You receive a "Windows Live OneCare could not check for updates" error message when you try to update Windows OneCare Live

Consider the following scenario. In the main window in Microsoft Windows Live OneCare, a red status message appears that indicates that Windows Live OneCare is out of date. You click Update Now to update the program. In this scenario, you receive the following error message:

This problem occurs because of an Internet connection issue or because of a damaged installation of Windows Live OneCare.

To resolve this problem, use one or more of the following methods.

Method 1: Verify that the Internet connection is working

To verify that the Internet connection is working, follow these steps:

1. Connect the computer that is running Windows Live OneCare to the Internet. Then, use a Web browser to log on to an Internet-based Web site. If you can log on to the Web site, the Internet connection is working.
2. If the Internet connection is not working, use the troubleshooting methods in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article to determine the cause of the problem:
   314095  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314095/ ) How to troubleshoot possible causes of Internet connection problems in Windows XP

Method 2: Remove third-party firewall, dial-up, or download accelerator applications

To remove third-party firewall , dial-up, or download accelerator applications, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type appwiz.cpl in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. In the Currently installed programs list, look for any third-party firewall programs that are installed on the computer, and then remove these programs.

Method 3: Disable the "Automatically detect settings" option in Microsoft Internet Explorer

To disable the Automatically detect settings option in Internet Explorer, follow these steps:

1. Start Internet Explorer.
2. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
3. Click the Connection tab, and then click LAN Settings.
4. In the Local Area Network (LAN) Settings dialog box, click to clear the Automatically detect settings check box, and then click OK.
5. Click OK to close the Internet Options dialog box.
6. Quit Internet Explorer.
7. Restart the computer.
8. Try to update Windows Live OneCare.

Method 4: Reset the permissions on the Microsoft Windows OneCare Live folders

1. Click Start, click Run, type cmdin the Open box, and then click OK.
   
   Note Follow these steps on Windows Vista-based computers:
   1. Click Start
      Collapse this imageExpand this image

      
      , type cmd in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
   2. In the search results list, right-click Cmd.exe, and then click Run as Administrator.
2. At the command prompt, type net stop winss, and then press ENTER.
3. Type the following command, and then press ENTER: cacls "%programfiles%\Microsoft Windows OneCare Live" /T /G administrators:F
4. Type Y when you are prompted for confirmation, and then press ENTER.
5. Type net start winss, and then press ENTER.
6. Start Windows Live OneCare.
7. Under Protection Plus, click Check for updates.

Method 5: Download and then run the spyware repair tool

1. Download the Windows Live OneCare Virus and Spyware Repair Tool. To do this, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
   http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=70adca25-950c-4b1b-a5e2-297e80aa67b1&DisplayLang=en (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=70adca25-950c-4b1b-a5e2-297e80aa67b1&DisplayLang=en)
2. Double-click the spyware repair tool that you downloaded, and then click Run to start the repair tool.
   
   Note You must be logged on to the computer as an administrator.
3. To start the process, click Continue.
4. Click I accept the terms of the End-User License Agreement, and then click Continue.
5. To start the repair process, click Repair.
6. To close the program, click Close.
7. Restart the computer.

Method 6: Start Windows XP in Selective Startup mode

To start Windows XP in Selective Startup mode, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type msconfig in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. On the General tab, click Selective Startup, and the click to clear the Load Startup Items check box.
3. Click the Services tab, click to select the Hide All Microsoft Services check box, and then click to clear all services check boxes.
4. Click OK, and then click Restart to restart the computer.
5. Try to update Windows Live OneCare.
   
   Note If you still experience this issue, it may be caused by a third-party program or service that conflicts with Windows Live OneCare. In this case, disable the services and startup items that are mentioned in step 3 one at a time until you determine which service is causing the problem.
6. If the previous steps in this method do not resolve the issue, revert to Normal mode. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. Click Start, click Run, type msconfig in the Open box, and then click OK.
   2. On the General tab, click Normal Startup-load all device drivers and services, and then click OK.
   3. Click Restart.