[Stukindaguy]

Okay, I have a feeling ZoneAlarm Extreme Security is to blame but I'm not sure, seeing as it was recently installed. When I open Windows Update it immediately freezes with a blank white screen, you can't close it or resize the window or move the window, the only way to close it is to end explorer.exe. Both the Background Intelligent transfer service and Windows Update services are running, however, it is impossible to stop the Windows Update service once it's running.

Things I've tried so far:

-Shutting down ZAX completely (including the truevector internet monitor) (made no difference)
-Re-registering the Windows Update .dll's (all successful, didn't fix)
-Used the system file scanner (said it found bad files but couldn't repair, i checked the logs and none of the files had to do with WU)
-Clearing out the SoftwareDistribution folder (emptied mostly, file in use errors on a few)
-Tried deleting the WU main dll and reinstall, deletion ended in access denied error
-Downloaded the WU program from microsoft, wouldn't install because it said I already have the most current version
-I do not have system restore active so that's out of the question

I'm really stumped here, what prompted this was a few new downloads available in WU, I click install, and instead of UAC asking for an admin password it just froze, and has been freezing ever since. Any ideas guys? Thanks in advance for the help

Edit: Oh, I guess you should know I'm running Windows Vista 64-bit

[yeshuas]

Do you still have your CPU OC'd, if so try setting it back to default and see if that helps.

[Stukindaguy]

i turned it back down to stock, but to no avail, exact same problem, no better. Still freezes immediately, and the service won't stop. Thanks for the reply though.

[Grav!ty]

If you don't have SP1 installed it may be worth seeing if installing that fixes the problem or try the Beta Release Candidate SP2 if you've got SP1 in already.

[jbullard]

Here are a few things that I saw researching the problem:

- Are there any error messages being reported in Events Manager?
- Does SYSTEM have full control over drive C:?
- Make sure port 80 and 443 are both opened?

[JabbaPapa]

It may be an error in Internet Explorer. I *have* come across this sort of behaviour before in an earlier Windows version, but this was some years ago and I have been unable to remember the circumstances nor if I was able to fix it -- or if I just reinstalled Windows.

Hmmmmm --- you *could* try creating a new User Account with Admin privileges, and then try and run WU from there ?

[Stukindaguy]

Okay guys, I found out what the problem was and am happy to say it's fixed. Also, for the benefit of everyone here, I'll tell you my solution.

I had to start the computer with the Background Intelligent Trasfer service and Windows Update service turned off. Then I changed the security privileges on catroot and catroot2 folders in Windows/System32 and deleted the contents of both of them, then I restarted the computer and BAM, WU works like a charm. I'm kinda happy that it wasn't ZA, I like their new "Extreme Security" suite, and they finally released a 64-bit version...long overdue if you ask me. You can consider this issue closed. Thanks for the replies!

Edit: Oh yeah, and before I restarted, I set the security back to normal and set up the Background Intelligent transfer service and WU service back to normal too.

[yeshuas]

Glad to see you got it resolved and Thank you for posting back with your solution, it will help others in the future.

[street_preacher]

Stukindaguy- I was able to delete the contents of c:\windows\systems32\catroot, but unable to do so for catroot2. Windows says a program was using it. I even went to safe mode to limit start up applications, but still no luck.
I have an HP m9517c using Vista Home 64 bit. I am running Zone Alarm Extreme Security 64 bit, as well as Spybot Search and Destroy. Windows Defender is active.

I still have one text file and a folder in catroot2 that I cannot delete. What do I need to do to delete the file and folder?
street_preacher

[Grav!ty]

Log in as Administrator or boot to safe mode and log in as administrator if the Admininstrator account is not activeFrom the properties of the folder, take ownership and change permissions of the folder and then delete it.

Clear instructions on how to do this are given right at the bottom of our Vista Installation guide for deleting the folder Boot

windows-vista-installation-guide-t88324.html