Code 80072efe how to get Windows Update working again Solved

Question

Hello,

I have a problem with Windows Update; I haven't been able to install updates for some time....

- I launch Windows Update
- I click on install updates

then maybe 5 seconds later, I get this message:

Some updates have not been installed.

Failure: 6 important updates.

Errors detected: Code 80072EFE Windows Update encountered an unknown error.

Additionally, I cannot access Windows Update sites, and I cannot create a system backup DVD.

If you need more details, feel free to ask; I'm more than happy to provide them.

Thank you in advance.

~~~ best regards

~~~ lusky16Configuration: Windows Vista / Firefox 3.6

tompousse · Accepted Answer

Hello "question",  nothing is really certain, but take a look at this page where you should find how to remove a little rootkit that is causing you quite a few problems http://souriceau.com/ordinateur/windows-update-80072efe.html

ekim55 · Answer

Hello,
Go to start, control panel, administrative tools, services, double-click on the Cryptographic service, click to stop the service, apply and OK. Also check that the Background Intelligent Transfer Service is stopped and set to manual. Then go to: C\windows, rename SoftwareDistribution by adding .old, it should become --> SoftwareDistribution.old, then go to: C\windows\system32\Catroot2, delete all the contents in Catroot2, not the folder itself, go back to services, restart the Cryptographic service, and set its startup type to automatic, then download --> repupdat.zip, place it in your documents and unzip it. Double-click on the executable, it will take care of re-registering all the necessary files for the proper functioning of Windows Update, do not stop it. Afterwards restart and go back to Windows Update.
--
Human beings are at their best when things are at their worst.

lusky16 · Answer

very well, I’ll keep you posted -- ~~~ best regards  ~~~ lusky16

lusky16 · Answer

In the services, the 'smart transfer service' does not appear, or at least it appears under this name:  'Background Intelligent Transfer Service'.   Similarly, I cannot find the cryptography service in the list of services.   I'm not sure it's the same thing, so I'm asking you   thank you in advance  * I prefer to take it step by step and ask you when I'm not sure -- ~~~ Best regards  ~~~ lusky16

ekim55 · Answer

I'm very surprised that cryptography service isn't included. Check again. -- Human beings are at their best when things are at their worst.

lusky16 · Answer

Sure, I'm going to restart the PC and see if it shows up.  Thanks again for your help, I'll keep you updated. -- ~~~ best regards  ~~~ lusky16

lusky16 · Answer

I promise you, I have looked at least 3 times one by one at the services and I did not find 'cryptography service'   -- ~~~ best regards  ~~~ lusky16

ekim55 · Answer

Continue the process and see how it turns out. -- Human beings are at their best when things are at their worst.

lusky16 · Answer

Re ekim, I am moving on to the cryptography service step but I'm not sure about the background intelligent transfer service   Is it the same as 'intelligent transfer service'? -- ~~~ best regards  ~~~ lusky16

ekim55 · Answer

For now, forget about these 2 services, continue the procedure and see how it goes -- Human beings are at their best when things are at their worst.

lusky16 · Answer

OK, I will respond around 6 PM -- ~~~ kind regards  ~~~ lusky16

lusky16 · Answer

Whoa, when I rename the folder with .old at the end, it messes everything up (taskbar becomes all ugly, etc.). Since I couldn’t rename it (process issue), I launched Unlocker, unlocked the processes, and renamed the folder, but nothing works. Every time I rename the folder, it just recreates itself right below with the normal name. I'm completely lost. -- ~~~ Best regards  ~~~ lusky16

ekim55 · Answer

It's normal for the folder to be created again, look in the new software distribution folder, it should be almost empty. -- Human beings are at their best when things are at their worst.

lusky16 · Answer

That's right, I will continue the procedure and I'll keep you updated -- ~~~ Best regards  ~~~ lusky16

lusky16 · Answer

When you say to delete all the files in catroot2 except for the file itself, don't you actually mean the folder itself? Because I don't see a catroot2 file in this folder...  -- ~~~ Best regards  ~~~ lusky16

ekim55 · Answer

If there is nothing in the catroot2 folder, don't touch it. -- The human being is at its best when things are at their worst.

