Error message when you try to install updates from the Windows Update Web site or from the Microsoft Update Web site: "0x80240016"

When you try to install updates from the Windows Update Web site or from the Microsoft Update Web site, you may receive the following error message:

This issue occurs if a Windows Update client or a Microsoft Update client cannot access the user token.

To resolve this issue, stop and then restart the Windows Update Service. To do this, follow the steps that are appropriate for your operating system.

Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003

Follow these steps:

1. Close any Windows Update or Microsoft Update browser windows.
2. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
3. Type the following commands. Press ENTER after each command:
   net stop wuauserv
   net start wuauserv
4. Close the Command prompt window.
5. Try to install updates again.

Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008

Follow these steps:

1. Close any Windows Update or Microsoft Update browser windows.
2. Click Start
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   , type Command Prompt, in the list of results, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as Administrator.
   
   
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   If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
3. Type the following commands. Press ENTER after each command:
   net stop wuauserv
   net start wuauserv
4. Close the Command prompt window.
5. Try to install updates again.

Sometimes, stopping and restarting the Windows Update Service will not fix problems with Windows Update. You may reset the Windows Update components.

For more information about resetting the Windows Update components, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: