How to Fix Automatic Updates for XP

Register Windows Update File
1. Click 'Start,' then click 'Run.' Type 'cmd' in the 'Open' box and press 'Enter' to open the Windows Command Prompt.
2. Type 'net stop wuauserv' in the Command Prompt. Press 'Enter' to stop the Automatic Updates service.
3. Type 'regsvr32 %windir%\system32\wups2.dll' in the Command Prompt if running any Windows XP version other than XP Professional x64 Edition. For Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, type 'regsvr32 %windir%\syswow64\wups2.dll' in the Command Prompt. Press 'Enter' to register the 'Wups2.dll' file.
4. Click 'OK' if a verification message appears.
5. Type 'net start wuauserv' in the Command Prompt. Press 'Enter' to start the Automatic Updates service. Click the close button in the top right corner to exit Windows Command Prompt.
Obtain Windows Updates
6. Open Microsoft Internet Explorer.
7. Type update.microsoft.com in your Internet browser's address bar. Press 'Enter.'
8. Click the 'Express' option next to 'Get high-priority updates.' Wait for the Microsoft website to check what updates your computer needs. Click the 'Install Updates' button. Restart your computer, when prompted, after the critical updates have finished installing. After updates are downloaded and installed from the Microsoft website, the Automatic Updates service can correctly detect when your computer needs updates and download them automatically.
9. Click 'Start.' Right-click 'My Computer' and select 'Properties.' Click the 'Automatic Updates' tab. Click the 'Automatic' radio button option if it is not already selected. Click 'OK.'