The following error message may appear on your computer screen when you attempt to use the Windows Update Website to update your computer.
Error 0x800A138F
When the error appears, the update service fails and your computer is not updated.
If you open the Windows Update log file, you may find that error code 0x80072EE2 is added to the log file along with the error message toward the end of the file-where the latest update logs are added.
Given below is the most common error message that users may find:
Error IUENGINE Determining machine configuration (Error 0x8007007E: The specified module could not be found.)
Note: In Windows XP, Windows Update log file is located at C:\Windows\WindowsUpdate.log by default.
Cause of Error
The following are two of the main causes of this error:
- Microsoft XML Parser (MSXML) 3.0 Service Pack 3 (SP3) is buggy and has several security issues.
- Cabinet.dll and urlmon.dll files are either missing or corrupt.
Resolution Methods
This error message can be resolved by using one of the following methods. After using each method, try to run the update to see if the problem has been rectified.
Method 1: Register MSXML 3.0 DLL files on the System
MSXML 3.0 ships with many software programs and uninstalling any of these from the system may unregister MSXML 3.0 files on the system. To register these files on a Windows XP computer, perform the following steps:
- Open Start menu, select Run, in the Open box, type the following command and then press Enter.
- Restart your system and try updating it.
regsvr32 msxml3.dll
Method 2: Install MSXML 3.0 Service Pack 4 (SP4)
In case you have upgraded to Windows XP from an older operating system, such as Window 98, Windows ME, or Windows NT 4.0, then you may have to install Microsoft XML Parser (MSXML) version 3.0 SP4 on the system. You can download the latest Service Pack from the Microsoft download Web site.
Method 3: Scan the System for Missing or Corrupt System Files
On your Windows XP computer, you can perform the following tasks to scan your system for missing or corrupt system files and replace them, if required:
- Insert the Windows XP installation CD in the CD-Drive.
- On the Start menu, select Run, type sfc /scannow in the Open box, and then press Enter.
The System File Checker (SFC) tool will now run and scan all your system files for problems. If the tool finds any corrupt or missing files, it will replace it with the original versions from the Windows XP installation disk. Using this tool is a good method to repair the cabinet.dll and urlmon.dll files that are required to update your PC.
To prevent errors related to corrupt DLL files, it is essential that you regularly update your PC and keep it free from unwanted malware programs. To scan and remove malware from your computer, you may use good antivirus and antispyware tools, such as AntiVirus Plus and Spyware Cease. Lastly, you must use a good registry cleaner tool, such as RegServe to regularly clean your registry and repair any invalid data accumulated within it.