lusky16 · Answer

I did everything just as you told me, but nothing works with Update... I'm starting to get frustrated.... ~~~ best regards  ~~~ lusky16

ekim55 · Answer

Download this --> tool, unzip it, and run it. It will take care of re-registering all the necessary files for the proper functioning of Windows Update. Afterwards, a window will open to inform you that everything is OK. Go back to Windows Update and see how it goes. -- Human beings are at their best when things are at their worst.

lusky16 · Answer

Awesome, thank you very much Ekim for your help, I'll keep you updated afterwards :)   -- ~~~ best regards  ~~~ lusky16

lusky16 · Answer

Ouch .... =s  I'll let you see for yourself, no way ....  http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/6628/fixwu.jpg  ~~~ best regards  ~~~ lusky16

ekim55 · Answer

Did you run it as an administrator? -- Human beings are at their best when things are at their worst.

lusky16 · Answer

Yes, the launch as administrator is already present by default.

ekim55 · Answer

There is probably a program running in the background, maybe a framework? Click on details and see the information. Human beings are at their best when things are at their worst.

lusky16 · Answer

yes, I can't post the error (syntax error) even between ~~~ best regards ~~~ lusky16

ekim55 · Answer

Did you click on continue? -- Human beings are at their best when things are at their worst.

lusky16 · Answer

Yes, nothing is happening -- ~~~ best regards  ~~~ lusky16

lusky16 · Answer

Ah, I clicked once, and I waited 2 minutes for a message to tell me:  'The process completed successfully'  is this the message that confirms everything worked well? -- ~~~ best regards  ~~~ lusky16

ekim55 · Answer

Restart by pressing F8 to enter safe mode. Go to: C\windows, delete softwaredistribution.old and delete all contents in software distribution. Restart, then go to start, control panel, administrative tools, services, check that automatic updates is running and set to automatic. Go back to Windows Update and try again. -- Human beings are at their best when things are at their worst.

lusky16 · Answer

No problem, I'll do that -- ~~~ best regards  ~~~ lusky16

lusky16 · Answer

Here it is, safe mode done etc., now I am in 'services', what is the name of the service for automatic updates so that I can check the auto start etc. ... as you told me ~~~ best regards  ~~~ lusky16

ekim55 · Answer

Simply --> Automatic updates, check in status --> started and in startup type --> automatic. -- Human beings are at their best when things are at their worst.

lusky16 · Answer

Automatic updates do not appear in the list of services, I searched thoroughly though. -- ~~~ Best regards  ~~~ lusky16

ekim55 · Answer

Right-click on Computer, Properties, Automatic Updates tab, check: Automatic installation (recommended), apply and OK. -- The human being is at its best when things are at their worst.

lusky16 · Answer

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/6628/fixwu.jpg -- ~~~ Best regards  ~~~ lusky16

lusky16 · Answer

Here, the updates are indeed automatic -- ~~~ best regards  ~~~ lusky16

ekim55 · Answer

Return to Windows Update. -- Human beings are at their best when things are at their worst.

lusky16 · Answer

P**** but it's not true! ......   http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/6628/fixwu.jpg ~~~ best regards  ~~~ lusky16

ekim55 · Answer

Do you have MalwareBytes with real-time protection? If so, disable it and go back to Windows Update. -- The human being is at its best when things are at their worst.

lusky16 · Answer

yes, I have Malwarebytes ok I'll do that -- ~~~ best regards  ~~~ lusky16

lusky16 · Answer

Always the same... the error appears about 3 seconds after I clicked on search, could it be a virus that prevents the update? -- ~~~ best regards  ~~~ lusky16

ekim55 · Answer

It could very well be a virus! I suggest you repost in the virus/security forum for an analysis to check for an infection. After the analysis, if there's no infection, perform a Vista repair without data loss --> http://www.vista-xp.fr/forum/topic428.html -- Human beings are at their best when things are at their worst.

