wuauclt.exe error message

I've been having a problem with my Windows XP operating system.
About every 2-3 hours, my computer slows down drastically and I get an
error message...

'wuauclt.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry
for the inconvenience.'

I have the option to Debug or Close. Choosing Debug doesn't help at
all. Choosing Close will bring the message up another 3-4 times over
the next couple of minutes...then it will go away...until a few hours
later when the process happens again.

Also, when trying to get updates directly from Microsoft, I get an error
message stating that the update failed. After doing some research, I've
found that the wuauclt.exe problem is related to Windows Update.

Any ideas how to fix the issue?

"DoubleB414" wrote in message
...
I've been having a problem with my Windows XP operating system.
About every 2-3 hours, my computer slows down drastically and I get an
error message...

'wuauclt.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry
for the inconvenience.'

I have the option to Debug or Close. Choosing Debug doesn't help at
all. Choosing Close will bring the message up another 3-4 times over
the next couple of minutes...then it will go away...until a few hours
later when the process happens again.

Also, when trying to get updates directly from Microsoft, I get an error
message stating that the update failed. After doing some research, I've
found that the wuauclt.exe problem is related to Windows Update.

Any ideas how to fix the issue?


Possibly. A little more information from you would be helpful.

First, right-click My Computer, click Properties. On the General tab, what
is your full Windows XP Edition, Version and Service Pack Level?

A1__

Click the Automatic Updates tab.
Is "Automatic (recommended)" selected? or Notify...?

A2__

Click the Advanced tab next. Under Startup and Recovery, click Settings.
UN-check "Automatically restart", if it is checked, and click OK.
(Close the System Properties dialog box.)

Does the problem happen only while connected to the internet?

A3__

What is your Internet Explorer version? (Whether you use it or not.)

A4__

What anti-virus and other anti-malware do you use? (Versions?)

A5__

Something to read:
Click Start, click Help and Support, in the Search box, enter:
automatic updates
and press Enter.

In the Suggested Topics section, look for:
Automatic updates: Frequently Asked Questions
Click that.

Here is something about Automatic Updates most people are not aware of:
- - -
You can view the progress of downloads by hovering over the Windows Update
icon which will appear in the notification area. Remember that updates are
downloaded behind the scenes so you are not interrupted. You can view more
details about the installation progress by clicking the Windows Update icon
while updates are being installed.
- - -

Since you will need to disconnect from the internet and close all programs
to follow some of the following instructions, TRIPLE-CLICK this message to
select all the text of this message only, right-click and click Copy. Open
NotePad and right-click Paste there. Click File, click SaveAs, click Desktop
on the left, name the file "This1st.txt", and click Save. NotePad is an
exception to the Close All Programs before doing something rule, (except
when you are closing them to shutdown.

If a message after an installation says Windows needs to be restarted,
choose no, or later, and close all open programs 1st, before restarting.

If not already, log onto your computer as an administrator, and:

Part 1 of 3
Obtain the latest version of the Windows Update Agent:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949104
(Last I checked: Release Date: Thursday, September 24, 2009)

Scroll down to the More Information section, right-click the appropriate
download for your computer configuration, (x86 unless your computer is
64-bit,) and SaveTargetAs. (FileSize ~6.5MB) In the Save dialog on the left,
click My Computer, then double click your (C drive. Click Save. Finish
reading that web page, especially the File Information "Notes" on that page.
Before installing, disconnect from the internet, close all programs, and
open "This1st.txt" if not already open, and:

Click Start, click Run,
If your computer is x86, copy and paste next line into Run box:
%SystemDrive%\windowsupdateagent30-x86.exe /WUFORCE

--Note: If your computer is x64, use this Run box line instead:
%SystemDrive%\windowsupdateagent30-x64.exe /WUFORCE

--Note: If your computer is Itanium, use this Run box line instead:
%SystemDrive%\windowsupdateagent30-ia64.exe /WUFORCE

After pasting, click OK. (If asked, select "Run".)
Click Next, Select "I agree", click Next.
When it is done, click Finish.
Important: Restart your computer.


Part 2 of 3 - Next, obtain these instructions:

How do I reset Windows Update components?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058

While viewing that page, click File, click SaveAs, click Desktop on the
left, in the Save as Type box, click Text File, name the file "This2nd.txt"
and click Save. If you choose to download the Fix-it, save it to your
desktop. Disconnect from the internet, and close all open programs (except
your 2 text files opened in NotePad.) Follow "This2nd.txt" instructions.

After the reset-- Restart your computer Twice.


Part 3 of 3
Go to Windows Update and choose Custom. Select only 1 of the updates
offered, and uncheck all others. Follow instructions there. After the
installation completes, restart your computer twice. If OK so far, go back
to Windows update and get any more critical updates. It is best to install
no more than about 5 at a time and Restart Twice. (If all OK so far, you
can put the checkmark back in "Automatically Restart", if you like.)

Note: Do not choose an Internet Explorer or Service Pack upgrade yet.

There are some other things that may need to be done also.
Please answer above questions, and report your results back here.

Windows Update website:
http://update.microsoft.com/windowsu...6/default.aspx
Note: The server is Very slow sometimes.

(Be patient, be Very patient.
--Richard