# Windows Updates don't work

If Windows Updates download but fail to install, Microsoft knowledgebase 943144 provides a fix:

[http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144](http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144)

Cleanest option is to re-register wups2.dll in Windows per KB943144.

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To register the Wups2.dll file in Windows, follow these steps:  
\# Stop the Automatic Updates service. To do this, follow these steps:  
 a. Click Start, click Run, type *cmd*, and then click OK.  
 b. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press <span class="caps">ENTER</span>:  
net stop wuauserv  
\# Register the Wups2.dll file. To do this, follow these steps:  
 a. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press <span class="caps">ENTER</span>:  
*regsvr32 <span>windir</span>\\system32\\wups2.dll*  
Note For a computer that is running Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, type the following command, and then press <span class="caps">ENTER</span>:  
*regsvr32 <span>windir</span>\\syswow64\\wups2.dll*  
 b. Click OK on each verification message that you receive.  
\# Start the Automatic Updates service. To do this, type the following command at the command prompt, and then press <span class="caps">ENTER</span>:  
*net start wuauserv*  
\# Exit the command prompt. To do this type *exit*, and then press <span class="caps">ENTER</span>.  
<del>-</del>—

Per Hubert’s original recommendation, presumably also based on KB943144:  
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There is a standalone installer for Windows Update, located for download at

[http://download.windowsupdate.com/v7/windowsupdate/redist/standalone/WindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe](http://download.windowsupdate.com/v7/windowsupdate/redist/standalone/WindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe)

This is a nice tool if you run into trouble with Windows Update failing.