lusky16 · Answer

oh yes, but on the other hand, the installation CD is not provided with my PC, so this procedure would be impossible?  I'll still post in virus/security tomorrow  thank you very much for your help once again, see you next time  ~~~ best regards  ~~~ lusky16

ekim55 · Answer

What is the brand of the PC? Also, check if you have a recovery partition. -- The human being is at their best when things are at their worst.

lusky16 · Answer

This is an Acer Aspire 5920G series and unfortunately, the installation CD is not included, so I'm in a bad situation -- ~~~ best regards  ~~~ lusky16

ekim55 · Answer

Go to start, all programs, accessories, right-click on command prompt, choose run as administrator and confirm, type: cmd and OK. Type: sfc /scannow and press enter. -- Human beings are at their best when things are at their worst.

lusky16 · Answer

Here is the cmd after analysis:  http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/6628/fixwu.jpg  http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/2937/dfdfdfd.jpg ~~~ kind regards  ~~~ lusky16

ekim55 · Answer

There are damaged system files and not all of them have been repaired. Restart the PC and go back to Windows Update. If that doesn't work, try to see which updates are not installing. -- Human beings are at their best when things are at their worst.

lusky16 · Answer

yeah, but I can’t know which ones can’t be installed -- ~~~ best regards  ~~~ lusky16

ekim55 · Answer

Click on "Get help on this error" and see what solutions are offered. -- Human beings are at their best when things are at their worst.

lusky16 · Answer

Waw ... nothing at all, lol no results, unknown error -- ~~~ sincerely  ~~~ lusky16

ekim55 · Answer

If you can't see the updates, try this --> Ctrl + Alt + Del, processes tab, select explorer.exe, click on end process, then, file, new task, type: explorer.exe and OK. Go back to Windows Update and try to check for updates. -- Human beings are at their best when things are at their worst.

lusky16 · Answer

Nothing to do, it's as if I did nothing -- Blue screen, unhappy Geek.

ekim55 · Answer

What was the result of the analysis of your PC on the virus/security forum? -- Human beings are at their best when things are at their worst.

lusky16 · Answer

I’m sending you the post:  https://forums.commentcamarche.net/forum/affich-17067092-windows-update#5  Someone is currently looking into my problem with analysis reports    -- Blue screen, unhappy geek.

ekim55 · Answer

I am inexperienced in this field, but I saw that you had Spybot installed. Disable the Tea-Timer, also disable Avast and MalwareBytes, it's only temporary. Go to Windows Update and see what happens. -- Human beings are at their best when things are at their worst.

lusky16 · Answer

Ok yes, it's true that people who study analysis logs are really very good ^^  ok I will try with spybot   -- Blue screen, unhappy Geek.

Bucker · Answer

I finally found the solution for error 80072efe after a long search...  It's something to do with rootkit files, follow these steps:  1) Download this file from the following link https://support.kaspersky.com/downloads/utils/tdsskiller.exe  2) Run it, follow the steps.  3) Restart your computer...  4) Check for updates... good luck...  Note. This will also fix the Windows Update Defender issue...  Best regards Bucker

magics01 · Answer

Hi, just uninstall Adobe Reader 9. There you go.

yves · Answer

Hi everyone, I'm having the same problem and I've been stressing over it for a while. I tried your Booker link but it doesn't work, could you please post it again? Thanks in advance.

Pyro9 · Answer

Hi, the link is indeed broken, here's another one that should work without issues: http://lanceyien.info/Forum/index.php?topic=1014.0
I had exactly the same problem, and downloading the file fixed everything!!
You just need to follow the instructions, it's very simple.
Hope this helps you.

Pyro9

P.S: thanks Bucker ^^

yves · Answer

thank you for your help

kinders62 · Answer

Hello, I have the same problem as you and I can't update Windows Update!! If someone can help me, thank you in advance.

Wista39 · Answer

Bucker and Corinne, thank you so much, I've solved my problem!!!!!! Thanks x100 xD Everyone else in the forum, do as Bucker says!

question · Answer

Hello,   I have the same problem as you, but you provide so many solutions on these pages that I don't know which one to follow!!!  In your opinion, which is the best or at least the one to try first???   Thanks in advance

Code 80072efe how to get Windows Update working again

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