LITTLEBLACKDOG.COM

Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 5:24 pm Post subject: Test Your Mad Sleuthing SkillZ

This is a Trick Question of sorts. That is, the image below
will not give you a clue because Microsoft provided it.

While doing a Windows Update, Microsoft gave me the usual
completely useless circular logic that made them famous.
Study the image as long as necessary. Can you figure out
what it will take to get WinUpdate working again correctly?

I should make this some kind of contest.

Guide Dog Joined: 08 Nov 2003 Posts: 8419 Location: MN

maybe you should untick the box that says "require trusted sites be https" you can't see it in your screen shot because it is behind the error message.

Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 9:25 pm Post subject:

anglachel wrote:
maybe you should untick the box that says "require trusted sites be https" you can't see it in your screen shot because it is behind the error message.

Ditto.

Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 4:47 am Post subject:

anglachel wrote:
maybe you should untick the box that says "require trusted sites be https" you can't see it in your screen shot because it is behind the error message.

While that might work in some instances, it did not restore Windows Update's ability to function in this case.

Remember, the image above will Not give you a clue. Here is your Hint: A COMPLETELY UNRELATED SETTING caused this error message to appear.

I suppose I should put a time limit on how long until I reveal the correct answer.

Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 4:50 am Post subject:

needed to turn off your screen saver? Twisted Evil

Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 5:17 am Post subject:

Firefox was your default browser?

Guide Dog Joined: 08 Nov 2003 Posts: 8419 Location: MN

ThunderDawg wrote:
Remember, the image above will Not give you a clue. Here is your Hint: A COMPLETELY UNRELATED SETTING caused this error message to appear.

That just makes me want to pull clues out of the screen shot even more.

IE7, so probably some wacky security setting some where... or possibly even vista, did you not accept it the first time around? did you try removing the active-x compentent so winders could reinstall it when you went back to the site? how about vista, did you maybe hit "don't allow" on something once, if it is vista?

Does the fix involve holy water... better still does it involve installing your favorite linux distro, I love that solution.

Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 1:46 pm Post subject:

The typical help desk answer: reboot your PC?

Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 5:13 pm Post subject:

If it's Server 2003/2008 it by default has the Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration turned on which blocks all Active X installs including Microsoft's own update site.

Probably go to Add Remove Windows Components and uncheck the box for Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration and try windows update again.

Or use the IE Tab Add-on for Firefox Wink

Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 5:58 pm Post subject:

Would this be a Norton Security versus Windows Stupidity issue?

Linky

Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 5:55 am Post subject:

Is that an IE7 installation?

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 5:04 am Post subject:

Sorry if I did not mention that this was on a WinXP Home SP2 box with IE7 which was disabled in program defaults.

noodly2877 wrote:
If it's Server 2003/2008 it by default has the Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration turned on which blocks all Active X installs including Microsoft's own update site.

Probably go to Add Remove Windows Components and uncheck the box for Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration and try windows update again.

anglachel wrote:
did you try removing the active-x compentent so winders could reinstall it when you went back to the site?

The ActiveX file was present but disabled through Avant Browser Tools. So that was it.

Sometimes, it's really hard to take peoples' money with a straight face. Took me all of ten minutes (including time wasted being angry with MicroSoft), but the client had previously spent upwards of 20 hours trying to figure it out.