When you try to use a Windows Update feature in Windows XP, you experience any of the following:
- When you press Windows Update on the Start menu, you may receive:
Error
Windows Update was disabled by your system administrator.
- The Windows Update command on the Internet Explorer Tools menu is missing.
- The Windows Update Web site issues:
Access Denied
Network policy settings prevent you from using Windows Update to download and install updates on your computer.
If you believe you have received this message in error, please check with your system administrator.
- The Automatic Updates tab is missing from the System Properties dialog box.
- You are NOT notified about critical updates, nor do you receive critical updates, from the Microsoft Windows Update Web site.
- Device Manager does NOT automatically install driver updates from the Microsoft Windows Update Web site.
These problems are symptomatic of having the Windows Update feature turned off.
NOTE: Your system's personnel may have turned off this feature using the Disable and remove links to Windows Update Group Policy at User Configuration\AdministrativeTemplates\Start Menu & Taskbar.
If disabling the policy doesn't help, or you are using Windows XP Home Edition:
1. Use the Registry Editor to navigate to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\WindowsUpdate
2. Delete the DisableWindowsUpdateAccess Value Name, a REG_DWORD data type.
3. Navigate to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
4. Delete the NoWindowsUpdate Value Name, a REG_DWORD data type.
5. Exit the Registry Editor.
NOTE: See tip 5514.
NOTE: See Q198344 - WINUP-How To Download and Install Components From Windows Update.
