Hi, We have a couple of Windows server 2003 R2 servers. Their autoupdate service is always disabled. I enabled it manually, but after server reboot, it disabled again. I think there's a setting somewhere. I cannot find it. Second, after I manully enabled the service, the microsoft update web site still cannot display. These servers are not up to date for a while. Please help. Thanks, Roger

Hi, Are there any group policies being applied (or the local group policy) to the system that have the automatic updates service disabled? -- Mike Burr

It could be. I checked around and didn't find. Could you please show me where most linke be? Thanks, Roger

Let's do a resultant set of policy, Start -> run -> type mmc, hit enter In mmc -> file -> add/remove snap-in -> add resultant set of policy, click close and OK Right click Resultant Set of Policy, click Generate RSoP Data, click next, select Logging mode, click next, select This computer, click next Select "Do not display user policy settings in the results (display computer policy settings only)", click next. Ensure that "Gather extended error information" is checked, click next. Expand Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\System Services, look for the services that are disabled. This will show whether the policies applied have disabled the service. -- Mike Burr

Mike, Thank you for the detailed procedure. I found that all local policy for the services are not defined. If a domain policy defined that disable, it should apply all servers in the domain. Now only two servers have the disabled service. I'll review the domain policy again. Do you have any more suggestion? Thanks, Roger

Mike, I just reviewed the domain policy and didn't find such configuration. From the "system services" it shows "Not Dfined" Any other places can disable the services? Virus? Thanks, Roger

Hi Roger, Are your servers in a domain or workgroup? Are you using WSUS to install updates? What’s the meaning of “the microsoft update web site still cannot display”? Does any error code or error message appear on the website? Now I suggest doing below: 1. Click Start, click Run, type services.msc and press Enter. 2. Double-click Automatic Updates, choose Automatic in the Startup type dropdown menu. 3. Click the Start button if the service status is not started and click OK. If the issue still occurs, please refer to the following article: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/328010/en-us Tim Quan TechNet Subscriber Support in forum If you have any feedback on our support, please contact tngfb@microsoft.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please remember to click “Mark as Answer” on the post that helps you, and to click “Unmark as Answer” if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

Thanks Tim, The servers are in a domain NOT workgroup. There's no WSUS. First time I saw the autoupdate service was stopped, disabled and I started it manully. But after server rebooted, the service disabled again. I think it could be a configuration somewhere in the domain or local. I reviewed domain policy and local policy and didn't find any defind disable setting. Could be virus? Registrey? Second, after I started service manully and checking Microsoft updates and it shows page cannot display. However I can go to google.com and other sites without any problem. The IE version is still 6. Should I upgrade it to IE8? Thanks, Roger

Hi Roger, Have you set its startup type as Automatic? I suggest testing this issue in the Clean Boot mode: Clean boot ================= Let’s disable all startup items and third party services when booting. This method will help us determine if this issue is caused by a loading program or service. Please perform the following steps: 1. Start the Automatic Updates service and set its startup type as Automatic. 2. Click Start, click Run, type "msconfig" (without quotation marks) in the Start Search box, and then press Enter. 3. Click the "Services" tab, check the "Hide All Microsoft Services" box and click "Disable All" (if it is not gray). 4. Click the "Startup" tab, click "Disable All" and click "OK". Then, restart the computer. When the "System Configuration Utility" window appears, please check the "Don't show this message or launch the System Configuration Utility when Windows starts" box and click OK. What’s the result now? If the Automatic Updates service still be disabled automatically, please run the command "gpresult /H GPOResult.html" on your computer to collect the client GPO information for investigation. Please upload the file to https://sftus.one.microsoft.com/choosetransfer.aspx?key=13fc5686-d49b-43f5-9ec2-792108e3b580 Password: 6oQD*+^tTx Tim Quan TechNet Subscriber Support in forum If you have any feedback on our support, please contact tngfb@microsoft.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please remember to click “Mark as Answer” on the post that helps you, and to click “Unmark as Answer” if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

Thank you Tim, Yes, each time I always set it Automatic start, however it'll set back to Disable after server rebooted. The server is in productive status, I'll pickup a right time to do the test. The server is 2003 R2 running Terminal service. Roger

Hi Roger, How are things going? We have not heard back from you in a few days and wanted to check on the status of the issue. Please let us know how things turned out. Tim Quan