BITS Error 1290: 0x50a following updates

Okay what we have here is a classic case of "if all else fails RTFM" strikes again  :-)  and it is likely going to make you feel dumb but get over it and get back on the horse that threw you.

[1]  But it doesn't end there, the fun is just getting started and you needed to keep reading to get the procedure for laptops or for other potential scenarios where the location for qmgr.dll can be located in system32 or anywhere else you may find it.  As part of the process you are going to need to open system32 and create a new folder there and name it bits (all lower case) and copy into that folder the qmgr.dll   This was my little brainstorm ? to help crack this frozen nut so you are getting this straight from the horses mouth.  Update and amend that to I think it was Xircal's idea first but it may turn out to be some added hocus pocus :-) It may not be required .....but hey it looks brilliant enough and is part of a procedure that works, ....However that step eventually may be edited and trimmed out of the procedure depending upon what further testing reveals about its being essential or not.

In the main JosephS2013 thread

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_xp-windows_update/windows-update-svchostexe-100-cpu-in-task-manager/6b372d8b-0ca4-4042-ba37-b2a7cdcdbd06

it is several pages into the thread about page 5 before Xircal describes for neilhOn-uSoft the variant method because it had not been yet devised.  But in one of the several other links that was to different threads it is described in one post as Section 2 For Laptops Only because that is where it is most often seen but I think it can show up other places too.   

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_xp-windows_update/win-xp-pro-sp3-update-does-not-start/a583105f-6a52-4d69-94ee-6fc3e2da3c8a

So what you need to do is go back to the start and proceed as Xircal has described.  We are still going to be batting a thousand when this is done.  You need to download and install the cumulative security update for internet explorer for December which is described near the end of Xircal's procedure as it is not the November update needed anymore, and it will be the most recent cumulative security update always needed, so likewise for next month if somebody does the fix it will the January update required and so on. 

Just have faith it will work, and try this, it hasn't failed yet.  All the error codes and scenario you describe cause high confidence the procedure will be successful.  But based on what you describe you have not implemented the procedure......yet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW23ixVylc8

(I had written a detailed reply in Word and now find that I can't paste it into this damn box, so I will be brief ... oh, can paste when converted to .txt so here it is:)

Hi Keith,

My starting point is a secondary PC Samsung NC10 with XP Pro SP3 (32bit) and ...

... MSFixIt shows “Service registration missing or corrupt” and “Problems installing recent updates”

... tried to run “WindowsUpdate.diagcab” but it would not be recognized nor did I find a way to run it without some unacceptably risky PS checker s/w.

...Services - earlier attempts suggested elsewhere for reinstating BITS have not succeeded but left an entry “@%SystemRoot%\system32\qmgr.dll,-1000” which I believe is connected to BITS somehow.

1. I tried Xircal’s suggestion. The search for qmrg.dll only showed it to be in \System32 but not in the other locations, so that was the end of his suggestions.
2. I then did a sfc /scannow. After 2hours, it finished without any messages at all.
3. I then took a look at possibility of u/grading to Win 7 as a backstop and found the MS advisor at:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/downloads/upgrade-advisor

which leads to its download then also suggests 3 other XP d/loads:

... Malware removal tool KB9030 – took 4 hrs on my small Samsung NC10 – no malware found

... Cumulative Security u/date IE8 KB2618444 – worked OK

Update of Win XP – comes back saying not necessary

... and by the way installing Win 7 would be OK, not that I intend to do it if avoidable (and may be easier and almost as cheap to replace this secondary PC)

3. Then I come to your suggestions and got nowhere.
4. Went to KB916251 and followed its instructions without joy:

On Method 1 Step 4 \ServicePackFiles\i386 could not be located on my PC (Method 2 had failed an earlier day.)

Workaround did not work – Win XP Hotfix kb842773 not on my PC.

5. Ran MS Update – did not work but at least gave me a list of 11 failed updates with error 0x80246008.
6. I then searched for each of the failed update KBs, downloaded and ran them – all OK (a mix of Office 2007 and Win XP) – except for MS Security Essentials KB2310138 which led to FixIt and error 0x80070057. FixIt needs a Fix It – it would not even accept sending the result back to MS for specific advice.

At this point, I give up on getting a valid BITS in place and running automatic u/dates – life is too short. These are some apples ... Live with it doing manual u/dates? give up on MS and have a less poisoned Apple?? Install Win 7? Get new PC? Grrrrrr ...

Thanks for your help, Keith.

Yeah let us know.  We have been batting a thousand on this issue, so it will be a surprise if it doesn't work.

Hi there

I tried to do everything you say to fix error 1290:0x50a and when I came to rename the SoftwareDistribution it was denied. I did change the CatRoot2 to CatRoot2 .old so now I am stuck. Slavica, thanks.