I cannot update my server. The BITS service will not start. When I try to start, I get the error: Could not start the BITS service on local computer. Error 267: The directory name is invalid. Any ideas??

Do you have any events related to this in your System Event Log? If so, please copy/paste them here.Certifications: MCSA 2003 MCSE 2003

Just one: Event Type: Error Event Source: Service Control Manager Event Category: None Event ID: 7023 Date: 8/10/2009 Time: 12:42:45 PM User: N/A Computer: PPIBB1 Description: The Background Intelligent Transfer Service service terminated with the following error: The directory name is invalid. For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

You could try this commandbitsadmin /Util /RepairServiceCertifications: MCSA 2003 MCSE 2003

HiMicrosoft hotfx available .... Please check outhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/969632Check this article..http://www.bahramov.com/2009/06/30/script-to-fix-the-error-with-start-up-of-automatic-updates-and-bits-services-eventid-7023-and-eventid-7024/http://helpdeskgeek.com/how-to/background-intelligent-transfer-service-will-not-start/Hope this helpDeva

Hello Jason, Thank you for posting here. From your description, when you tried to start the BITS service you received this error:"Error 267 - Directory Name Is Invalid"In the System Log, there is an error with event ID 7023. Did you configure the problematic serve as a WSUS-client?Please also check if Automatic Updates Client service was in "Starting" status. Because BITS would not start, the Automatic Updates Client would not start either. 1. To resolve the issue, please run AU_Check.exe on the problematic computer. http://cid-26139043773c1011.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/.Public/Troubleshooter/au%7C_check.zip 2. Then run IEReg.bat to re-registers the DLL's for BITS and Automatic Updates. http://cid-26139043773c1011.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/.Public/Troubleshooter/iereg.bat 3. Then reboot the server after IEReg.bat and check if the issue can be resolved. Hope this can be helpful.This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

I tried all of the above, still getting the error. This is a Windows 2003 Standard Server, so none of the XP fixes will work.

Hi Jason, To narrow down the issue, please refer to the following steps to perform a Clean Boot to perform the test. Step: 1: Perform a Clean Boot a. Click "Start", go to "Run", and type "msconfig" in the open box to start the System Configuration Utility. b. Click the "Services" tab, check the "Hide All Microsoft Services" box and click Disable All (if it is not gray). c. Click the "Startup" tab, click "Disable All" and click "OK". d. Restart your computer. When the "System Configuration Utility" window appears, please check the box and click "OK". 2. Insert Windows Server 2003 installation CD and then Run "sfc /scannow" in the command prompt. 3. Then run the following commands to register the dlls. Regsvr32 iuengine.dll Regsvr32 wuapi.dll Regsvr32 wuaueng.dll Regsvr32 wucltui.dll Regsvr32 wups.dll Regsvr32 wuauserv.dll Regsvr32 wuweb.dll 4. Find another computer with the same Windows Server 2003 Standard edition which is running BITS service, and export the following registry to a registry hive (.reg) on that good computer, and then import the registry hive file (.reg) into the problematic Windows Server 2003 box. HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\BITS (Save it as reg hive types) 5. Please restart the server to see if the issue can be fixed, if it still occurs, please uninstall and then re-install Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 on the problematic server. How to obtain the latest service pack for Windows Server 2003 http://support.microsoft.com/kb/889100 I appreciate your time and effort. Hope this can be helpful.This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

Performed all of the above, didn't work. Automatic Update service, keeps "starting", BITS service still giving error 267

Hi Jason, Thanks for reply. I would like to apologize that the above steps still doesnt work, I will try my best to help you out. From your description, I understand that we current have the following problems. 1. BITS service cannot be turned on with the Error 267 - Directory Name Is Invalid. Based on our experience, this behavior may occur if BITS service is corrupted. Hence, let's focus on the BITS service issue since it is a kernel service related to Windows Update. To troubleshoot this issue, I suggest we perform these steps: Step 1.Repair BITS service ====================== 1. Click Start, click Run, type: Inf and press Enter. A folder will be opened. 2. Locate the file "qmgr.inf" in the opened folder (you can type au to locate this file), right click on the file and choose "Install". Note: The file extension ".inf" may be hidden; we may only see the file named "qmgr". 3. The setup process will try to restore the registry branches automatically. You may not receive any notification. However, if some files cannot be located automatically, we will be prompted to select the installation source. Please click browse, and go to this location: C:\Windows\ServicePackFiles\i386 If this folder is not available, please choose the folder C:\Windows\System32. 4. Restart the computer and test the issue. Step 2.Manually import BITS Service =========================== 1. Click Start, and click Run 2. Enter the following command, and press Enter Reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\BITS\Parameters /v ServiceDll /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d %windir%\System32\qmgr.dll 3. Restart the PC and retry Windows Update If the above command does not work, please try the following command: Reg add HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\BackupRestore\FilesNotToBackup 4. Restart the PC. After that, please check if we start BITS service. If the issue still persists, please take your time to help me collect the following information for further research. Take Screenshot ============= Note: If there is any error message received, please capture a screenshot about the error message. 1. Press the Print Screen key (PrtScn) on your keyboard. 2. Click "Start", click "Run", type "mspaint", and click "OK". 3. In Paint, click Paste under the Edit Menu, click Save under the File menu, type a file name for the screenshot, choose JPEG as "Save as type", click Desktop on the left pane, and click Save. 4. Please find the screenshot on the Desktop and send it as an attachment to us via tfwst@microsoft.com System Information ==================== The System Information can provide us with more information about the current status of the system. I would like to check it for you. Please send it to me using the following steps: 1. Click "Start", go to "Run", type in "MSINFO32" (without quotation marks) and press Enter to start System Information. 2. On the popup window, on the menu bar, click "File", and click "Save to"; save it as an NFO file, such as "system.nfo" to your local Desktop. 3. Find the file, right-click on this file, click "Send To", and click "Compressed (zipped) Folder". Please send it as an attachment to tfwst@microsoft.com Note: When attaching files to emails, the process will vary depending on the email application being used. While you are composing the email, most applications will provide you with either an Attach Button or Paper Clip Icon to click in order to attach a file. After clicking this button/icon you must browse to the file you wish to attach and select it by either double clicking it or clicking it once and then clicking on the attach button. For more information about the System Information tool, please refer to the following article: Title: Description of Windows XP System Information (Msinfo32.exe) Tool Link: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;308549 Please try the above steps and let me know the results at your earliest convenience. I look forward to your reply. Hope this issue will be resolved soon. This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

