Firewall blocking all windows and MSE updates

[mizbear]

Hi,
We're using Windows 7 with Windows Firewall and MSE.
The firewall isn't allowing either Windows or MSE to automatically update.
In order for the updates to take place, we have to disable the firewall off, complete the update and then re-enable the firewall :shock:...not really a good scenario.
We've configured the firewall to allow both MSE and Update launcher, but it still won't automatically update.
Anyone got any ideas?

 

[torrentg]

That had to be some settings applied to the firewall by a user. By default, it allows WU well.

Try resetting the firewall back to default.

 

[logicearth]

Do you have "Outbound" set to block?

 

[torrentg]

Do you have "Outbound" set to block?

Or also, Host Process for Windows Services (svchost.exe) needs outbound to work.

 

[mizbear]

That had to be some settings applied to the firewall by a user. By default, it allows WU well.

Try resetting the firewall back to default.

Nope, not guilty. This was a clean install of Windows 7 on a brand new computer and it was the default settings blocking updates and MSE.

 

[torrentg]

Default doesn't do that. Then it was the router or another issue. WU connects fine on all upgrades and clean installs with default settings out of the box.

 

[mizbear]

Do you have "Outbound" set to block?

no.

 

[mizbear]

Default doesn't do that. Then it was the router or another issue. WU connects fine on all upgrades and clean installs with default settings out of the box.

Ok.
Am just about to restore default settings and then attempt to update MSE and Windows.
Will see what happens

 

[kronckew]

if that doesn't work, have a look in the event logs for the firewall, there may be some informative entries there.

 

[mizbear]

Hi again,
We restored the firewall default settings, after checking and double-checking that there was no third-party software on the system using the Microsoft Cleanup utility thingy...incidentally, I was unable to download it until I disabled the firewall, and then it downloaded fine. Once the firewall was reset to default settings. I attempted to update MSE...it timed out with a failed connection. I attempted to run Windows Update, with the same result.
I disabled the firewall and was able to update both programmes.
The computer is only three weeks old; it came with a Norton Trial version, but we wiped the hard drive completely and created two, brand new partitions before installing Windows 7. I can find no trace of anything that was loaded onto the computer prior to the wipe.
I don't believe it is a router problem as we have another computer which allows us to update Windows, download programmes etc with no issues at all.
We were directed to two separated sites (by Microsoft support after logging an issue) to download msicuu2.exe to clean up the system and then conduct a manual update from this site: How to obtain the latest version of the Windows Update Agent to help manage updates on a computer
This computer blocked access to both these sites and I was unable to download the first program, or get access to the second program unless the firewall was disabled. Both sites worked on our other computer, hence my comment that it doesn't seem to be a router problem.
Any ideas??

 

[torrentg]

Two ideas that come to mind are

1) Are we dealing with the official DVD here from Microsoft? Or a torrent download? etc...? What is the source install medium and where is it from?

2) It could be something in your environment which thus forces the need for the default firewall to be closed but I still can't think of anything. All that is needed for Windows Update to be successful is for Host Process for Windows Services (svchosts.exe) to have permission to access the internet. Nothing else is required. Not even I.E. any longer, on Windows 7.

The Windows Firewall allows that at default so the problem is very strange indeed, unless unofficial install media was used. (For example, modified version of Win 7.)

If you are using a custom automated configuration script in I.E. settings for lan settings as many corporate environments do, that may be causing the issue.

 

[mizbear]

Further to the last post:
I have run the Norton Removal tool just in case (three times actually). I rebooted and then attempted to update both MSE and Windows. It failed again, this time with error code 0x802440c.
I switched off the firewall and both programs immediately updated with no fuss.
There's no 3rd party software anywhere on the system, as far as we know we're not running a proxy server.
I have tried altering the LAN settings to automatically detect settings as suggested by an MS help page for that error code, but it didn't make any difference.
Turning the firewall on and off seems a clunky way of updating, but we're out of ideas.

 

[torrentg]

This page may help sort the issue. It's for XP but the suggestions are applicable to 7 too.

0x8024402c Windows Update error - FIND a Solution HERE in this article!

Especially suggestion two done in I.E. settings instead. (WU uses I.E. settings, even though I.E. doesn't need net permissions for WU to work.)

Or if I was admin of the lan, I'd put the free version of ZoneAlarm on machines and disable Windows Firewall - even without the error happening. Then make sure Host Process for Windows Services is allow internet access.

 

[Amyph10]

I am having the exact same issue with my computer after factory resetting it. Was this issue ever fixed and can you tell me how?

 

[essenbe]

I am having the exact same issue with my computer after factory resetting it. Was this issue ever fixed and can you tell me how?

Amyph10 this thread is over 10 years old. You would be better served by starting your own thread. I'm sure the attention your new thread will get will be much better.