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General discussion

Unable to access Windows Update Catalog

Mar 2, 2004 4:09AM PST

Running: Windows XP Home SP1 with all current critical updates, IE 6.

Problem: Can't get the "Windows Update Catalog" link to appear under "Also" in the "Windows Update" frame.

When I go to the Windows Update site, click on "Personalize Windows Update", check the "Display the link to the Windows Update Catalog under See Also" box and click on "Save Settings", nothing happens. I've set this up on another computer with the same OS and IE versions so I know I'm not the problem.

I've been discussing this with MS support for over a week without resolution. Here's what I've done so far:

(Each time I've tried to get the link to appear I've done it with my anti virus program running and not running and with all my start up programs disabled using msconfig.)

1) Made sure "UserData Persistence" is enabled in the "Internet Zone" of IE.

2) Looked for any "oWindowsUpdate[#].xml" files to delete them but found none.

3) Followed the instructions at Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 319585: WINUP: "Software Update Incomplete, This Windows Update Software Did Not Update Successfully" Error Message When You Visit the Windows Update Web Site at the request of MS support even though I wasn't getting this error message.

4) Reinstalled IE SP1 over the top of my current installation at the instructions of MS support. (even though the site said to uninstall IE first)

While I'm waiting for the next response from MS support, I thought I'd check here to see if anyone has had similar difficulties and found a solution.

Discussion is locked

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Re:Unable to access Windows Update Catalog
Mar 2, 2004 8:06AM PST
Looked for any "oWindowsUpdate[#].xml" files to delete them but found none.

1. Within the \UserData folder, you should see four randomly named sub-folders. Check the contents of each and delete any files you see that have names similar:

C:\Documents and Settings\%USERNAME%\UserData

oWindowsUpdate[1].xml
oWindowsUpdate[2].xml
oWindowsUpdate[3].xml
oWindowsUpdate[4].xml

2. If your system has ever been updated, then they are there somewhere -- just find them.
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Re:Re:Unable to access Windows Update Catalog
Mar 3, 2004 12:37AM PST

When I previously looked in C:\Documents and Settings\%USERNAME%\User Data, there were no folders, only one file "index.dat". I even did a search for oWindowsUpdate[*].xml and found no such files.

As far as updates, I have installed all of the Critical Updates as well as some of the Recommended Updates and have no idea why I had no oWindowsUpdate[*].xml files.

However, I have resolved the problem. See my next post.

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Problem resolved but not solved
Mar 3, 2004 1:03AM PST

I had been accessing the Windows Update site by selecting Start-All Programs-Windows Update. That sent me to http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp where I experienced the problem.

Today, at the suggestion of a friend, I went to https://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp. This Windows Update site appears to be the same as the other one but here I was able to get the "Windows Update Catalog" link to appear under "See Also".

I have no idea why this works. I did notice that when accessing this site (the https: site) that I first get a dialog window saying I'm about to access a secure site and then one saying that the site has both secure and unsecured data. (I saw no such dialog windows when accessing the http: site.)

Anyway, I can now get to the Windows Update Catalog site!

To Cursorcowboy:

I read your post after I had resolved the problem. I checked again in C:\Documents and Settings\%USERNAME%\UserData and now find two randomly named folders, one is empty and one has the file oWindowsUpdate[1].xml. The Date Modified for both the folders and the file is 3/3/2004. The only update I've done was to reinstall IE SP1 at the suggestion of MS support although this was done on 3/2/2004. Could these files have been modified when I booted this AM or could they have been installed when I accessed (accessed only - no updates installed) the https: site? (I notice that the index.dat file always shows the Date Modified as the current date.)

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Re:Problem resolved but not solved
Mar 3, 2004 1:47AM PST

I can only assume that perhaps you Personalized the site while there not thinking about it and that would have created a folder, I'm pretty sure.

As far as the http: v/s the https: use, I'm not sure what is going on and this may be something I'll spend some time on in the next few days. I've seen several questions and answers concerning their use, but just haven't paid that much attention.

You'll find Index.dat files all operate this way by default.

It's nice to know this information. Thanks.