Adding those things to the registry fixed the problem, thanks! And yes, I
need an antivirus... >_>

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

> You have no anti-virus application installed?
>
> To fully disable Spybot Tea Timer, see
> http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=32409
>
> Error messages that you may receive when you try to download and install
> updates from the Windows Update Web site, from the Microsoft Update Web
> site, or from a WSUS server: "0x800704DD," "0x80240020," or both:
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/910341
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/
>
>
> bduddy wrote:
> > Thank you again for your help. The only program I have running of that
> > type
> > is Spybot S&D (that may be a problem in itself!) and disabling its
> > resident
> > functions do not affect the problem.
> >
> > This time after running the updater, the "Troubleshooter" link provided
> > included a link saying "When accessing the Update site, you receive the
> > 0x80240020 error"; this states I need to run Windows Update from an
> > administrator account, which is something I have been doing all along.
> >
> > "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
> >
> >> What anti-virus application or security suite is installed? What
> >> anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)? What third-party
> >> firewall
> >> (if any)?
> >>
> >> Has a Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on the machine?
> >>
> >> Tip: Temporarily disable real-time protection by your anti-virus and/or
> >> anti-spyware applications (e.g., CounterSpy, Spysweeper, Spybot, AVG
> >> Anti-Spyware) and/or any third-party firewall (e.g., ZA) before
> >> attempting
> >> to install the update(s). If you disable a third-party firewall, do NOT
> >> connect to the internet without having the Windows Firewall enabled!
> >>
> >> =======================
> >> How to troubleshoot Windows Update, Microsoft Update, and Windows Server
> >> Update Services installation issues:
> >> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/906602
> >>
> >> You cannot install some updates or programs
> >> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/822798
> >>
> >> => Check WindowsUpdate.log (%windir%\Windowsupdate.log) for errors
> >> associated with the download/install.
> >>
> >> How to read the WindowsUpdate.log file
> >> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/902093
> >>
> >> => Compare errors to those listed here:
> >> http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/blog...showentry=1122
> >> and/or go to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com > click on Help and
> >> Support
> >> link in left pane > Solve problems on your own.
> >> =============================
> >> Start a free Windows Update support incident request:
> >> https://support.microsoft.com/oas/de...spx?gprid=6527
> >>
> >> Support for Windows Update:
> >> http://support.microsoft.com/gp/wusupport
> >>
> >> For home users, no-charge support is available by calling 1-866-PCSAFETY
> >> in
> >> the United States and in Canada or by contacting your local Microsoft
> >> subsidiary.
> >>
> >> For more information about how to contact your local Microsoft subsidiary
> >> for security update support issues, visit the International Support Web
> >> site: http://support.microsoft.com/common/international.aspx
> >>
> >> For enterprise customers, support for security updates is available
> >> through
> >> your usual support contacts.
> >> --
> >> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> >> MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
> >> AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.net
> >>
> >> bduddy wrote:
> >>> Thank you for your assistance. The linked article does match the
> >>> symptoms
> >>> I
> >>> am experiencing, including the fact that the updates I attempt to
> >>> install
> >>> do
> >>> not appear in my history. However, I tried both listed methods for
> >>> fixing
> >>> the problem, and neither has worked; all updates still fail at the
> >>> initialization of installing.
> >>>
> >>> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
> >>>> CrystalBall© sez...
> >>>>
> >>>> Updates are not installed successfully from Windows Update, from
> >>>> Microsoft
> >>>> Update, or by using Automatic Updates after you repair a Windows XP
> >>>> installation:
> >>>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
> >>>>
> >>>> NB: Also applies to clean installs, upgrade installs, and Recovery
> >>>> installs.
> >>>>
> >>>> bduddy wrote:
> >>>>> This is the same person... just saying that I am using Windows XP with
> >>>>> SP3,
> >>>>> which I was able to install using a manual method; I encountered the
> >>>>> same
> >>>>> error when attempting to install in through Windows Update.
> >> <paste>
> >>> I am attempting to download several updates, including the final version
> >>> of
> >>> IE 7 and Windows Media Player 11. I have downloaded these updates and
> >>> some
> >>> others, but whenever I attempt to download these updates or any
> >>> combination,
> >>> the installation fails before finishing the initialization step. The
> >>> only
> >>> error message given is "A problem on your computer is preventing the
> >>> updates
> >>> from being installed"; there is a link to a help page which tells me to
> >>> switch to an administrator account, but I have attempted to install the
> >>> updates from two different administrator accounts with the same results.
> >>>
> >>> I have attempted to send a problem report, but the provided link leads
> >>> to
> >>> "http://support.microsoft.com/ph/6527#tab0", which appears to contain
> >>> mostly
> >>> problems from Windows 98 and does not include any information on how to
> >>> contact Microsoft. I would attempt to provide more information, but as I
> >>> said, I am only being given the most general of error messages, so I
> >>> don't
> >>> know what else to provide.
> >> </paste>
>
>