Error message when you try to update a Windows XP-based computer: "0x80072EE4"

When you try to download updates from the Microsoft Windows Update Web site or from the Microsoft Update Web site, the Web site may stop responding on a Microsoft Windows XP-based computer. Additionally, the resulting Web page reads "Checking for latest version of Windows Update software." Also, a red X may appear adjacent to the update. In this case, you receive the following error code in an error message:

To have us fix this problem for you, go to the "Fix it for me" section. To fix this problem yourself, go to the "Let me fix it myself" section.

To fix this problem automatically, click the Fix it button or link. Click Run in the File Download dialog box, and then follow the steps in the Fix it wizard.

Fix this problem
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Note this wizard may be in English only; however, the automatic fix also works for other language versions of Windows.

Note if you are not on the computer that has the problem, save the Fix it solution to a flash drive or a CD and then run it on the computer that has the problem.

Next, go to the "Did this fix the problem?" section.

To resolve this problem, use the method that is appropriate for your operating system.

Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2)

For computers that are running Windows XP with SP2 installed, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
2. Type netsh winsock reset, and then press ENTER.

Windows XP without SP2

Important This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

For computers that are running Windows XP without SP2 installed, follow these steps:

1. Delete the corrupted registry keys. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit and then click OK.
   2. Locate and then right-click the following registry subkeys, and then click Delete:
      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Winsock
      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Winsock2
   3. Click Yes when you are prompted to confirm the deletion of each key.
2. Reinstall TCP/IP. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. Click Start, select Run, type ncpa.cpl and then click OK.
   2. Right-click the Internet connection, select Properties, and then click Install.
   3. In the Select Network Component Type dialog box, select Protocol, and then click Add.
   4. In the Select Network Protocol dialog box, click Have Disk.
   5. In the Install From Disk dialog box, type C:\Windows\inf, and then click OK.
   6. In the list of available protocols, select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and then click OK.
   7. Restart the computer.

Check whether the problem is fixed. If the problem is fixed, you are finished with this article. If the problem is not fixed, you can contact support (http://support.microsoft.com/contactus) .

For more information about issues between SSL and the Windows Updates Web site, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For more information about how to recover from Winsock2 corruption, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: