Error message when you check for updates on the Windows Update site: "0X800A138F: There are no updates available at this time"

Because this problem can occur for several different reasons, you may have to work through more than one method to resolve the problem. However, we start with the simplest method, and we provide step-by-step instructions to guide you. If you cannot resolve the problem, or you feel that you are too inexperienced to try the advanced methods, we will tell you how to contact Microsoft for more support.

Before we get started, you must know which version of Internet Explorer that your computer is running. If you already know which version of Internet Explorer is running, you can go to method 1. Otherwise, follow these steps:

1. Start Internet Explorer.
2. On the Help menu, click About Internet Explorer.
   
   The product and version information are displayed in the About Internet Explorer dialog box that appears.

Now that you know which browser version that your computer is running, you are ready to try method 1.

Method 1: Reset Internet Explorer settings

If the problem is caused by damaged or incompatible Internet Explorer settings or add-ons, you can usually resolve the problem by resetting Internet Explorer settings. When you reset Internet Explorer settings, all add-ons and customizations are deleted, and you basically start with a fresh version of Internet Explorer.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings restores the default settings of the following features:

• Home pages
• Search providers, tabbed browsing settings
• Browsing history
• Form data
• Passwords
• Colors, languages, fonts, and accessibility settings
• Toolbars
• ActiveX controls

Note By resetting Internet Explorer settings, you return Internet Explorer to the state it was in when it was first installed on your computer. Resetting removes any information that is stored in the settings that are listed in this section.

To have us reset Internet Explorer settings for you, go to the "Reset Internet Explorer for me" section. To reset Internet Explorer settings yourself, go to the "Let me reset Internet Explorer myself" section.

Reset Internet Explorer for me

To reset Internet Explorer settings automatically, click the Reset Internet Explorer button or link. Click Run in the File Download dialog box, and follow the steps in the Fix it wizard.

Note This wizard may be in English only; however, the automatic fix also works for other language versions of Windows.

Note If you are not on the computer that has the problem, you can save the automatic fix to a flash drive or to a CD, and then you can run it on the computer that has the problem.

Next, go to the "Did this fix the problem?" section.

Let me reset Internet Explorer myself

Important This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

322756 How to back up and restore the registry in Windows

Video: How to reset settings in Internet Explorer 9

To reset Internet Explorer settings for Microsoft Internet Explorer 6, follow these steps:

1. Delete the browsing history and the temporary Internet files.
   1. Click Start, and then click Run.
   2. In the Run box, type inetcpl.cpl, and then press ENTER. The Internet Options dialog box appears.
   3. Click the General tab.
   4. In the Temporary Internet files section, click Delete Cookies, and then click OK.
   5. On the same tab, click Delete Files.
   6. Click to select the Delete all offline content check box, and then click OK.
2. Set a language preference.
   1. On the General tab, click Languages.
   2. If no language is selected in the Language list, add a language preference. The English (United States) [en-us] option is preferred. After you select a language, click OK.
      
      Note If more than one language preference is selected, remove all the languages except one in the Language list.
3. Reset Web settings.
   1. Click the Programs tab, click Reset Web Settings, and then click Yes.
   2. Click the Advanced tab, and then click Restore Defaults.
   3. On the same tab, click to clear the Enable third-party browser extensions check box, and then click OK.
4. Start Internet Explorer, and try to install updates.

To reset Internet Explorer settings for Windows Internet Explorer 7, follow these steps:

1. In Internet Explorer, click Tools, and then click Internet Options.
2. On the Advanced tab, click Reset.
3. In the Reset Internet Explorer Settings dialog box, click Reset.
4. When Internet Explorer 7 finishes restoring the default settings, click Close, click OK, and then click OK again.
5. Exit Internet Explorer 7. The changes take effect the next time that you open Internet Explorer 7. If you still have problems with Windows Update, go to method 2.

Note If you cannot start Internet Explorer 7 for some reason, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. Click Network and Internet, and then click Internet Options.
3. On the Advanced tab, click Reset.

For more information about the Reset Internet Explorer Settings (RIES) feature in Internet Explorer 7, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

923737 How to use Reset Internet Explorer Settings (RIES)

926717 The Reset Internet Explorer Settings (RIES) feature does not reset some settings in Internet Explorer 7

Did this fix the problem?

Check whether the problem is fixed by trying to install updates from the Windows Update site. If you can install updates from the Windows Update site, you are finished with this section. If the problem is not fixed, you can contact support.

This section is intended for advanced computer users. If you are not comfortable with advanced troubleshooting, you might want to ask someone for help or contact support. For more information about how to contact Microsoft support, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

Method 2: Temporarily turn off background programs

Firewall or Internet accelerator programs may interfere with Windows Update. Even though you may have a firewall or Internet accelerator that was running for some time without any previous problems with accessing Windows Update, new updates for these programs can create unforeseen issues. Some common applications that may cause conflicts with Windows Update include the following:

• NetZero HiSpeed accelerator
• Netscape Internet Service accelerator
• Slipstream
• Telus Fast Dial up service
• Sygate Personal Firewall
• Norton Internet Security
• Freedom Firewall
• Zone alarm Firewall
• Call wave accelerator
• Juno speedband

You can temporarily disable these programs to see whether they are interfering with Windows Update. For more information about how to turn off these applications, see the product documentation that was included with the application, or contact the program vendor.

For information about how to contact your application vendor, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/gp/vendors

If you turn off third-party background programs, and this does not enable you to successfully download Windows Updates, go to method 3.

Method 3: Configure proxy settings

1. Start Internet Explorer.
2. Click Tools, and then click Internet Options.
3. Click the Advanced tab, click to select the Use HTTP 1.1 and Use HTTP 1.1 through proxy connections check boxes, and then click OK.
4. Exit Internet Explorer.
5. Restart Internet Explorer, and then try to install updates.

Method 4: Manually set your proxy server address and port

To use this procedure, you must have information about your proxy server that only your system administrator or Internet service provider (ISP) can provide. Therefore, you may have to contact your system administrator or ISP before you continue.

1. In Internet Explorer, click Tools, and then click Internet Options.
2. Click the Connections tab, and then click LAN Settings.
3. Under Proxy Server, click to select the Use a proxy server for your LAN (These settings will not apply to dial-up or VPN connections) check box, and then click Advanced.
   Note If you do not use a proxy server, make sure that the Use a proxy server for your LAN (These settings will not apply to dial-up or VPN connections) check box is not selected.
4. Type the appropriate proxy server address and port in the Secure box, and then click OK.
5. Try to install updates.

Method 5: Register Windows Update engine files

If the system DLL files that Windows Update requires to run have not been registered correctly on your system, you can have problems with Windows Update.

To register the files in Windows Vista, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, type notepad in the Start Search text box, and then click Notepad in the Programs list.
2. Copy the following commands, and then paste them into the Notepad file that is opened:
   
   NET STOP BITS
   NET STOP WUAUSERV
   REGSVR32 C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WUAUENG.DLL /U /S
   REGSVR32 C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WUAUENG1.DLL /U /S
   REGSVR32 C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WUAPI.DLL /U /S
   REGSVR32 C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\ATL.DLL /U /S
   REGSVR32 C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WUCLTUI.DLL /U /S
   REGSVR32 C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WUPS.DLL /U /S
   REGSVR32 C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WUPS2.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\IUENGINE.DLL /U /S
   REGSVR32 C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WUWEB.DLL /U /S
   REN "%WINDIR%\SOFTWAREDISTRIBUTION" "OLDSDVINOD"
   REGSVR32 C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WUAUENG.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WUAUENG1.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WUAPI.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\ATL.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WUCLTUI.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WUPS.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\IUENGINE.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WUWEB.DLL /S
   NET START BITS
   NET START WUAUSERV
   NET START CRYPTSVC
   REGSVR32 VBSCRIPT.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 JSCRIPT.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 SCRRUN.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 DISPEX.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 MSSCRIPT.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 SOFTPUB.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 WINTRUST.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 INITPKI.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 URLMON.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 DSSENH.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 MSXML.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 MSXML2.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 MSXML3.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 RSAENH.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 GPKCSP.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 SCCBASE.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 SLBCSP.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 CRYPTDLG.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 MSSIP32.DLL /S
   
3. From Notepad, click File, click Save as, and then type register.bat.
4. Click Save as type, and then select All Files (*).
5. Save the register.bat file to your Desktop.
6. On your Desktop, right-click the register.bat file, and then click Run as Administrator. If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Allow.
7. Check for updates, and install the updates that you find.

To register the files in Windows XP, in Microsoft Windows 2000, or in Windows Server 2003, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type notepad, and then click OK.
2. Copy the following commands, and then paste them into the Notepad file that is opened:
   
   NET STOP BITS
   NET STOP WUAUSERV
   REGSVR32 C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WUAUENG.DLL /U /S
   REGSVR32 C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WUAUENG1.DLL /U /S
   REGSVR32 C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WUAPI.DLL /U /S
   REGSVR32 C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\ATL.DLL /U /S
   REGSVR32 C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WUCLTUI.DLL /U /S
   REGSVR32 C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WUPS.DLL /U /S
   REGSVR32 C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WUPS2.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\IUENGINE.DLL /U /S
   REGSVR32 C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WUWEB.DLL /U /S
   REN "%WINDIR%\SOFTWAREDISTRIBUTION" "OLDSDVINOD"
   REGSVR32 C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WUAUENG.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WUAUENG1.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WUAPI.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\ATL.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WUCLTUI.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WUPS.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\IUENGINE.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WUWEB.DLL /S
   NET START BITS
   NET START WUAUSERV
   NET START CRYPTSVC
   REGSVR32 VBSCRIPT.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 JSCRIPT.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 SCRRUN.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 DISPEX.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 MSSCRIPT.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 SOFTPUB.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 WINTRUST.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 INITPKI.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 URLMON.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 DSSENH.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 MSXML.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 MSXML2.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 MSXML3.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 RSAENH.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 GPKCSP.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 SCCBASE.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 SLBCSP.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 CRYPTDLG.DLL /S
   REGSVR32 MSSIP32.DLL /S
   
3. From Notepad, click File, click Save As, and then type register.bat.
4. Click Save as type, and then select All Files (*.*).
5. Save the register.bat file to your Desktop.
6. On your Desktop, double-click the register.bat file to register the Windows Update files.
7. Check for updates, and install the updates that you find.