Updated on 06.25.07: I have added some more detailed steps based on feedback I received. See end of post for further details.
I’m playing around with Windows Vista on a test box that I have. So far, it’s looking like a fairly nice upgrade to XP. It doesn’t feel like a complete overhaul (which, from my understanding, it somewhat is since many items have been reworked from the ground up). I’ve gone through the various cycles and now have found myself at RC2 (running the Windows Ultimate version).
I have installed this using VMware as well, testing integration with an Active Directory domain. For the most part, joining the domain and hooking in Office 2007 beta worked fine (including and extremely easy integration of Outlook into my corp account). However, a few months ago, after attaching to an Active Directory domain that had a server that managed Critical Updates from a centralized point, I lost the ability to do Windows Updates. It turns out that the server that managed Critical Updates needed to be patched to allow Vista to connect. After reading the documentation, I found that the upgrade process was a bit sketchy, so I took a different route and just detatched from the Active Directory domain. Then I was able to run updates without any problems.
But I’m getting a bit sidetracked. My latest install on my test box was with RC2. After installing, I found that I could not connect to Windows Updates. I was getting an Update Error of 80245003. After digging around, I found a very helpful thread that resolve my issue immediately. It looks like I had some corruption in the update directory (or something similar). The stepts to resolve were very easy:
- Disable the Windows Update Service (Settings > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services). Just stop the service.
- Navigate to: C:/Windows/ (or whereever you Windows system is)
- Find the folder named: “SoftwareDistribution”
- Rename that folder to something like “SoftwareDistribution.old”
- Create a new folder called “SoftwareDistribution”
- Go back to your Services panel and start the Windows Update service
- Rerun Windows Update
After doing those steps (which took all of 1-2 minutes), I was back up and running with WindowsUpdates.
Updated: More detailed steps are listed below.
Below are some slightly modified steps (based on ones provided by HTD reader, CSUjr -thanks-) which supposedly work for Vista Ultimate:
- Start > Control Panel > System and Maintenance, then (under Windows Update) > Turn automatic updating from “on” to “off”, then click “never check for updates”
- Close Control Panel
- REBOOT
- Goto My Computer
- Click on C: (or your Primary Drive)
- Open the “Windows” folder
- Rename the Folder called “SoftwareDistribution” to “SoftwareDistributionOLD”
- Create a new folder named “SoftwareDistribution”
- Close all windows and any running programs.
- REBOOT
- Go back to Step 1. (and back to > Turn automatic updating on or off), then turn the Automatic Updates back “On”.
- Close all windows and any running programs.
- REBOOT
- Then click on Start and type in “Windows Automatic Updates” in the search box
- Click on the “Windows Automatic Updates” icon
- Run Windows Automatic Updates.
Did you find this solution helpful? If so: [paypal-donation reference=”80245003 Error”]
Original credits to this thread where I found the answer. Good luck!
76 comments
hightechdad
Be sure that you are logged in as an Administrator. If that doesn't work, try rebooting in safemode and then logging in as an Administrator that way.
ross
I have the same problem, i can not change the name of this file in vista home. it is a read only file and I can not remover that attribute. when i unckeck it and clear the box. it will not let me keep it,in that attribute. it goes right back to read only. what i can do is copy all the files over in to another folder. but can not delete the log file.:( still thinking :(
hightechdad
Be sure that you are logged in as an Administrator. If that doesn't work, try rebooting in safemode and then logging in as an Administrator that way.
ross
I have the same problem, i can not change the name of this file in vista home. it is a read only file and I can not remover that attribute. when i unckeck it and clear the box. it will not let me keep it,in that attribute. it goes right back to read only. what i can do is copy all the files over in to another folder. but can not delete the log file.:( still thinking :(
Leon
Wow, you are God, thnks!!!
Pedro R
I love you for this!!!!
Thanks so much! ^_^
JPM LVM
Okay for me a few minor changes, Turn off Win Update, then Win Defender, Reboot.. Change the SoftwareDistribution to .old then a new Folder softwareDistribution, reboot, then after turn ON Win update and Win defender, turn off the WIN FIREWALL and you will hae your updates, once you established it you can set the fire wall to except these sites!! Good luck and many thanks!!
JPM LVM
Okay for me a few minor changes, Turn off Win Update, then Win Defender, Reboot.. Change the SoftwareDistribution to .old then a new Folder softwareDistribution, reboot, then after turn ON Win update and Win defender, turn off the WIN FIREWALL and you will hae your updates, once you established it you can set the fire wall to except these sites!! Good luck and many thanks!!
Filipa
Hey Men…i had the same problem the first time i tried … when i did this :
Disable the Windows Update Service (Settings > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services). Just stop the service – I stoped but it still had another folder with windows update service … So make sure u read everything till the bottom in the administrative tools , and stop everything of w.update.
After that u are able to rename the folder …
Filipa
Hey Men…i had the same problem the first time i tried … when i did this :Disable the Windows Update Service (Settings > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services). Just stop the service – I stoped but it still had another folder with windows update service … So make sure u read everything till the bottom in the administrative tools , and stop everything of w.update.After that u are able to rename the folder …
Filipa
Thanks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Worked great !
