Windows XP SP2 Windows Update Error 0x80244019

So I had to build a Windows XP machine for some testing I was carrying out tonight and came across Error 0x80244019 when trying to run Windows Update.

It turns out the Microsoft have blocked IE6 from accessing the Windows Update web site and downloading the Windows Update 3.1 Active X controls.

So what you need to do is, download and install IE8 and Windows Update Services in the following order:

1. Upgrade to Internet Explorer 8 (IE8)
DOWNLOAD
2. Reboot Machine.
3. Download Windows Update Agent
DOWNLOAD
4. Save the .exe file to your C: drive
5. Click Start, and then click Run. 
6. Type "C:\WindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe /wuforce"  then click OK
7. Install Windows Update agent.
8. Restart the PC and try Windows Updates again.


You should now be able to install the Windows Update Active X control and begin installing the mammoth amount of updates that your XPSP2 build will be missing.

HTH

Installing Virutal Box Guest Additions on Debian

I had a little nightmare with this and couldn't get my head round why I didnt have the kernel headers even though I had installed build-essential. So here's how I did it.

sudo apt-get update -y
sudo apt-get upgrade -y
sudo apt-get install build-essential module-assistant -y
sudo m-a prepare -y

Click on Install Guest Additions from the Devices menu:

Then cancel the autorun prompt as that never works!

Finally,
sudo sh /media/cdrom/VBoxLinuxAdditions.run, and follow the instructions on screen

Restart your VM and it should be job done.

HTH!