XP Automatic update service missing on my computer

[teach1st]

(XP Home SP 1) I hadn't checked the Windows Update (v5) site for two weeks, but as of today, I can't check for updates manually. I get this message:

[Error number: 0x8DDD0018]

Windows Update cannot continue because a required service application is disabled. Windows Update requires the following services:
Automatic Updates enables detection, downloading, and installation of critical updates for your computer.
Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) enables faster, restartable downloading of updates.
Event Log logs Windows Update events for troubleshooting.

Here's my problems
The AUTOMATIC UPDATES service isn't listed on my computer. It ain't there in SERVICES. (Both BITS and EVENT LOGS are running)

In my AUTOMATIC UPDATES properties (My Computer > Properties > Automatic Updates) automatic updates is set to AUTOMATIC, but controls are greyed out.

The way I see it, I need to have the Automatic Updates service listed in services. I have no idea how to do that. Searching around Microsoft and other web sites provided no clues.

[Randall]

Typing this in at a command prompt is supposed to install the Automatic Updates service (haven't seen this happen myself, so I'm just passing along what I've heard).
%SystemRoot%\System32\rundll32.exe setupapi,InstallHinfSection AutoUpdate 132 %SystemRoot%\inf\au.inf It's all one line, with no spaces around the comma. And parts of it will be case sensitive.

Randall

[teach1st]

Thanks, Randall! That did it!

I had to get my XP CD out of hurricane storage and it installed the wuauserv stuff. The Updates site works now. My Automatic Update settings are still greyed out, but I know how to mess with them in the registry.

I appreciate it!

[Randall]

:yeah:

Randall