Windows is unable to connect to the Automatic Updates - How to resolve this issue?

Recently, Microsoft has identified a possible issue with WSUS server and Windows update clients.
These issues would occur and reflect in event logs with following event ID: 

--------------

Event ID: 16

---------------

In the WindowsUpdate.log you may see the following entries:

WARNING: Skipping scan, self-update check returned 0x800B0001
WARNING: WU client failed Searching for update with error 0x800b0001

While going through event logs under Applications and Services Logs >Microsoft > Windows > WindowsUpdateClient >Operational you may find an error event ID: 25 as follows
===================================
Log Name: Microsoft-Windows-WindowsUpdateClient/Operational
Source: Microsoft-Windows-WindowsUpdateClient
Date: <date>
Event ID: 25
Task Category: Windows Update Agent
Level: Error
Keywords: Failure, Check for Updates
User: SYSTEM
Computer: <computer name>
Description: Windows Update failed to check for updates with error 0x800b0001.
======================================

Cause:

This can be due to a version mismatch between the Windows update agent and the WSUS server. WSUS needs to be at version 3.2.7600.251 or later in order to properly communicate with clients at version 7.6.7600.256 or later.

Resolution:
Meanwhile to resolve this issue, one of the most workable troubleshooting steps listed as follows:

NOTE:
However please make sure that the issue that you try to resolve should have error 0x800b0001 and event ID 25 as shown above.
Troubleshooting steps:
1. Check windowsupdate.log in order to understand what is causing this issue.
2. If you find following entries:
WARNING: Skipping scan, self-update check returned 0x800B0001
WARNING: WU client failed Searching for update with error 0x800b0001
(To understand how to access and read the Windowsupdate.log file please refer to following link
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/902093 )
Follow the steps:
3. Stop the Automatic Update service or run command: net stop wuauserv.
4. Open Regedit and browse to the following Registry Key:
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate.
5. Save a copy of this WindowsUpdate key (File / Export or Right-click / Export).
6. Delete the following registry values:
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\PingID.
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\AccountDo
mainSid.
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\SusClientId
7. Close Regedit.
8. Start the Automatic Update service or run command: net start wuauserv.
9. On client machine, force synchronization with the WSUS Server: wuauclt /detectnow.
10. Now check windows update and click Check for new updates.
11. If a message with green bar appears indicates that issue is resolved.
12. If a message with red bar appears indicates that issue is not resolved and proceed with
further troubleshooting.
13. In command prompt run the command: netsh winhttp show proxy and check for
any proxy configuration. If proxy is not configured proceed as follows.
14. Stop WIN HTTP Proxy service and windows update service and register important DLLs required for the changes to take place with following commands:

net stop WinHttpAutoProxySvc
net stop wuauserv
regsvr32 Softpub.dll /s
regsvr32 Wintrust.dll /s
regsvr32 Initpki.dll /s
regsvr32 Mssip32.dll /s.

15. In windows registry, for following Registry Key - take a backup: "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate."
16. Delete the following registry value.
"HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\SusClientId
17. Run iisreset command in command prompt to restart all IIS related services and start windows update service.
18. On the client, do force synchronization with the WSUS Server by running command: wuauclt /detectnow.
19. After conducting the troubleshooting steps, we checked the event logs and found following success event on the client machine under Applications and Services Logs >Microsoft > Windows > WindowsUpdateClient >Operational:

===================================
Log Name: Microsoft-Windows-WindowsUpdateClient/Operational
Source: Microsoft-Windows-WindowsUpdateClient
Date: <date>
Event ID: 30
Task Category: Windows Update Agent
Level: Information
Keywords: Connection
User: SYSTEM
Computer: <computer name>
Description: Windows Update established connectivity.
===================================

Hence this issue is resolved. No further action is required.

21. If your issue is not resolved again then apply following update on the WSUS server machine Please be sure apply this update to WSUS SERVER MACHINE

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2734608

28. Apply this update.

29. You must restart the computer after you apply this update.
30. Start synchronization on WSUS
31. Wait for the synchronization to succeed.
32. On the affected client, open cmd.exe in elevated mode
33. Type the following commands.

Net stop wuauserv

Net start wuauserv

34. The issue would be resolved once and for all.

 Microsoft has released this update for Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) 3.0 Service Pack 2 (SP2)

 This update strengthens the WSUS communication channels.

 The Windows Update Agent (WUA) on computers that are managed by this WSUS server will be automatically upgraded as needed after you apply this update.

 WSUS must be in a known, good working state for this update to work. If WSUS is configured to synchronize updates from Microsoft Update, make sure that WSUS can synchronize updates. And, clients must be able to communicate with the WSUS server.

 This update lets servers that are running Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) 3.0 SP2 provide updates to computers that are running Windows 8 or Windows Server 2012.

Any improvements or feedback on above troubleshooting steps is surely welcome.
Thank You.
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  • Edited by Chintan Vyas Wednesday, February 18, 2015 6:05 PM
December 3rd, 2012 4:14pm

Thank you, Alex, for your reply. I appreciate your feedback.

Please do not forget to vote my reply above as helpful.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Er. Chintan Vyas

MCSA, Diploma in Cyber Law, Bachelor of Engineering (Information Technology)

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June 30th, 2015 11:15pm

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