Windows Update

I am experiencing problems with Windows Updates. A relatively new update screen has been appearing during the last few days and the end effect is that I am not able to check if there are any new updates available.
I am being told about an error number 0x80070438.
When I investigate this error number I am instructed to checkout certain details within the registry (which frankly speaking very reluctant to tamper with). H/ever upon carrying out the exercise I am asked to navigate to the following

HKEY_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\SvcHost
Having got to that stage I should then doubleclick to open the netsvcs key.
Under Value Data
Add BITS and WUAUSERV to the list of services
Click OK
Exit the registry
Restart the system

The problem which I am having is that I am not quite sure how to go about adding BITS and WUAUSERV

In the right hand column the entries which appear are as follows

Name Type Data
Default REG_SZ (Value not set)
CoinitializeSecurity REG_DWORD 0x00000001(1)

I would be grateful for some professional advice exactly how to go about adding the two items mentioned so as not to experience any adverse effect to my registry or for that matter to my PC

P.S: When I carried out the above I did it in conjunction with a friend who is also reluctant to interfere with the registry. His Windows Updates works perfectly and he did say that there was a third entry other than the two just mentioned above. I think he did say it was called Authentification Capabilities

Any help advice very much appreciated.

 

Who is telling you that - WindowsUpdate?

Where did you find these instructions? I do not have anything BITS or WUAUSERV at this registry key location, and my WindowsUpdate works just fine.

Also, what is your Windows version?

 

BITS=Background Intelligent Transfer Service
WUAUSERV=Windows Update Automitac Update SERVice
Both of these must be installed in order to download/install updates. Go to Start > Run and type msconfig and press Enter. Click the Services tab and look for these two services and make sure they're checked. Download, unzip, and run Dial-A-Fix and click the Windows Update box and all the boxes on the right hand side. Try updates after Dial-A-Fix. If that doesn't work, try a reboot and update again. Dial-A-Fix is a free download: http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4899.html
I searched for 0x80070438 at Microsoft's Knowledge Base and found nothing- zero hits. But a search for wuauserv brought up about 20 hits, with many references to error codes similar to yours in the 0x800 range. Here's a link if you're interested: http://support.microsoft.com/search...d=global&query=wuauserv&adv=&mode=s&cat=False
Let us know what happens.

hopperdave2000

 

Hi Hopperdave2000

Highly appreciate your efforts in guiding me on the path to solving my prob. Your input has been excellent. Having followed your instructions I am now able to achieve Windows Update.
Just for your info I utilized Dial-A-Fix

Thanks