Windows Update website redirecting newly built Windows XP SP3 computers to KB article page (KB2497281)

updateswindowswindows updatewindows xp

We built and captured a sysprepped image of a computer that we had installed Windows XP on using the Windows XP SP3 media and have been using it for months without issue. Suddenly, some time this morning, on all computers we build using this image, the Windows Update website (http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com) redirects to the KB article page for KB2497281

Reinstalling SP3 fixes it.

What is causing this problem? How can I run Windows Updates without having to reinstall SP3?

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Best Answer

This solution worked for me:

  1. Open Command Prompt: Start -> Run... -> cmd -> OK
  2. Stop Automatic Updates Service: net stop wuauserv
  3. Register wups2.dll: regsvr32 %windir%\system32\wups2.dll
  4. Start Automatic Updates Service: net start wuauserv

Source: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949104

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