wuauclt.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close. HELP ME

[epanning]

Using Windows XP Home Ver 5.1 (Build 2600.xpsp.080413-2111:Service Pack 3) on
a Dell Inspiron 6000 Laptop with an Intel Processor, Norton Firewall, AVG
Anti Virus -- original problem started while on SP 2 and continues on SP3.
I have been struggling with this for 5 days -- ever since trying to get a
Windows Update. I haven't updated for sometime and have had automatic
updates turned OFF on Security Center. I discovered that I couldn't turn
Automatic Updates ON because my system would freeze when I tried. When I went
to the MS website to try to get my update the first thing the software wanted
to check was my updating software -- it found that I needed a new version and
I needed a new ActiveX which I selected and believe they installed properly.
Somewhere along the way this error message started to pop up and continuously
loop -- it is never ending. I've tried debug on the message and nothing
happens. I select send the error report, it sends the error and then the
message pops up again. I try Don't Send and the message keeps popping up.
Each time I check the message details there is a reference to
wuauclt.exe.mdmp in a different temp/werXXXX.dir00 location and the same
reference to appcompat.txt. Everytime the error message comes up the same
files are referenced but the WERXXXX.dir00 is different with each error
message. I found a "resolution" on the MS website that involves "run net
stop wuauserv", remove WUTEMP folder, "run net stop cryptsvc", etc. I don't
have a WUTEMP folder anywhere on my system -- so nothing to delete and I
can't rename SoftwareDistribution to extension OLD -- I get an Access Denied
Error, "Make sure the disk is not full or write protected and that the file
is not currently in use." When I try to get to Microsoft Update through the
Security Center or going directly to the Microsoft Website and selecting
Update, my system freezes and the only way to get out of everything is to
power down my system. I was originally on Service Pack 2. I was able to get
the XP Service Pack 3 by going directly to it on the MS website (had to
disable Norton Firewall to get it), got the download and install completed
but the problem isn't fixed. Before downloading SP3 when I tried to shut
down my computer I got a read memory error, again a looping non stop error
that that would not allow me to restart the computer and requiring powering
down to restart the system -- now that error has gone away with SP3, but I
simply can't get rid of the wuauclt.exe error and I can't use Microsoft
Update due to the system freezing. Since updating with SP3 my system was
reset to Automatic Updates ON which is OK but this error message continuously
popping up is not only annoying but it has also slowed my system way down --
HELP !

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

> Using Windows XP Home Ver 5.1 (Build 2600.xpsp.080413-2111:Service Pack 3)
> on a Dell Inspiron 6000 Laptop with an Intel Processor, Norton Firewall,
> AVG
> Anti Virus -- original problem started while on SP 2 and continues on SP3.

[Note: I would not have installed WinXP SP3 manually with the machine in
this state. You may need to uninstall WinXP SP3 to fully resolve this
problem.]

Did you purchase Norton Personal Firewall or was it originally part of a
Norton suite (e.g., Norton Internet Security; Norton 360)?

If you disable the Norton firewall and enable the Windows firewall, does
this behavior persist?

There's a very strong possibility that the machine's been suffering from a
hijackware infection for quite some time:

1. See if you can download/run the MSRT manually:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/ma...e/default.mspx

2. Run this online scan (in safe mode w/networking, if need be):
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/howsafe.htm

3. Run additional checks for hijackware, including posting your hijackthis
log to an appropriate forum.

Checking for/Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=5878
http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_R...:_Introduction
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
http://defendingyourmachine2.blogspot.com/
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/...moving_Malware

When all else fails, HijackThis v2.0.2
(http://aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.exe) is the preferred tool to use (in
conjuction with some other utilities). HijackThis will NOT fix anything on
its own, but it will help you to both identify and remove any
hijackware/spyware with assistance from an expert. **Post your log to
http://spywarehammer.com/simplemachi...php?board=10.0,
http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30, or another appropriate forum for review
by an expert in such matters, not here.**

If the procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting this
isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA) computer repair shop.

==========================================

Start a free Windows Update support incident request:
https://support.microsoft.com/oas/de...spx?gprid=6527

Support for Windows Update:
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/wusupport

For home users, no-charge support is available by calling 1-866-PCSAFETY in
the United States and in Canada or by contacting your local Microsoft
subsidiary. There is no-charge for support calls that are associated with
security updates.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

epanning wrote:
> Using Windows XP Home Ver 5.1 (Build 2600.xpsp.080413-2111:Service Pack 3)
> on a Dell Inspiron 6000 Laptop with an Intel Processor, Norton Firewall,
> AVG
> Anti Virus -- original problem started while on SP 2 and continues on SP3.
> I have been struggling with this for 5 days -- ever since trying to get a
> Windows Update. I haven't updated for sometime and have had automatic
> updates turned OFF on Security Center. I discovered that I couldn't turn
> Automatic Updates ON because my system would freeze when I tried. When I
> went to the MS website to try to get my update the first thing the
> software
> wanted to check was my updating software -- it found that I needed a new
> version and I needed a new ActiveX which I selected and believe they
> installed properly. Somewhere along the way this error message started to
> pop up and continuously loop -- it is never ending. I've tried debug on
> the message and nothing happens. I select send the error report, it sends
> the error and then the message pops up again. I try Don't Send and the
> message keeps popping up. Each time I check the message details there is a
> reference to wuauclt.exe.mdmp in a different temp/werXXXX.dir00 location
> and the same reference to appcompat.txt. Everytime the error message
> comes
> up the same files are referenced but the WERXXXX.dir00 is different with
> each error message. I found a "resolution" on the MS website that
> involves
> "run net stop wuauserv", remove WUTEMP folder, "run net stop cryptsvc",
> etc. I don't have a WUTEMP folder anywhere on my system -- so nothing to
> delete and I can't rename SoftwareDistribution to extension OLD -- I get
> an Access Denied Error, "Make sure the disk is not full or write protected
> and that the file is not currently in use." When I try to get to
> Microsoft
> Update through the Security Center or going directly to the Microsoft
> Website and selecting Update, my system freezes and the only way to get
> out
> of everything is to power down my system. I was originally on Service
> Pack
> 2. I was able to get the XP Service Pack 3 by going directly to it on the
> MS website (had to disable Norton Firewall to get it), got the download
> and
> install completed but the problem isn't fixed. Before downloading SP3
> when
> I tried to shut down my computer I got a read memory error, again a
> looping
> non stop error that that would not allow me to restart the computer and
> requiring powering down to restart the system -- now that error has gone
> away with SP3, but I simply can't get rid of the wuauclt.exe error and I
> can't use Microsoft Update due to the system freezing. Since updating
> with
> SP3 my system was reset to Automatic Updates ON which is OK but this error
> message continuously popping up is not only annoying but it has also
> slowed
> my system way down -- HELP !