The error is: Could not start the BITS service on local computer. Error 267: The directory name is invalid. Will the above steps work for this error too?

Hi Jason,Sorry for my mistake.The above steps is trying to help you to repair the BITS service and import the corresponding DLL file into registry. Error 267: The directory name is invalid indicates that the related dll and inf file could be corrupted or missing, therefore, the above steps should be also works to help you on this case.Please kindly try them on your side at your convenience, I look forward to see your reply.Thanks for your understandings.This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

Hi Jason, Thank you for sending the screenshot and the error message to us. The error message is: Error 267: The directory name is invalid As you mentioned that you could not run msinfor32 due to the access denied error, I would like to confirm if this problematic server is in a domain. If it is in a domain, please contact your domain administrator to check if the BITS service is controlled by the domain group policy. If it is workgroup mode computer, please logon an account with local administrator privilege, and try the steps and let me know the results. The steps should be helpful to fix this issue. Step 1.Repair BITS service ====================== 1. Click Start, click Run, type: Inf and press Enter. A folder will be opened. 2. Locate the file "qmgr.inf" in the opened folder (you can type au to locate this file), right click on the file and choose "Install". Note: The file extension ".inf" may be hidden; we may only see the file named "qmgr". 3. The setup process will try to restore the registry branches automatically. You may not receive any notification. However, if some files cannot be located automatically, we will be prompted to select the installation source. Please click browse, and go to this location: C:\Windows\ServicePackFiles\i386 If this folder is not available, please choose the folder C:\Windows\System32. 4. Restart the computer and test the issue. Step 2.Manually import BITS Service =========================== 1. Click Start, and click Run 2. Enter the following command, and press Enter Reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\BITS\Parameters /v ServiceDll /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d %windir%\System32\qmgr.dll 3. Restart the PC and retry Windows Update If the above command does not work, please try the following command: Reg add HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\BackupRestore\FilesNotToBackup 4. Restart the PC. After that, please check if we start BITS service. I appreciate your time and efforts. Thank you for the co-operation.This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

Hi Jason,Id like to check how things are going. Did you have the chance to try the troubleshooting steps? If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to let me know.This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

none of the above instructions worked.

Hi Jason, This is a common issue. Based on my experience, most customers encountering this issue can fix it after performing the above suggestions I provided. Therefore, when you are free, I recommending trying these suggestions step by step again. If you encounter any problem when trying these steps, please feel free to let me know and I will explain it for you. If you prefer our phone support, you can contact your local Microsoft Customer Service and Support (CSS). In this way, you can speak directly with a Microsoft Support Professional to analyze the problem in order to resolve the issue more efficiently. You may obtain the phone numbers for specific technology request please take a look at the web site listed below:http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;OfferProPhone#faq607 If you prefer our forum support, please let me know and I will continue to work closely with you. If you would like to continue to work with me, please try my suggestions again first and help me collect the following information: 1. Is your computer in a domain or workgroup? 2. System Information ==================== The System Information can provide us with more information about the current status of the system. I would like to check it for you. Please send it to me using the following steps: 1. Click "Start", go to "Run", type in "MSINFO32" (without quotation marks) and press Enter to start System Information. 2. On the popup window, on the menu bar, click "File", and click "Save to"; save it as an NFO file, such as "system.nfo" to your local Desktop. 3. Find the file, right-click on this file, click "Send To", and click "Compressed (zipped) Folder". Please send it as an attachment to tfwst@microsoft.com I am looking forward to hearing from you.This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.