"Thank you ... Windows Update site no longer offers updates for your computer" message when you visit the Windows Update Web site (836955)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Update, when used with:
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows 2000
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows 98
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows 95
Important This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

When you connect to the Microsoft Windows Update Web site to download updates for your computer, you may receive a message that is similar to the following message: Thank you ... Windows Update site no longer offers updates for your computer.

CAUSE

This issue occurs because you connect to Windows Update with a version of Microsoft Internet Explorer that is earlier than Internet Explorer 5.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, upgrade to Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 or later. For more information about the versions of Internet Explorer that are available, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.mspx

WORKAROUND

Warning If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To work around this issue, edit the registry to remove the Post Platform key. When you remove the Post Platform key, attributes are removed from the end of the User-Agent string that Internet Explorer uses to identify its version in Internet communications. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
  2. Locate and click the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\User Agent\Post Platform.
  3. Right-click Post Platform, and then click Export.
  4. In the Export Registry File dialog box, locate a folder where you want to save a copy of the Post Platform key.
  5. In the File Name box, type a name for the file, and then click Save.
  6. Right-click Post Platform, and then click Delete.
  7. In the Confirm Key Delete dialog box, click Yes.
  8. Close Registry Editor.
If you have to restore the Post Platform key later, follow these steps:
  1. Start Registry Editor.
  2. Click File menu, and then click Import.
  3. In the Import Registry File dialog box, locate the file name that you gave to your saved copy of the Post Platform key, and then click Open.
  4. In the Registry Editor dialog box, click OK.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:4/12/2005
Keywords:kbprb KB836955 kbAudEndUser
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