I keep having this happen, its a real pain in the arse! So I post this mostly for my own quick reference. This is actually to fix this and another similar problem I keep running into, I figure if you do both you don’t have to waste time looking up the error in WindowsUpdate.log.

To fix it:

1. Close Internet Explorer
2. Click [Start]
3. Click [Run]
4. Type “cmd” [Hit Enter]
5. Type “net stop wuauserv” [Hit Enter]
6. Type “rmdir /s %windir%\softwaredistribution\wuredir” [Hit Enter]
7. Type each of the following one line at a time ([Hit Enter] after each):
   • Regsvr32 msxml3.dll
   • Regsvr32 wuapi.dll
   • Regsvr32 wuaueng.dll
   • Regsvr32 wucltui.dll
   • Regsvr32 wups.dll
   • Regsvr32 wuweb.dll
   • Regsvr32 qmgr.dll
   • Regsvr32 qmgrprxy.dll
   • Regsvr32 jscript.dll
8. Type “net start wuauserv” [Hit Enter]

This advise comes with no warranty of any kind, use it at your own risk!

Alternatively paste the following in two chunks into the Command Prompt ([Right Click] and select [Paste])


net stop wuauserv
rmdir /s %windir%\softwaredistribution\wuredir

Then

Regsvr32 msxml3.dll
Regsvr32 wuapi.dll
Regsvr32 wuaueng.dll
Regsvr32 wucltui.dll
Regsvr32 wups.dll
Regsvr32 wuweb.dll
Regsvr32 qmgr.dll
Regsvr32 qmgrprxy.dll
Regsvr32 jscript.dll
net start wuauserv


Alternatively if this doesn’t work try reinstalling the update agent. This can be downloaded via Microsoft Help and Support: 949104. (Direct Link for x86)

On day 3 I have completed five of eight posts. The first one wasn’t great and took over an hour, the fifth one is somewhat better and took about half the time. Some pics attached.

1. Open the ‘Local Security Policy (Local Security Settings) Panel’, found under ‘Control Panel > Administrative Tools’.
2. Open the ‘Software Restriction Policies’ directory.
3. If there is an ‘Additional Rules’ directory ignore this step, otherwise click the ‘Action’ menu (at the top) and select ‘Create New Restriction Policies’
4. Open the ‘Additional Rules’ directory
5. Click the ‘Action’ menu (at the top) and select ‘New Path Rule…’
6. Click the ‘Browse’ button and navigate to your Avira install directory, usually ‘C:\Program Files\Avira\AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic’
7. Highlight ‘avnotify.exe’ and click the ‘Ok’ button.

Now Avira will function as normal, however you won’t get the annoying nag screen every time it updates.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jixor/

Really well researched article goes through Googles lead up to releasing the browser:
http://www.niallkennedy.com/blog/2008/09/google-chrome.html

Lifehacker’s summary of Chrome’s hidden “about:” pages:
http://lifehacker.com/5045164/google-chromes-full-list-of-special-about-pages
Or Google’s http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2008/09/google-chromes-about-pages.html

Lifehacker article goes through Firefox plugins to enable some similar functionallity to Chrome:
http://lifehacker.com/5044518/enable-chromes-best-features-in-firefox

Good article for those paranoid about what information Chrome may be sending to Google:
http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/google-chrome-communication/