Windows 7: Persistent 80027EFE Error

I've recently got a new custom built PC and then installed Windows 7 Home Premium x64 and activated it. After installing all the drivers proper, I realized that windows could not update giving the 80027EFE error code. I proceeded to google the problem and tried various solutions such as the TDSSKiller, disabling third party firewalls that I had such as comodo and Avast. I did a virus scan and malware scan with Avast, Malwarebytes and Spybot and my system was clean. I also went as far as to disable all firewalls and I still got the same error. I did system troubleshoot and let it repair and reset the Windows Update App, I also ran the Mr Fix it or what's it called at "agressive mode" and the problem still persisted. I went to the windows update site to coax it into a running an update but to no avail as well. For one thing I am sure the problem is not with the router or modem because my laptop with Win 7 Home Premium x64 can update normally for months and still downloads the latest update to date. I was thinking that my hard drives could have been compromised so I reformatted my boot drive and did a fresh install. The problem persisted even with a 100% new install. The thing is, Windows live one care can update and drivers can be retrieved from internet when I update them through device manager. It's just that the actual application Windows update did not work. So I reformatted again and it still gave the same problem. Finally I decided to be 100% sure I went out to buy a new hard disk and did a clean install from scratch. To my dismay the problem was still there. I'm 100% sure it's not a virus or malware, my version of Windows is authentic and I used the original disc. It's been 3 weeks since I got my PC and till today everything works fine even my steam downloads are fine but this problem still persist. I'm almost giving up, someone help me!

antares Q,
It appears that you have more than one problem there.
Lets investigate.It may take a bit of time.

*Did your computer have an Anti Virus pre installed?
If so which one?
How was it removed?

* Firewalls. I note you list both Comodo & Avast.
It is NOT good practise to use 2 software Firewalls at a time.

Technically two is ok only when used this way > the router is a hardware firewall, and Windows firewall {or Avast etc} is the second.

My recommendation would be to use the inbuilt Windows Firewall. See below why.
FYI -
The firewall architecture was changed with Windows 7. It is much more than just a firewall. See What's New in Windows Firewall with Advanced Security for a discussion.

The upshot is that if a third party firewall is Windows 7 compatible during installation it can turn off parts of the Windows firewall that the third party product covers. So, YOU should not just disable the Windows firewall otherwise you may be disabling other important security features.

* Re Spybot. Have you Tea timer enabled?
I would recommend you remove Spybot.
Spywareblaster is preferable.

I concur with my esteemed colleague JMH. Her advice is sound and comprehensive. You problem may in fact be the conflict of the two malware applications having a different approach to filtering your various ports.

I feel the easiest and fastest way to get working would be another clean install but this time install Microsoft Security Essentials and use the windows 7 firewall. This will eliminate a lot of variables that you would have to try in the current install.

http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

Let us know if you need further assistance with this

Ken

Hi thanks for the replies JMH and zigzag3143. That could be possible. But the thing is, on my 3rd and 4th installation of windows 7 I did not install anything on top of Windows 7 and tried to update. It still did not work. As for the first time I tried, Comodo automatically disables the WIndows Firewall and is compatible with windows 7 while avast is just an antivirus. For Spybot, I don't like the teatimer feature so I don't install it either. I also tried updating with a new install on my 5th attempt with windows defender running and the default firewall running and it still did not update properly. I was just wondering, could a hardware problem lead to this?

Anyway an update, it's becoming more strange. I gave up and actually tried setting the updates to automatically install yesterday after posting and leaving it be. I realized later today that the updates actually started to automatically install when I shut down but the Windows Update still gives the 80027EFE error code. I'm really stumped, it's good that I'm getting my updates now, but Windows Update doesn't show them, so I can't pick and choose. Now it's just a matter of my Windows Update working properly to show them, it justs doesn't sit easy with me that it is updating but the Windows Update isn't working as it should.

The correct return code is 0x80072EFE, ERROR_INTERNET_CONNECTION_ABORTED
Please initiate another attempt at updating then attach the WindowsUpdate.log or copy&paste the last 50 to 70 lines of the log -

How to view the Windowsupdate.log file

Or, you could peruse it yourself, starting at the bottom as that's where the most recent entries are written to. What you are looking for are entries that contain FATAL.

BTW, I'm slightly confused as you state that

1) WU is downloading the updates but not installing them. 80072EFE is usually a temporary return code that indicates the system's connection to the update servers has been aborted thus, nothing or partial downloads result.

2) You mention Windows Live OneCare, which has been discontinued. Did you install a saved copy of it ?

3) Suggest you check to see if a proxy was set up by Comodo.
From : You may encounter temporary connection-related errors when you use Windows Update or Microsoft Update to install updates
I've also seen some Win 7 installations that have had this issue because of Group Policy being set in the registry. Said settings would be under this key

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows

If you expand Windows there would be a WindowsUpdate, WSUS or some other subkey with a name that contains update or SUS under it. A client system that self updates from the update servers has no WindowsUpdate subkey as update settings are set in

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate