Solved Windows Updates; Windows Activation Error Code 80072EFD

I just completely reformatted my computer after a suspected malware attack.
The first thing I tried after reformatting and doing a clean install of Windows 7 Professional 64 bit edition was to run windows update. I received the error code 80072EFD. This is before I installed any software, firewalls, or antivirus programs. I also get this same error when trying to activate windows or office, or when trying to set up Microsoft media center.

I do have internet connection. Both firefox and internet explorer work perfectly fine.

I have been in contact with microsoft, but nothing has worked so far. I thought I would see if anyone here had any ideas.

Here are the troubleshooting steps I have already done. Please read through these before posting as you can see I have already tried a lot of things!
1. Waiting 15 minutes and trying again
2. Restarting the computer
3. Adding windows update websites to the internet explorer exceptions list: http://*.update.microsoft.com https://*.update.microsoft.com http://download.windowsupdate.com Microsoft Support http://update.microsoft.com https://update.microsoft.com
4. Verifying internet connectivity (internet works fine)
5. Tried it with Windows firewall on and off. No other firewalls are installed.
6. I tried this before any anti-virus was installed. I have since installed AVG free and tried again both with it running and disabled
7. No software accelerator programs are installed
8. windows update is not using a proxy server. Tried resetting anyway. "Direct Access "
9. Update firmware on router
10. Pluging in directly to modem
11. Have windstream reset my internet connection
12. Update BIOS to most recent version
13. Clean Boot
14. Download and use MicrosoftFixit50202 - ran in aggressive mode; Ran System Update Readiness Tool for Windows 7 x64

I'm attaching the windows update log and sur below as well as some screenshots of the windows update.

(PS - I know there are other forums with this issue, but I have read many of them and none of them seem to list any information I haven't already tried.)

Please, any ideas would be appreciated!

Please post an MGADiag log (while I try and digest the current logs)

To properly analyse and solve problems with Activation and Validation, we need to see a full copy of the report produced by the MGADiag tool (download and save to desktop - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012 )
Once saved, run the tool.
Click on the Continue button, which will produce the report.
To copy the report to your response, click on the Copy button in the tool (ignore any error messages at this point), and then paste (using either r-click/Paste, or Ctrl+V ) into your response.
- **in your own thread**, please
Please also state the Version and Edition of Windows quoted on your COA sticker (if you have one) on the case of your machine, but do NOT quote the Key on the sticker!
How to Tell - Home

The system is failing to connect and pull down the initial XML file required for connection to the proper WU servers.
What happens if you try and pull it down manually?
http://www.update.microsoft.com/v9/windowsupdate/redir/muv4wuredir.cab
I suspect that this is a problem with a network firewall/NAT translation.
How are you connected to the internet? Through a NAT router, or what?
please post the results of IPCONFIG /ALL from an elevated Command Prompt.
also - try
PING update.microsoft.com
(It will time out, but do you get the proper DNS response?)
"Pinging www.update.microsoft.com.nsatc.net [65.55.184.152] with 32 bytes of data" - or close to it.

Thank you Noel for your suggestions. Before I had a chance to try it though I was able to resolve the issue.

I think I got one of those DNS changing viruses before my computer reformat. When I reset both the router and modem to factory settings, reset up my wireless network, and changed the usernames and passwords for both the modem and router I was able to access the windows update servers.

I can't believe that after everything I tried I missed one of the easiest troubleshooting tasks!

Thank you again for your help!

You're welcome - it probably would have taken me as long to realise the problem as you, in those circumstances!

Good luck.

do any of the major pc vendors use Stickers anymore [that is, Windows 7]
??

I just got a Thinkpad that I suspect has a hacked version of windows 7 on it. it will not allow me to check Activation status, says the service is not available [when I hit the "check activation" link]. pull up properties and the section at the bottom which normally gives the product key and activation status is simply not there.

updates work. I've installed all good updates for it. no barf. Windows Validation Code 0 using the Genuine Advantage Diag Tool

ALL OEM's are required by the terms of their license to affix a COA sticker to every machine that they install with WIndows - they always have been, and always will be.

Please start a NEW thread of your own - and post an MGADiag report.....
To properly analyse and solve problems with Activation and Validation, we need to see a full copy of the report produced by the MGADiag tool (download and save to desktop - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012 )
Once saved, run the tool.
Click on the Continue button, which will produce the report.
To copy the report to your response, click on the Copy button in the tool (ignore any error messages at this point), and then paste (using either r-click/Paste, or Ctrl+V ) into your response.
- **in your own thread**, please
Please also state the Version and Edition of Windows quoted on your COA sticker (if you have one) on the case of your machine, but do NOT quote the Key on the sticker!
How to Tell - Home

OK. My ignorance: its under the battery. now i see what's up: somebody reinstalled win7 and instead of win7 home premium which the coa calls for, its a copy of win7 home basic that may be grayware. will find out

NoelDP said:

ALL OEM's are required by the terms of their license to affix a COA sticker to every machine that they install with WIndows - they always have been, and always will be.

Please start a NEW thread of your own - and post an MGADiag report.....
To properly analyse and solve problems with Activation and Validation, we need to see a full copy of the report produced by the MGADiag tool (download and save to desktop - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012 )
Once saved, run the tool.
Click on the Continue button, which will produce the report.
To copy the report to your response, click on the Copy button in the tool (ignore any error messages at this point), and then paste (using either r-click/Paste, or Ctrl+V ) into your response.
- **in your own thread**, please
Please also state the Version and Edition of Windows quoted on your COA sticker (if you have one) on the case of your machine, but do NOT quote the Key on the sticker!
How to Tell - Home

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