Help!! Windows update problem.
 

I've just decided to do a complete reinstall of WindowsXP Home. I've got to do the microsoft updates and I get a message saying it could not validate my copy of XP, error code 0x80080299!!

I have a fully legit copy of XP and the serial number has not been given to anyone. The copy of XP is 3-4 years old now. I can't even install ny graphics card driver as it needs a version of Windows installer I cannot get. I expect most other things I have will not install either.

Does anyone know why I'm getting this problem.

As I said Help!!!

Any help greatly appreciated.

Re: Help!! Windows update problem.
 

have you changed a lot of hardware in the pc since you first installed this copy of windows?

Re: Help!! Windows update problem.
 

Nothing since I last did a reinstall 8-10 months ago and there were no problems then.

Re: Help!! Windows update problem.
 

Google search gives [URL="http://www.tech-archive.net/Archive/Windows/microsoft.public.windowsupdate/2005-11/msg01066.html"], hope it helps! Looks like a long process!!

Re: Help!! Windows update problem.
 

try this

Re: Help!! Windows update problem.
 

Has the account you are using got admin permissions?

Re: Help!! Windows update problem.
 

it may sound silly but can you download internet explorer beta

Re: Help!! Windows update problem.
 

Well, this is a bit bizarre. Hit a page at microsoft that said do you want to turn on auto updates. I decided what the hell and, a few seconds later, 20 decurity updates start downloading. Next, I visit MS updates page again and get the option to d/l sp2 without any validation request. After yet another reboot I'm getting more auto updates. Once these have all finshed I'll try the normal updates page again. Seems weird that autoupdates work but going to MS updates page doesn't yet.

@bonzoe - Not tried this yet but will keep in mind as a backup solution. Intresting to now regardless. Thanyou.

@Scrubbs - why couldn't I find this!! :) will try shortly

@lsainsbury - Yes

@paul11974 - Will try if needed.

Thank you for eveyones help, it's really appreciated and why I keep coming to Cableforum.

Re: Help!! Windows update problem.
 

The MS update site sometimes updates itself and requires you to have already installed certain updates before the updated site will work again. Normally it's security updates that can be an issue with this, having auto-update on isn't an issue though as you can always tell it to leave the installs until you say yes to them.

Re: Help!! Windows update problem.
 

You need to config WGA first - you won't get much without first being checked.

Re: Help!! Windows update problem.
 

Problem has gone. Auto updates d/l'd what i couldn't get via the MS update site due to the validation problem. After the initial 20 security updates and SP2 the update site was fine, didn't even ask about validation. Seems a real bixaree bypass for the initial validation problem, but it worked.

Another odd thing is that I can now install ATI's latest graphic driver where as before the reinstall the install program generated an error and I could only use 5.10.

Thanks again for everyone's help.

Re: Help!! Windows update problem.
 

That will have been the windows installer 3.1 update then ;)

Mine did exactly the same today actually, about 25 updates, amazing!
Then it said i had a fake version... So i rang them and had a lovely chat, in which they agreed it was only my PC that had ever used it... grrr MS... Who needs em...

(I do... :p)