Windows update icon quit working

[cmf21]

Windows update icon quit working on my fathers computer. You click on the icon and nothing happens. If you use internet explorer it works fine. Any ideas. Computer has XP Home on it.

 

[Snapster]

Usually it means it's in the process of downloading a large update (like a service pack). You could view the windows update log file: %windir%\Windowsupdate.log to see what it's doing or run wuauclt.exe /detectnow from the command line to force a detection.

 

[cmf21]

Any other suggestions.

 

[corkyg]

Probably the shortcut (icon) link is broken or damaged. Assume you are talking on Desktop? If so, delete it or repair it.

Windows Update is controlled and run by C:\Windows\System32\wupdmgr.exe. Go to that file with Explorer, right click on it, and SEND TO Desktop. That will create a new shortcut icon.

 

[MadRat]

Run it from within IE to make sure it's an icon issue, not a Windows Update issue. Things like the bits service being disabled neuter the process.

 

[corkyg]

OP said it works fine within IE.