I was working on a friends PC the other day. It had Windows XP Home on it and several viruses! After cleaning out the viruses, I updated the PC to XP SP 2 to get the security advantages that the service pack confers.
However, on re-starting the PC after the install, the Security Centre gave a warning that Automatic Updates were not turned on. On attempting to turn it on from the Security Centre, I got the error message “The security center could not change your automatic updates settings”.
I tried changing the Automatic Update settings through the Control Panel but according to the Control Panel, the Updates were turned on! However, every time I re-started or logged in again, I got the warning “Your computer may be at risk”.
Resolution:
I did a Google search on this error and found a resolution on Google Groups – after registering the dlls in this thread, I closed and re-opened the Security Centre and the Automatic Updates showed as being on.
Comments
62 responses to “Security center could not change your automatic updates settings”
Hi everyone A big thank you for this wonderful site, it has helped me immensely
Thanks for this – a friend of mine had the same problem. Followed your link, and problem sorted.
Thanks
Thanks, Tom. This post saved me a headache. That message was driving me crazy (and, I think, my system wasn’t Autoupdating, as I’d feared). One good think about the ‘net — you can pretty much guarantee that someone’s had the same problem and already found a solution. For ANY problem that comes up. 😉
Thanks a bunch, you and Kaylene aka Taurarian are “the man”! Easy fix, worked right the first time, quick too! Well, quick once XP finally decided to let the first command actually run…
Hey man…
I have got the exact same problem. My automatic updates do not work. I didn’t really understand the solution for this problem. Could you be a friend and tell me how exactly you tackled this problem?
Hello. The thread half worked for me. It did not solve my Windows Update error but at least it let me turn system restore on/off again. Thanks, Noel. Ireland.
Excellent. Worked a charm. Thank you
Thank you very much. I had been spent few hours to solve this problem and finally able to do it! Thanks!
How do you permanently get rid of the stupid warning flag that keeps nagging me to turn on automatic updates
Denver,
the easiest way might be to turn on Automatic Updates – not trying to be smart – you should be keeping your pc up to date with the latest patches from Microsoft antway.
Ok, along these lines I have a very strange problem with Windows XP and Automatic Updates. I do not want them, so I turn them off.. fairly simple process… but once a week the option for automatic updates gets turned back ON without my interaction. This happens on 5 different XP Pro machines that I have.. plus my XP Home laptop.
Anyone else see this? This has been going on for months. My first thought was that maybe a Virus or Spyware was changing it… assuming it was ON.. flipping the current setting… but I run all kinds of VIRI/spyware software and also can’t believe all 6 machines would have the same infection.
Any ideas?? The normal “windows security, turn off updates…” just won’t work… I do this every week after it gets changed… and the next week it will turn itself back on… very annoying.
Thanks!
Here is a way to get rid of that annoying little warning.
Goto the control pannel /security settings.
Ont he left hand side, click where it says “Change the way security center alerts me”.
Then just uncheck the ones that you dont want to see.
Easy to do but for some reason MS is kinda quiet on how to do this
Well, thanks for the idea.. but as I stated.. changing the settings to NOT do auto updates does not work for more than a week… then somehow it gets changed back. I want auto updates turned off… 100%.. forever… but low and behold once a week they keep getting turned back on somehow…….. arrrrrrg!
Dan, have you tried turning the auto update service off? If not…
Go to control pannel…..administrative tools…. amd click on services
Look down the list untill you find automatic updates, about 6 services down the list.
Double click automatic updates. In the center where it says “startup type”, change it to manual or disabled.
If you go to the MS sight to do updates you will have to turn this service back on in order for it to work and update from the web site.
I hope that helps.
I have a bodgy version of XP-Pro and use the windizupdates web site for my updates (no WGA spyware) I also managed to download the SP-2 from another non-Micro$oft website.
I also keep getting that nagging pop-up advising me to switch on my updates, It’s a pain in the neck.
There must be a simple way of pissing it off.
Microsoft also has this in their knowledge base –
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=919745
Actually this knowledge based article help me fix my issue.
Lovely!!! Works like a Charm!!!
