Windows Update and error 0x80072EFD
A friend asked me to help “fix” her laptop, complaining it was “slow” and “has lots of spyware or something”. Not the best description, but hey, it was all I had to work with 
After booting up the laptop, it was clear something was really wrong. This was a Toshiba Sattelite M45 with a 1.8ghz Pentium M and 1GB of RAM but was running as if it was a decade old machine. Firing up IE resulted in 17 popups and prompts to install various spyware programs and supposed “antivirus” programs. I downloaded Windows Defender in hopes of cleaning up the spyware, but after installation, I was given an error that updated spyware definitions could not be downloaded and error code “0x80072EFD”.
I tried going to Microsoft Update but was given the same unhelpful error code. My web searches resulted in a bunch of useless information with suggested solutions that were completely unhelpful such as changing URL to “https” instead of “http” or “reboot your computer”. Seriously people, rebooting doesn’t solve everything.
I then found a message board post over at eggheadcafe.com, where a user copy and pasted an email response from a Microsoft customer support rep named “Sarfaraz”.
One of the recommendations that Sarfaraz made was to check that the “Background Intelligent Transfer Service” (BITS) was running. I went into the Windows Services menu and saw that the BITS service wasn’t running and was set to “manual” instead of “automatic”. I changed the setting and started the service up and fired up IE again to go to Windows Update.
Hallelujah! It worked! Turns out my friend needed to apply 58 critical security patches.. ouch. I installed all the security updates, got the the updated Windows Defender signature file and cleaned out 28 spyware infections. Things in laptop land are good again. Phew.
Sarfaraz, if you’re reading this, thanks for helping me out
This is exactly what i needed! Looking all day for a solution. Can you please contact me.
Jono
Jono
19 May 07 at 10:50 pm
YES. This solved it a problem on an old laptop we had lying around our office. Thank you thank you thank you.
B
4 Sep 07 at 2:51 pm
I’ve tried everything and I think that this is it.
BUT I can’t start MITS,It says “error 1068 The dependency service or gropu failed to start”
Vik
26 Sep 07 at 1:06 pm
Hi..since receiving the notice that I couldn’t use msn messenger unless I changed to windows live messenger, I have not been able to use it. I was able to install windows live, but for two weeks now all I see is the error report 80072efd!! I am able to use windows live hotmail…go figure that! I can also get on web messenger, but am told pop-ups are blocked. Have done the microsoft thing…emailed and chat online…done all that has been suggested and still receiving the error #. Don’t know what to try next. Any suggestions here? I have become very frustrated and really not sure what to do. Thanks for any help you might be able to provide…Mary
Mary
27 Sep 07 at 4:47 am
Vik, someone’s been messing around with your services (probably trying to “optimize” vista, ouch). Make sure the following services (which BITS is dependent on) are enabled:
DCOM Server Process Launcher
Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
COM+ Event System
BITS should now function properly.
Gareth
17 Mar 08 at 12:40 am
Wow…very useful tips. Thanks
Techie
25 Mar 08 at 4:42 pm
Gareth…
Thank you thank you thank you!!!! I have been looking for EVER on how to get BITS to start and it turned out to be that COM+ Even System was disabled. Thank you SOOOO MUCH!
Bryce
2 Aug 08 at 12:24 pm
How do you change the BITS? I cannot locate it on my computer?
I have the same error message when trying to download security updates? – Ox80072EFD- I am using a Sony VOIO laptop PCG-K15.
Thanks
JoMatzo
7 Mar 09 at 7:48 am
Hey, I just got an e-mail as a notification for this topic.
I totally forgot about this cause I’ve got here google-ing.
Thanks all for the help back then, I’m sorry I just disappeared, it’s been a long time.
Anyway, JoMatzo; You can start BITS, it’s located here:
Control Panel\Administrative Tools\Services.
You’ll find it, then just restart the service. I’ve solved this problem like a year ago so I hope that’s just it.
Regards
Vik
17 Mar 09 at 11:01 am
Thanks for this tip! Restarting the BITS service solved my windows update issue.
Natch
12 Aug 09 at 11:47 pm
dude!
ah!
i’ve been looking for a solution since forever!
ugh!
thank you so much!
little miss betty
18 Oct 09 at 2:13 am
Still no update
the services:
DCOM Server Process Launcher
Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
COM+ Event System
were off i have set them to auto and started them but the same error still pops up and the link to eggheadcafe is no longer working any idears?
Aaron
15 Nov 09 at 5:17 pm
Trevin, I have the “Windows Update and error 0×80072EFD” error, I followed your advice vis a vis the BITS service (it was set to automatic w/delayed start). I changed it to automatic and restarted it, I no longer get the error message; BUT it just seems to hang with “Preparing to install . . . ” I also checked and restarted the related service RPC to no avail. Any further suggestons. thanks rich
richcamlin
18 Feb 10 at 9:19 pm
Thanks for sharing ur experience:)
Remove Spyware
26 May 10 at 1:15 pm
Thanks for the solution shared:)
Remove Spyware
3 Aug 10 at 10:18 am