Windows Live OneCare Help

Unable to Check for Updates Error

The following error message may display when the Windows Live OneCare shows the out of date red status message, and you try to update the tool by selecting the Update Now button.

Windows OneCare could not check for updates: The update service is not available. Please try again later.

Cause of the Error

This error may occur when one of the following conditions is true:

• There is a problem with Internet connection.
• The Windows Live OneCare installation on your computer is damaged.

Resolution Methods

You can use one or more of the following methods, to resolve the error.

Method 1: Ensure that your Internet connection is working properly.

1. On your computer—on which Windows Live OneCare is running—open Internet Explorer.
2. Open a Web site to ensure that it opens.
3. If it does not open, first resolve the Internet connectivity issues and then try to update your Windows Live OneCare tool again.

Method 2: Uninstall any third-party firewall, download accelerator, dial-up applications on your computer.

To remove third-party firewall , dial-up, or download accelerator applications, follow these steps:

1. Open Control Panel and select the Add or Remove Programs link, or open Start menu, select Run, type appwiz.cpl , and then press Enter.
2. In the Currently installed programs list, search for third-party firewall, download accelerator, dial-up applications on your computer.
3. If you find any, select Remove or Change/Remove button to uninstall these programs.

Method 3: Disable the Internet Explorer "Automatically detect settings" option.

1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. On the Tools menu, select the Internet Options command.
3. On the Connections tab, select the LAN Settings button.
4. In the Local Area Network (LAN) Settings dialog box that displays, clear the Automatically detect settings check box, and then click the OK button.
5. Close Internet Explorer, restart your system, and then try to update your Windows Live OneCare tool.

Method 4: Reset the Microsoft Windows OneCare Live folder permissions.

1. Display the Command Prompt window.
2. At command prompt, type the following commands and then press Enter.
   
   C:\> net stop winss
   C:\> cacls "%programfiles%\Microsoft Windows OneCare Live" /T /G administrators:F
   C:\> Y
   C:\> net start winss
   
3. Open Windows Live OneCare application.
4. In the Protection Plus section, select Check for updates.

Method 5: Download the Windows Live OneCare Virus and Spyware Repair and then perform spyware repair.

1. Log on to your system with user account that has administrative rights to the computer.
2. Download the Windows Live OneCare Virus and Spyware Repair Tool from the following Microsoft Web site:
   
   http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=70adca25-950c-4b1b-a5e2-297e80aa67b1&DisplayLang=en
   
3. Next, to start the repair process, double-click on the downloaded file and then select Run.
4. Select Continue.
5. Select I accept the terms of the End-User License Agreement, and then select Continue.
6. Select Repair to start repairing.
7. Select Close.
8. Restart your system.

Method 6: Start your Windows XP computer in Selective Startup mode.

1. Open Start menu, select Run, type services.msc , and then press Enter.
2. On the General tab, do the following:
   
   1. Select the Selective Startup option.
   2. Clear the Load Startup Items check box.
      
3. On the Services tab, do the following:
   
   1. Select the Hide All Microsoft Services check box.
   2. Clear the check boxes of all the remaining services.
      
4. Click the OK button, and then click the Restart button in the message box displayed to restart your computer.
5. Try to update the Windows Live OneCare again.
6. After the update is complete, reboot your system, open the System Configuration Utility (msconfig) again and then select the Normal Startup - load all device drivers and services option.
7. Finally, select OK and then Restart to reboot your computer.