Windows Update website redirecting newly built Windows XP SP3 computers to KB article page (KB2497281)

We built and captured a sysprepped image of a computer that we had installed Windows XP on using the Windows XP SP3 media and have been using it for months without issue. Suddenly, some time this morning, on all computers we build using this image, the Windows Update website (http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com) redirects to the KB article page for KB2497281

Reinstalling SP3 fixes it.

What is causing this problem? How can I run Windows Updates without having to reinstall SP3?

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Chck

Posted 2011-08-03T17:38:55.020

Reputation: 271

I know this seems silly, but are you super extra totally certain that you have SP3 on those computers? If you run winver from the run dialog, it says Windows XP SP3? – nhinkle – 2011-08-03T17:57:14.553

@nhinkle - see my answer. I saw this problem last week on a new image of XP SP3. – None – 2011-08-03T17:59:21.030

I confirmed by right-clicking My Computer and clicking Properties. To be 100% sure, I just used your method (winvir) and it also confirms SP3 is installed. – Chck – 2011-08-03T17:59:54.877

Chck thanks for double checking. I figured you were probably right, but it never hurts to look. @RandolphWest thanks for the info, hopefully that'll solve the problem. – nhinkle – 2011-08-03T18:01:01.257

Having thee same issue here also... trying to find a resolution to the problem. I have reinstalled SP3 and IE8, nothing gives. – None – 2011-08-03T18:32:17.237

I was able to resolve this by downloading and installing the latest version of the Windows Update Agent here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949104. I have a < 100 reputation, so I can't self-answer for 8 hours after posting the question. I will self-answer later.

– Chck – 2011-08-03T18:45:55.057

Sounds like your reinstall of the WU agent is kinda similar to what Klemen was getting at below, except without the download and install part. – music2myear – 2011-08-03T19:17:28.070

Answers

This solution worked for me:

Open Command Prompt: Start -> Run... -> cmd -> OK
Stop Automatic Updates Service: net stop wuauserv
Register wups2.dll: regsvr32 %windir%\system32\wups2.dll
Start Automatic Updates Service: net start wuauserv

Source: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949104

Klemen Košir

Posted 2011-08-03T17:38:55.020

Reputation: 451

I tried to install Windows Update Agent at first, but I wasn't able. – Klemen Košir – 2011-08-03T20:15:37.240

I managed to get past this problem twice by setting Automatic Updates to Notify Only, waiting a few minutes, then running Windows Update normally.

On edit: Machines were fresh SP3 installations and manual SP3 & IE8 install failed to fix the issue.

yowza

Posted 2011-08-03T17:38:55.020

Reputation: 51

Built three more machines today. The Notify Only method bypassed the problem on all. The wups2.dll did not exist in the system32 directory, so the regsvr32 method would not work. Additional info: these are all XPHome with Automatic Updates disabled during the install. – yowza – 2011-08-04T18:56:22.843

Three more today, all XP Pro. All exhibited the problem. Windows Update Agent worked, tho took longer than enabling Notify Only. The wups2.dll file did not exist in the System32 directory. – yowza – 2011-08-05T21:57:02.170

When I had this problem last week on a new build, I installed IE8 and the problem went away.

user3463

Posted 2011-08-03T17:38:55.020

Reputation:

I just installed IE8, and this did not resolve the issue. Thanks for the suggestion, though. – Chck – 2011-08-03T18:20:47.823