[…] found this blog post about the same problem and he linked to this suggestion: Try registering the following: Click […]
i have this problem with Vista, can anyone give me a fix for it?
when i tried to register the dll thats mentioned, when registering some of them it gave this error message. Please help.. this is driving me crazy.. 🙁 my OS is Vista 32-bit home premium
the module “wups.dll” was loaded but the call to DllRegisterServer failed with error code 0x80070005
thnx alottttt..u r tooooo good….man thnx
It still won’t turn on and I have checked to see if everthing is right in the control panel.
Brilliant. Re-registered the files and all OK now. Thanks – this was driving me around the bend! About a million updates to install now though!
I don’t have that problem BUT i have a seriously annoying problem with my automatic updates that i just can’t change. I haven’t been getting any updates because the default setting is to download them at 3am but of course my pc isn’t on at that time and in automatic update settings i can’t change a single thing. Where each bit is its got they darkish grey colour over the top of it blocking it off so pretty much i haven’t been getting any updates in the past few months…. plz help
Thanks Much It worked 100%
Hi i am unable to turn on the automatic update when i try to turn on, i am getting a error msg as the secutiry center could not change your automatic updates setting and treid to do manullay unable ti turn on can you send me fix for this problem
I just had this same issue with my PC for the first time. I had heard of the issue before but had never seen how to fix it. Thanks for the help!
OMG!!!!! YOU ARE SERIOUSLY A GODSEND!!! My computer started acting up yesterday, and I didn’t know why. Now, I’m going to start doing the updates now. Thank you so much! Oh, also, for some reason, ever since my Automatic Updates stopped working, I’ve been getting random popups whenever I’m on the internet. Like, getting prizes and movies and such. My popup blocker is on, but I have no idea why it’s doing it…..
Oh my god, I LOVE YOU. Thanks a million. It was driving me insane.
Thanks a lot. not even specialized forums could help me and this did 🙂
Did not work for me at all.
I have a completely different problem. When i looked in services.msc i couldnt find the tab for Automatic Updates. HOw come?
thanks it work for me …
thanks again
I have a similar problem in WINDOWS VISTA. Can you help us fix the same problem in it?
Thanks.
Excellent. Worked a charm. Thank you
Your the best
Thank yoou so much.
Nice one Tom!
This tip may be over 6 years old, but it’s still helping people and worked a treat on my sister’s PC – thanks!
ok how did u fix it ? i dont really understand how anyone did it but apperently this works cuz everyones comments say it works
i have the same problem but i dont understand how all of you fixed it…. plz help
Holy Schnikes!
Who would’ve thunk that after more than 5 years this post would even exist let alone work like a charm, thanks so much, this absolutely did the trick.
God bless you!
Thanks! Worked great.
[…] behind after you uninstall them, disabling the tools that you need to fight them. So thanks to this page and this page, I found out how to turn Automatic Updates back on after the computer was clean of […]
Open command prompt and Enter this below command and hit ENTER KEY:
regsvr32 wuaueng.dll
You will receive small pop-up window saying “command succeed”
That’s it.!!!!, now try to TURN ON Auto Update.
BIG thanks Jagan,
This one worked for me – and very simple too!
Your are Welcome, Tony.
Thanks Jagan
v helpful and easy
you made me happy
i am wearing smiley face
Worked like a charm Jagan- Thanks Much!!
Worked just as you said, thanks for posting!
Hey, it worked! This has been bothering me for a while now. Thank you! 🙂
JAGAN – JAGAN – JAGAN!! NICE VERY NICE!!
Thanks for the solution, worked perfectly!
You are Welcome.
You can visit my website : http://www.just2help.com for more FREE issue resolution.
Even for FREE Remote support on issues resolution.
to resolve problem automatic “updates not working”
Click Start, select Run and type:
regsvr32 wuapi.dll
regsvr32 wuaueng.dll
regsvr32 atl.dll
regsvr32 wucltui.dll
regsvr32 wups.dll
Press enter after each one and wait for the success message …
after that go to security centar and turn ON automatic update… it work !!!!
Hey thanks for the advice.
Just done this and hey presto windows update now working
Many Thanks,
Antony
Yes! This works! Thank You!
Brilliant. Worked perfectly the first time. Thank you!
Thank you SO MUCH!! Why couldn’t Microsoft provide this info when I checked at the Windows sites?!?
Excellent. Worked a charm. Thank you
Thanks so much. This post helped me!
Nearly eight years later, and this post helped me out today. Thank you so much!
Thanks for this post. It still works.
Worked!!!!