Can't run Windows Update/Install XPSP2

Can't seem to run Windows Update. I'm trying to install XPSP2. I can get to the Windows Update page. Usually, it just freezes on the "Checking for Updates" message. If I refresh the page, it gives me the "Express Install" and "Custom Install" options. When I try to click on "Experss Install," nothing happens. A couple times (not recently) it let me continue, and showed that I needed to download XPSP2. Then, when I'd try to download it, the download would fail. When I go to "Automatic Udates" under my System Properites, all options are greyed out. I thought this might be an adminstrator thing, but I am the administator.
Now... I'll try to explain everything that's going on with my system, without writing a novel.
Started having all kinds of virus/spyware problems last week. After consulting your "Basic Spyware, Trojan, and Virus Removal" thread about 6,000 times, I think I managed to get rid of everything (props to Major Attitude). I got all the way to Hijack This! After running this, and continuing to run and re-run the Trend-Micro and Symantec scans (reading their virus definitions/following their instructions), my PC finally seems to be virus/spyware free. During this process, I also discovered that I have access to free Symentec anti-virus through my college. I downloaded this, ran Live Update, but was unable to do a system scan. Everytime I tried, the program would crash. This, along with fact that Symantec seemed to run 1,000 processes at once, made me delete it. I downloaded AVG per your recommendations, and it seems to be working fine. As I stated earlier, I went through the "Basic Spyware, Trojan, and Virus Removal" thread a lot, so I might have done some of the steps out of order a couple of times.
I thought I might have damged some Windows files along the way, so I used my XPSP1 install disk and did an update/install. It didn't change anything. I've been using Firefox as my default browser for a while, but I always use IE to go to the Windows Update site. I have System Restore disabled. I followed your instructions to switch to Sun Java.
I think that about covers it. It's entirely possible that I just have something set wrong, or that this is something really basic. I just started learning about a lot of this stuff in the last week. Up until last week, I had been using Mozilla/Firefox and Ad-Aware, and I never had any problems. Additoinally, I tried checking this support forum (and others) for a solution to this. If I missed something, I apologize. Thank you for your help. I think it's really cool that you guys do this.

 

Enabling/Disabling Auto Updates
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Open your registry editor (start, run regedit.exe).

Navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Win dows\WindowsUpdate\AU

Look for NoAutoUpdate to the right and modify its value to 1.

Doesn't require a reboot.

If you don't have this value, you can create a new dword value called "NoAutoUpdate", minus the quotes.

Then set it to a value of 1.

Setting it to a value of 0 enables the options.

 

Awesome. I'm at work right now, but I'll try it when I go home for lunch. I'll let you know if it works out. Thanks!

 

Still no luck. Value was already set at 1. I tried switching it to 0, and then back to 1. It didn't seem to affect it either way. Options are still greyed out under "System Properties." Now, I can't get to the Windows Update site. Any ideas? Thanks again for your help.

 

I don't know if this accomplishes the same thing as Adrynalyne's advice, but go to START-->RUN & type in "services.msc" without the quotes, then hit enter. Check to make sure the "automatic updates" service is set to "automatic" for "startup type". If this is set to "manual" or "disabled", the update site won't work.

 

Thanks for the advice Wavetar, but still no luck. Startup Type was already set to Automatic. I tried to "restart it," but it didn't do anything. Still can't get to Windows Update site. Any other ideas? Thanks, again.

 

Actually, the policy I mentioned greys it out, unlike stopping the service.

Thats why i listed it. I'm surprised its still greyed out...

 

It stays greyed out, for 0 and 1 values. I was able to get to the Windows Update site now, but it's still not doing anything when I click on "Express Install."
As I said before, I could be missing something really basic. Thanks for the help and patience so far.

 

Start, run, regsvr32.exe jscript.dll

Then click ok.

 

"DllRegister Server in jscript.dll." succeeded. Still greyed out, still can't get past "Express Install." Thanks again.

 

Still not having any luck, but... I tried to let the Microsoft site automatically turn on Windows Updates. On the Protect Your PC page, under 2)Get computer updates, it says: "No action required. The Automatic Updates feature is being managed by your network administrator." (Once again, I am the aministrator).Also, the page doesn't fully load. It seems that all the images have loaded, but the progress bar only goes to about half way and then gets stuck. Does this help at all?

 

You aren't on a domain, are you?

 

Don't think so. How do I check? (sorry, if this is something I should know). This is my home PC (there's only two in my house). It's just me and one other user on this PC. I am set as the administrator, and the other user isn't. I tried switching the other user profile to administrator, and it still didn't work, so I switched it back.

 

If you don't think so, then the answer is no.

Hmmm...

 

Any ideas? Anyone?

 

If anyone is interested...

I was able to get my Automatic Updates un-greyed out by importing the registry keys from the following site:

Windows Update Greyed Out - Restore (Line 179)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Still can't download manually from the Windows Update site (when I click on Express Install, nothing happens), but I'm hoping Auto Updates takes care of it for me.

Thanks again to Adrynalyne and Wavetar for the help.