Microsoft Update providing 403 error code?

Published: 2009-12-11. Last Updated: 2009-12-11 22:41:07 UTC
by Joel Esler (Version: 3)
24 comment(s)

We've had two separate reports this morning from readers telling us, when they try to visit the Microsoft Update site (for XP or 2003) they are receiving 403 error messages.  One of the emails we received details having to remove MS Update and reinstall it in order to get updates to work again.

Can anyone else replicate this issue?  We've tried from several locations globally and we can't reproduce the problem.

Instructions on how to remove MS Update:  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/901037

Update: Thanks to all that have written in and commented on this thread.  We've had contact from Microsoft and they are looking into it.  It seems that there are a lot of people experiencing this problem.  Thanks again.

-- Joel Esler | http://blog.joelesler.net | http://twitter.com/joelesler

 

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24 comment(s)

Comments

I'm seeing this as well on a XP SP3 machine. MS Update worked last month.

Joel B

Dec 11th 2009
1 decade ago

This page describes how to disable MS Update and return to Windows Update. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/901037

I followed the instructions in the link above, closed IE, launched IE, went to Windows Update and was prompted to install MS Update again. I accepted and am now working again. Weird stuff.

Joel B

Dec 11th 2009
1 decade ago

I'm able to replicate the 403 issue with a 2003 R2 server as well.

Temple

Dec 11th 2009
1 decade ago

I am seeing the same thing with same OS as Joel B. Thanks for the fix Joel.

Patty

Dec 11th 2009
1 decade ago

Had this ennoying problem.
For me the solution was deleting the microsoft activex update module (dpf) with hijackthis.
Reinstall, and update will be available again.
xemaps

xemaps

Dec 11th 2009
1 decade ago

Saw this on two machines that I tested. On the first one, windows updates comes up, even though Microsoft updates is installed. I was running with reduced rights, and it hung there. When I ran IE with admin rights, it installed microsoft updates, then gave the 403 error. Same error and behavior on second PC.

Steve

Dec 11th 2009
1 decade ago

Manually updating the Windows Update Agent resolves this. No other steps required.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949104

Nick

Dec 11th 2009
1 decade ago

no problems here on XP SP2 machine.

Ben K

Dec 11th 2009
1 decade ago

Saw this on two machines that I tested. On the first one, windows updates comes up, even though Microsoft updates is installed. I was running with reduced rights, and it hung there. When I ran IE with admin rights, it installed microsoft updates, then gave the 403 error. Same error and behavior on second PC.

Steve

Dec 11th 2009
1 decade ago

One of my colleagues mentioned this today and I believe he confirmed it was a result of the Web Access Protection module in Eset NOD32 v4.0.474. Disabling this module in the options screen allowed WU/MU to function again.

Adam Piggott

Dec 11th 2009
1 decade ago

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