Windows update downloads access denied

[pecarroll]

Went to Microsoft to manually download any available Win XP SP2 updates, security or otherwise. Got the following message: "Network poicy settings prevent you from using Windows update to download and install updates on your computer." I don't have a network here, just my office computer and nothing is networked. As for system administrators, that be me.

Suggested fix was: Start/Run/gpedit.msc then change settings. Only problem is, computer can't find gpedit.msc and I couldn't find it using explorer.

Any help appreciated.

[w1che]

Are you running XP home or pro?

[pecarroll]

XP Home

[w1che]

gpedit.msc doesn't come with xp home only pro.. There's no easy way to edit Group Policy on a stock XP Home; you have to edit the registry manually. There's a Microsoft document available at

http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...cySettings.xls

that tells you which keys do what.

Someone else may come along with a better idea but that's the only way I know to do it..

[pecarroll]

Looks like I've got some reading to do. Many thanks.

[GretaP]

Hi pecarroll,

You could edit the registry as per the instructions "For users running Windows 98 or Windows Millennium Edition" in the Resolution section of this MSKB article:
You receive one or more error messages when the system administrator disables Windows Update or Microsoft Update
As the instructions in that article for XP refer to using the Group Policy Editor, for XP Home you would do the registry edit.

[Billy_Bob]

This may help.

nevermind. I was mistaken.

[Billy_Bob]

Here we go. This utility is well recommended as a substitute for gpedit.msc in Home edition.

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_securityconsole.htm