Microsoft KB Archive/914227

Knowledge Base

Error message when you scan for updates on a Windows XP Service Pack 2-based computer: "Error number: 0x8DDD0004"

Article ID: 914227

Article Last Modified on 5/30/2006

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APPLIES TO

• Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2

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Important This article contains information that shows you how to help lower security settings or how to turn off security features on a computer. You can make these changes to work around a specific problem. Before you make these changes, we recommend that you evaluate the risks that are associated with implementing this workaround in your particular environment. If you implement this workaround, take any appropriate additional steps to help protect your system.

Important This article contains information about how to modify the registry. Make sure to back up the registry before you modify it. Make sure that you know how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up, restore, and modify the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows registry

SYMPTOMS

When you scan for updates in the Microsoft Windows Update Web site on a Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)-based computer, you receive an error message that resembles the following:

Error number: 0x8DDD0004

CAUSE

This problem occurs if one of the following conditions is true:

• The WUWebControl Class Active X control is turned off.
• You do not have the correct user rights in the registry.

WORKAROUND

Warning This workaround may make your computer or your network more vulnerable to attack by malicious users or by malicious software such as viruses. We do not recommend this workaround but are providing this information so that you can implement this workaround at your own discretion. Use this workaround at your own risk.

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

To resolve this problem, follow these steps:

1. Turn on the WUWebControl Class ActiveX control. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. Start Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.
   2. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
   3. On the Programs tab, click Manage Add-ons.
   4. In the list of add-ons, click WUWebControl Class, click Enable in the Settings area, and then click OK three times.
      
      Note If the problem is not resolved, continue to step 2.
2. Grant "Full Control" permission to all the registry hives for the user account that you use. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. Restart the computer. When the basic input/output system (BIOS) information appears, press F8.
      
      Note On a computer that is configured to run multiple operating systems, press F8 when the Boot menu appears.
   2. When the Windows Advanced Options menu appears, select the Safe Mode option, and then press ENTER.
   3. When the Boot menu appears and "Safe Mode" appears in blue at the bottom of the screen, select the operating system that you want to start, and then press ENTER.
   4. Log on as an Administrator. Or, log on to a user account that has Administrator rights.
   5. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
   6. In the left pane, click a registry hive. For example, click the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE registry hive.
   7. On the Edit menu, click Permissions.
   8. In the Group or user names box, click the user account that you use.
   9. Click to select the Allow check box for the Full Control permission, click Apply, and then click OK.
   10. Repeat steps f through i for all registry hives.
   11. Exit Registry Editor.
   12. Restart the computer.
       
       Note If the problem is not resolved, continue to step 3.
3. Reset the security settings back to the default settings. For more information about how to do this, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   313222 How to reset security settings back to the defaults

Keywords: kbtshoot KB914227

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