Error 403 "Access Denied/Forbidden"

You may receive the following error message when you try to access the Windows Update Web site:

This behavior may occur if any of the following conditions is true:

• You are running WRQ's AtGuard personal firewall software, or other Security, Download Assistant, or Web Accelerator software.
• The Windows Update site control is missing or is damaged on your computer.
• The Hosts file is damaged or contains incorrect information.
• There are missing or damaged Internet Explorer files that render the script on the page.

Use the resolution that is appropriate for what is causing the behavior in your case. If you are not sure what is causing the error message, use these resolutions in the order they are listed. Continue to the next resolution if the issue remains unresolved.

Disable Security, Download Assistant, or Web Accelerator Software

1. Microsoft has verified that the types of software programs in the following list contribute to "Unauthorized" or "Access Denied/Forbidden" errors. Disable any third party software that fits a description in the following list:
   • Ad Removal programs
   • Web Accelerators
   • Download Assistants
   • Security software such as "At Guard" or "NetZip"
   • Antivirus Software
2. Try to connect to the Windows Update site. To do so, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
   http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/default.htm (http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/default.htm)
   .
3. If you still cannot connect, try the next resolution.

Remove Windows Update Controls (Microsoft Windows 95)

Note Before you un-register and remove the site controls, you must close Internet Explorer so that the controls are no longer in use. To remove the Windows Update controls, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, and then in the Open box type the following command:
   regsvr32 /u c:\windows\system\wuv3is.dll
2. Delete the Wuv3is.dll file from the C:\Windows\System folder. To do so, follow these steps:
   1. Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files or Folders.
   2. In the Named box type wuv3is.dll.
   3. When the file is found, right-click the file, and then click Delete.
3. Delete the contents of the C:\Program Files\WindowsUpdate folder.
   
   Note If you delete the Wuhistv3.log file, you clear the whole Windows Update download history. Microsoft does not recommend that you do this because you lose your record of previous downloads. Follow these steps to delete all the files except the Wuhistv3.log file:
   1. Click Start, and then click Run.
   2. Type Explorer, and then click OK.
   3. In the left pane, expand Program Files.
   4. In the left pane, expand WindowsUpdate.
   5. In the right pane, click to select the Wuhistv3.log file, click Edit, and then click Invert Selection.
   6. Press DELETE, and then click Yes to confirm.
4. Try to connect to the Windows Update site. To do so, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
   http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/default.htm (http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/default.htm)
   .
5. If you still cannot connect, try the next resolution.

Remove Windows Update Controls (Windows NT)

Note Before you unregister and remove the site controls, you must close Internet Explorer so the controls are no longer in use. To remove the Windows Update controls in Windows NT, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, and then in the Open box, type the following command:
   regsvr32 /u c:\winnt\system32\wuv3is.dll
2. Delete the Wuv3is.dll file from the C:\Winnt\System32 folder. To do so, follow these steps:
   1. Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files or Folders.
   2. In the Named box type wuv3is.dll.
   3. When the file is found, right-click the file, and then click Delete.
3. Delete the contents of the C:\Program Files\WindowsUpdate folder.Note If you delete the Wuhistv3.log file, you clear the whole Windows Update download history. Microsoft does not recommend that you do this because you lose your record of previous downloads. Follow these steps to delete all the files except for the Wuhistv3.log file:
   1. Click Start, and then click Run.
   2. In the dialog box, type explorer, and then click OK.
   3. In the left pane, expand Program Files.
   4. In the left pane, expand WindowsUpdate, and then click Delete.
   5. In the right pane, click to select the Wuhistv3.log file, click Edit, and then click Invert Selection.
   6. Press DELETE, and then click Yes to confirm.
4. Try to connect to the Windows Update site. To do so, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
   http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/default.htm (http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/default.htm)
   .
5. If you still cannot connect, try the next resolution.

Edit or Rename the Hosts File

For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Install a New Scripting Engine

1. Visit the following Microsoft Web site:
   http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=01592C48-207D-4BE1-8A76-1C4099D7BBB9&displaylang=en (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=01592C48-207D-4BE1-8A76-1C4099D7BBB9&displaylang=en)
2. Click the appropriate link for your version of Windows.
3. Click Download (located at the right side of the page).
4. Click Save to Disk and save the file to the default location.
5. Double-click the STE56en.exe (for Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition, and Windows NT) or Scripten.exe (for Microsoft Windows 2000 and Microsoft Windows XP) icon located on your Desktop.
6. After the installation is complete, you can remove STE56en.exe or Scripten.exe file from your Desktop. To do so, right-click the icon, and then click Delete.
7. Restart your computer, and then visit the Windows Update Web site:
   http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com (http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com)

Note Some internet accelerators modify the host file. To resolve this behavior, rename this file.

If you cannot locate the files listed in this article while you search Windows Explorer, verify that your Folder Options are set to Show All Files. To set this option, follow these steps:

1. Double-click My Computer.
2. Click View, and then click Folder Options.
3. Click the View tab.
4. In the Hidden files section, click to select the Show All files check box if it is not already selected.
5. Click OK.