media Configuration Manager "Setup is currently unable to detect available updates.  Please try again later."  Every time I try to install the player, I get the same message.  It is not an error message so it has no error code.  Does anybody know what is causing this problem and how do I correct it so I can download the player.  Rebooting the computer does nothing.  Thanks.  Steveslaw