BleepingComputer.com: Windows Update Fails

Known issues with this security update

After you install this security update on a Windows XP-based computer, you may receive an error message that resembles the following:

:5.375: FileVersion of C:\WINDOWS\system32\mstscax.dll is Less Than 6.0.6001.0 for QFE branch
This problem only affects Windows XP based computers that were updated by using updates to address specific issues that are not delivered by Windows Update. For example, computers that have "Limited Distribution Release" (LDR) branch updates installed.

To work around this problem, use either of the following methods:

* Uninstall security update 956744 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/956744) , and then install security update 2481109.
* Alternatively, if you already have security update 956744 installed, you can install hotfix 967885 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/967885) . Then you can successful install security update 2481109.

I just got a reply from the Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC) guys I've asked to look into the issue. They are confirming what I've suspected: "We're gather the needed info to update the KB article, but as a workaround, you can either uninstall MS09-044 (KB956744) and then install MS11-017 or install hotfix KB967885 on top of MS09-044 to get MS11-017 to install properly. This does seem to only affect XP SP3 systems on the QFE branch ."

"QFE branch" in this case means: Version 6.0.6001.22443 of mstscax.dll beeing present in the System32 folder of your Windows XP machine.

FWIW, Freudi

FIX KB2481109 FAILS TO INSTALL PROBLEM (Windows XP SP3):

1. "Control Panel" -> "Add or Remove Programs" -> check the "Show Updates" box.
2. Uninstall update KB956744 (RDC6 fix 2009-8)
3. Reboot the computer.
4. Go to the Windows Update site and instal the KB2481109 update (for RDC6 version).

OR

1. Install hotfix KB969084 (RDC7 update 2009-10) NOTE! If necessary, change the language and click "Change".
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=72158b4e-b527-45e4-af24-d02938a95683
2. Reboot the computer.
3. Go to the Windows Update site and instal the KB2483614 update (for RDC7 version).
NOTE! There is no KB2481109 update (for RDC6 version) because you have RDC7 version installed.

Rats! I was hoping this would work. I tested it on VirtualBox and it worked--only difference was that KB2481109 was the ONLY update that failed. It installed successfully after installing the hotfix.
Fixing this without knowing the error codes is an exercise in futility. Look in the following:

C:/Windows/Logs/KB(number)
C:/Windows/Windowsupdate.log
C:/Windows/Software Distribution/ Downloads

By your screenshot it appears (to me) that the DOWNLOAD itself is failing, not the installation.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/910337

You may receive an error message that contains the "0x8DDD0018" code or the "0x80246008" code when you try to download updates from the Microsoft Windows Update Web site or from the Microsoft Update Web site

CAUSE
This problem occurs when one of the following conditions is true:Background Inte...
This problem occurs when one of the following conditions is true:

* Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) is not running.
* BITS cannot successfully connect to the Web site.

If you receive an error message that includes the "0x8DDD0018" error code or the "0x80246008" error code, follow the steps in the "Verify that BITS is correctly configured" section to resolve this problem.

Verify that BITS is correctly configured. Then, try to start BITS. When you try to start BITS, you may receive one of several error messages. These error messages are listed in the "Troubleshooting steps" section. If you receive an error message when you try to start BITS, follow the steps in the section that corresponds to the error message that you receive.

To verify that BITS is correctly configured and then start BITS, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type services.msc, and then click OK.
2. Double-click Background Intelligent Transfer Service.
3. In the Startup type box, click Manual, and then click Apply.
4. Click the Log On tab, and then verify that the service is enabled in every hardware profile that is listed. If the service is disabled in one or more hardware profiles, click the hardware profile, click Enable, and then click Apply.
5. Click the General tab, and then click Start.

If BITS starts successfully, visit the Windows Update Web site or the Microsoft Update Web site to obtain updates. If you successfully obtain updates, follow steps 1 to 3 again. However, in step 3, click Automatic instead of Manual.

Windows could not start the Background Intelligent Transfer service on the local computer. For more information, review the system event log. If this is a non-Microsoft service, contact the service vendor and refer to service-specific error code 2147942487. (0x80070057)
This error indicates that the Windows HTTP proxy settings are invalid. To resolve this problem, remove the HTTP proxy settings. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
2. Type Proxycfg.exe, and then press ENTER.

The current proxy settings are displayed.
3. Type Proxycfg –d, and then press ENTER to remove the proxy settings.
4. Click Start, click Run, type services.msc, and then click OK.
5. Double-click Background Intelligent Transfer Service.
6. In the General tab, click Start.