Filipa
Thanks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Worked great !
Men
Thank you i ve tried it and it works.
But i wonder if i can delete the OLD file?
Thank you bro, and please write to me [email protected]
Men
Thank you i ve tried it and it works.But i wonder if i can delete the OLD file?Thank you bro, and please write to me [email protected]
Will
dtvone have you installed your network drivers for you lan/wireless at least????
Will
dtvone have you installed your network drivers for you lan/wireless at least????
Will
Worked fine here disable updates restart rename softwaredistribution after restart and the reenable auto updates now both auto and manual updating works… thought i was going to have to reformat again…….
ty for the help
Will
Worked fine here disable updates restart rename softwaredistribution after restart and the reenable auto updates now both auto and manual updating works… thought i was going to have to reformat again…….ty for the help
dtvone
I follow this and all seems ok, then I run update and the fault reoccurs.
Have been doing a clean install, then runing vista update, so no other software on the computer, so it can be a Vista problem
dtvone
I follow this and all seems ok, then I run update and the fault reoccurs.Have been doing a clean install, then runing vista update, so no other software on the computer, so it can be a Vista problem
Andy
your first one worked on vista ultimate for me thanks
Andy
your first one worked on vista ultimate for me thanks
kev
very helpful. solved my problem thank!!
kev
very helpful. solved my problem thank!!
hightechdad
You probably are not logged in as the Administrator of that computer. Do you have access to log in as the Administrator? If not, you will need to get the appropriate person to do that.
Let me know how it goes.
-HTD
hightechdad
You probably are not logged in as the Administrator of that computer. Do you have access to log in as the Administrator? If not, you will need to get the appropriate person to do that.Let me know how it goes.-HTD
Rachel
Windows won't let me change the name of the file. Says I don't have persmission
Rachel
Windows won't let me change the name of the file. Says I don't have persmission
Christopher
Thanks, I used this to resolve my issue with error 80245003 while trying to run windows update.
Christopher
Thanks, I used this to resolve my issue with error 80245003 while trying to run windows update.
colin
ty fixed my computer for me
colin
ty fixed my computer for me
Susan
Thank you so much! Worked Great! You are awesome!
Susan
Thank you so much! Worked Great! You are awesome!
Tinker
Thank you it worked and I just bought my PC 3 days ago. Had 20 updates that were necessary.
Also your site came up first on the search engines all I did was type in the error code.
Thanks again
Tinker
Thank you it worked and I just bought my PC 3 days ago. Had 20 updates that were necessary.
Also your site came up first on the search engines all I did was type in the error code.
Thanks again
Michael
Hi All,
It seems like people may still have questions about this. So I have set up a new support forum for people to post questions and responses about this topic. The forum is rather new and I’m working out the bugs but I hope it helps.
I have set up a specific forum post for this blog article here: http://forum.techdad.net/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=4
Please feel free to post additional questions there.
-HTD
hightechdad
Hi All,
It seems like people may still have questions about this. So I have set up a new support forum for people to post questions and responses about this topic. The forum is rather new and I’m working out the bugs but I hope it helps.
I have set up a specific forum post for this blog article here: http://forum.techdad.net/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=4
Please feel free to post additional questions there.
-HTD
Bob
This one is driving me buggy. I reverted to a restore point also and lost the Vista update capability. Software Distribution folder is read only and I can’t change this permission restriction. Also can’t rename the file. All this is attempted while logged in as System Administrator. Does anyone have a fix that will work for this situation?
Thanks for any help.
Bob
This one is driving me buggy. I reverted to a restore point also and lost the Vista update capability. Software Distribution folder is read only and I can’t change this permission restriction. Also can’t rename the file. All this is attempted while logged in as System Administrator. Does anyone have a fix that will work for this situation?
Thanks for any help.
Beth
Tried the fix and it worked like magic! Thanks.
Beth
Tried the fix and it worked like magic! Thanks.
Derek
I;m using home premium and have been having that problem with Windows Update ever since I reverted to a restore point. I’m logged in as an administrator, its the only one to log on too. And it says I don’t have permission to renamed the software distribution folder.
[email protected]
Derek
I;m using home premium and have been having that problem with Windows Update ever since I reverted to a restore point. I’m logged in as an administrator, its the only one to log on too. And it says I don’t have permission to renamed the software distribution folder.
[email protected]
Phobos
I have vista home premium just fixing earlier problem bout updates but howabout gf8600gt on asus ati/amd matx mobo… cant find even the card and yaps bout some damn pci – pci conflict.. helllppp
Phobos
I have vista home premium just fixing earlier problem bout updates but howabout gf8600gt on asus ati/amd matx mobo… cant find even the card and yaps bout some damn pci – pci conflict.. helllppp
Michael
Adam,
That is a great question…but not something that I can answer, unfortunately. Perhaps the folder became corrupted due to permissions or something. Windows is a tricky beast!
-HTD
hightechdad
Adam,
That is a great question…but not something that I can answer, unfortunately. Perhaps the folder became corrupted due to permissions or something. Windows is a tricky beast!
-HTD
Adam
I don’t understand though….any idea what would cause this error?
Adam
I don’t understand though….any idea what would cause this error?