Windows Update Error 80072EFE

One of things shown is the firewall is blocking access.

Probably not the problem but to be sure try turning your firewall off temporarily then try checking for updates.
At least we will know one way or the other on that scenario.

Once that probably won't work I'll post some other ideas.
I'll get some screen shots together and post them for you.

Mike
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Windows Update - Reset

This is a tutorial on how to reset Windows Update. Should reset to default settings.
Try this first or below first.
All the updates shown in the middle picture below will no longer appear in the list.
They are still on the computer but won't show here after using the reset.
New updates will be added here in the future.
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If the above doesn't work then open Win Update page.
Click "View Update history" yellow marked in left picture below.
Middle picture click "Troubleshoot."
Right picture Click blue circled "Is there an easy way..."
Then click troubleshooter.

This opens a repair wizard.
Then follow prompts.
There are different listings to try so you may need to try this more than once to select different options.
Several people have used this with good results so it can work but not always.
Best I have for now.
Hope that helps and fixes things.

The actual error code means:

Code:

 
C:\>err 80072efe
# as an HRESULT: Severity: FAILURE (1), Facility: 0x7, Code 0x2efe
# for hex 0x2efe / decimal 12030 :
  ERROR_INTERNET_CONNECTION_ABORTED                             inetmsg.h
  ERROR_INTERNET_CONNECTION_ABORTED                             wininet.h
# 2 matches found for "80072efe"

So, it is indeed some sort of network issue. Since WU uses WinHTTP and not WinINet, the error would be coming from inetmsg.h, but since they're the same it doesn't matter. Googling what you actually have as an error message and your problem, I found the very first link in the results might work. If you're still getting the errors after using a restore point to where it was working before, then you might want to consider the issue might not be *on* your box, but perhaps upstream - at your router, or your ISP, etc. It is usually local, but I've seen some issues here on SevenForums where user's DNS was pointing to incorrect servers for WU servers because of DNS cache poisoning, etc. It does happen.