Windows Update Error 80245003 – Windows Update won’t run on Vista RC2

Updated on 06.25.07: I have added some more detailed steps based on feedback I received. See end of post for further details.

I’m playing around with Windows Vista on a test box that I have. So far, it’s looking like a fairly nice upgrade to XP. It doesn’t feel like a complete overhaul (which, from my understanding, it somewhat is since many items have been reworked from the ground up). I’ve gone through the various cycles and now have found myself at RC2 (running the Windows Ultimate version).

I have installed this using VMware as well, testing integration with an Active Directory domain. For the most part, joining the domain and hooking in Office 2007 beta worked fine (including and extremely easy integration of Outlook into my corp account). However, a few months ago, after attaching to an Active Directory domain that had a server that managed Critical Updates from a centralized point, I lost the ability to do Windows Updates. It turns out that the server that managed Critical Updates needed to be patched to allow Vista to connect. After reading the documentation, I found that the upgrade process was a bit sketchy, so I took a different route and just detatched from the Active Directory domain. Then I was able to run updates without any problems.

But I’m getting a bit sidetracked. My latest install on my test box was with RC2. After installing, I found that I could not connect to Windows Updates. I was getting an Update Error of 80245003. After digging around, I found a very helpful thread that resolve my issue immediately. It looks like I had some corruption in the update directory (or something similar). The stepts to resolve were very easy:

1. Disable the Windows Update Service (Settings > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services). Just stop the service.
2. Navigate to: C:/Windows/ (or whereever you Windows system is)
3. Find the folder named: “SoftwareDistribution”
4. Rename that folder to something like “SoftwareDistribution.old”
5. Create a new folder called “SoftwareDistribution”
6. Go back to your Services panel and start the Windows Update service
7. Rerun Windows Update

After doing those steps (which took all of 1-2 minutes), I was back up and running with WindowsUpdates.

Updated: More detailed steps are listed below.

Below are some slightly modified steps (based on ones provided by HTD reader, CSUjr -thanks-) which supposedly work for Vista Ultimate:

1. Start > Control Panel > System and Maintenance, then (under Windows Update) > Turn automatic updating from “on” to “off”, then click “never check for updates”
2. Close Control Panel
3. REBOOT
4. Goto My Computer
5. Click on C: (or your Primary Drive)
6. Open the “Windows” folder
7. Rename the Folder called “SoftwareDistribution” to “SoftwareDistributionOLD”
8. Create a new folder named “SoftwareDistribution”
9. Close all windows and any running programs.
10. REBOOT
11. Go back to Step 1. (and back to > Turn automatic updating on or off), then turn the Automatic Updates back “On”.
12. Close all windows and any running programs.
13. REBOOT
14. Then click on Start and type in “Windows Automatic Updates” in the search box
15. Click on the “Windows Automatic Updates” icon
16. Run Windows Automatic Updates.

Did you find this solution helpful? If so:

Original credits to this thread where I found the answer. Good luck!