Solved Checking for updates fails with 80072efe for "other products"

[jruhill]

Checking for updates fails with 80072efe for "other products"

If I receive updates "For Windows and other products from Microsoft Update", then
checking for updates fails with error code 80072efe. If I receive updates "For Windows only" then it works. I installed Microsoft Security Essentials which enabled the former and caused updating to fail. What's up and how to fix?

 

[NoelDP]

It's likely that this problem is caused by residuals from your previous security software - what was it?
Do you have any other security software currently installed?

You can happily reset the updates preference to 'Windows only' in the meantime- it won't affect MSE.

 

[jruhill]

I did not have any previous security software. I reinstalled Windows, applied all updates coming from windowsupdate and then installed MSE.

edit: and I don't have any other security software installed.

 

[NoelDP]

Odd -
This error is usually caused by a failure to connect properly to the server - it's a 'Connection Aborted' error, and usually implies that there is a firewall problem, or a simple bad internet connection (I get it fairly frequently, as I use a 3G connection).

I suggest opening an Elevated Command Prompt window, and running the following command
NETSH WINSOCK RESET
- wait for it to complete, and reboot on request.

 

[jruhill]

Thanks for the suggestion. I ended up just reinstalling (again), though. This time updating works as it should, so problem solved.

 

[NoelDP]

One way to fix it

Good luck!

 

[mtu]

Enable Win Internet Explorer. Yes, turning it off or disabling the 'windows component' causes grief!
Microsoft Update