You will experience the subject behavior is any of the following are true:
- A firewall is interfering with your connection to the Windows Update site.
- The %SystemRoot%\System32\drivers\etc\HOSTS file maps the Windows Update site to an IP address.
- Proxy server settings are interfering with your connection to the Windows Update site.
To resolve these issues:
1. Reconfigure or update your firewall.
2. Remove any mappings for Windows Update from the HOSTS file.
3. Open a CMD.EXE window and type IPCONFIG /FLUSHDNS. Press Enter.
4. You may need to add Windows Update to the Internet Explorer / Tools / Internet Options / Security tab /Trusted Sites list. Make sure you clear the Require server verification (https:) for all sites in this zone box. Add the following addresses:
http://Windowsupdate.microsoft.com http://V4.Windowsupdate.microsoft.com https://v4.Windowsupdate.microsoft.com http://V5.Windowsupdate.microsoft.com https://v5.Windowsupdate.microsoft.com http://Download.Windowsupdate.comNOTE: The v5 entries are included to handle any possible next release.
5. If you use a proxy server, add the following addresses to the Exceptions at Internet Explorer / Tools / Internet Options / Connections tab / LAN Settings / Advanced:
http://Windowsupdate.microsoft.com http://V4.Windowsupdate.microsoft.com https://v4.Windowsupdate.microsoft.com http://V5.Windowsupdate.microsoft.com https://v5.Windowsupdate.microsoft.com http://Download.Windowsupdate.com
