Error 80072EFE

[Vista2025]

I recently found my dad's old computer from the 2010s. It is a Toshiba Satellite P200 running windows vista ultimate 32bit. When I first found it there was a lot of data and apps on it that I didnt need like tax apps, so I decided to factory reset it using a 32bit disc I got off of ebay. After I factory reset it I installed some necessary drivers that weren't preinstalled for some reason, but no problem there. I then changed the default browser from IE (not supported anymore) to an ESR version of Mozilla Firefox. Now the problem is that everytime I check for updates I always get the error 80072EFE back. I am aware this is a connection issue but I used ChatGPT your own AI Copilot, every single website I could find and yet I could not find the solution. I see people on Youtube still make it work so I know it's not a problem with the update servers itself. I've installed multiple prerequisites like ssu and sha-1 support (I will list all the updates I have installed below). I have downloaded Windows update agent 7.6.7600.256. I forgot to mention I also took apart the machine, not fully but just to clean out the dust in the fan making it overheat. I also have 2005, 2008, and 2010 C++ Redistributable on my system. I have been getting this error for a while without a fix. I also wanted to mention that I had a windows 7 computer with the same error but it was solved after I installed a few prerequisite updates and Windows 7 Updater. I genuinely have no clue what my problem is and I know that people don't normally use windows vista anymore and I don't plan on using it as my main computer but I would love it if I could fix it and make it work again. I know other people have mentioned this here before but since it has been 3 years I just wanted to see if there is anything else I can do. Please and thank you for everyone reading this <3 .


Updates I have installed:
KB3148851
KB971512
Windows Internet Explorer 9
KB2117917
KB953595
KB3205638
KB4012583
KB4015195
KB4015380
KB4493730
KB4474419
KB948465
KB955430
KB938371
KB935509
KB937954
KB937287
KB954944
KB2565063

 

[lmacri]

Hi Vista2025:

See the topic What To Do if Windows Update Hangs or Throws an Error [UPDATED August 2020] pinned at the top of this Windows Update board. You are seeing that error 80072EFE when you run Windows Update because Microsoft deactivated their Windows Update servers for Win XP and Vista on 03-Aug-2020 - see the Microsoft support article Windows Update SHA-1 Based Endpoints Discontinued for Older Windows Devices for more information.

First, check at Control Panel | System and Maintenance | System | Windows Edition to see if you have Service Pack 2 (SP2) installed. If still required, standalone .exe installers for Vista Service Packs 1 and 2 are still available on the Microsoft Update Catalog [see the download links and installation instructions in my 26-Sep-2022 post # 4 in VUser's Windows6.0-kb936330-x64.exe crashes mid install (0x8007000D error)].

Once Service Pack 2 is installed I'd suggest you try patching your Vista SP2 OS to the end of extended support (11-Apr-2017) with a tool called Legacy Update. SIW2 recommend this tool in their 05-Dec-2023 post # 30 of James81's Update Windows Visa Home and included a link to Michael MJD's 16-Dec-2022 YouTube video Get Windows Update Working on Old Windows Versions! - Legacy Update Demo (note: the Vista SP2 demo occurs ~ 8 min into that 12 min video).

If the Legacy Update tool doesn't work my 26-Oct-2023 post # 18 in James81's Update Windows Visa Home mentions 14 important updates (9 from Dalai's website + 5 critical out-of-band security updates released after 11-Apr-2017 that are listed in that post) that can be installed manually with .msu standalone installers that are available on the Microsoft Update Catalog. These 14 updates won't fully patch you back to 11-Apr-2017 but should make your system a bit more stable. You'll have to cross-check the list of updates you've already installed with that list of important updates.

 

[Vista2025]

Oh Microsoft discontinued their update servers... (losers). That's unfortunate but I found a workaround to still get normal windows updates on my system just like windows update. It's called Windows update mini tool and I use NET Proxy or something to get it working, but thanks for all the help <3. If you want to see I could send you the link just lmk

 

[lmacri]

... I found a workaround to still get normal windows updates on my system just like windows update. It's called Windows update mini tool and I use NET Proxy or something to get it working ...

Hi Vista2025:

Yes, please post further details about your "NET proxy" workaround and let us how successful Windows Update MiniTool (WUMT) was in patching your Vista OS back to end of support (11-Apr-2017). According to the OlderGeeks.com download page <here> the current WUMT v04.22.2022 "Works on OS from Windows 7 to Windows 11 (support for 2000, xp, vista has been discontinued by Microsoft, unable to connect to check for updates)".