Windows Update website redirecting newly built Windows XP SP3 computers to KB article page (KB2497281)

We built and captured a sysprepped image of a computer that we had installed Windows XP on using the Windows XP SP3 media and have been using it for months without issue. Suddenly, some time this morning, on all computers we build using this image, the Windows Update website (http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com) redirects to the KB article page for KB2497281

Reinstalling SP3 fixes it.

What is causing this problem? How can I run Windows Updates without having to reinstall SP3?


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Solution 1:

This solution worked for me:

  1. Open Command Prompt: Start -> Run... -> cmd -> OK
  2. Stop Automatic Updates Service: net stop wuauserv
  3. Register wups2.dll: regsvr32 %windir%\system32\wups2.dll
  4. Start Automatic Updates Service: net start wuauserv

Source: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949104

Solution 2:

I managed to get past this problem twice by setting Automatic Updates to Notify Only, waiting a few minutes, then running Windows Update normally.

On edit: Machines were fresh SP3 installations and manual SP3 & IE8 install failed to fix the issue.