Windows Vista Business 32-bit SP2 will not update via Windows Update (error code: 80072EFE)

[Turbonium]

It is my understanding that, despite Windows Vista having long-reached the end of its lifecycle, one can still update it to the last available updates that were available from 2017 (which means it would still be horribly outdated, but that's not the point here).

 

Is this not correct?

 

If it is, then why am I not able to update it via Windows Update (I'm getting error code: 80072EFE)?

 

Note that the last time I updated Vista on the system in question was several years ago (circa 2015), if it matters.

Edited September 16, 2021 by Turbonium

[devn00b]

I would check out this from a windows vista site Vistax64.com

 

[Jim K Global Moderator]

On 15/09/2021 at 18:49, Turbonium said:

It is my understanding that, despite Windows Vista having long-reached the end of its lifecycle, one can still update it to the last available updates that were available from 2017 (which means it would still be horribly outdated, but that's not the point here).

 

Is this not correct?

 

If it is, then why am I not able to update it via Windows Update (I'm getting error code: 80072EFE)?

 

Note that the last time I updated Vista on the system in question was several years ago (circa 2015), if it matters.

Microsoft dropped it August of last year...

 

Quote

In compliance with the Microsoft Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA)-1 deprecation policy, Windows Update is discontinuing its SHA-1 based endpoints in late July 2020. This means that older Windows devices that have not updated to SHA-2 will no longer receive updates through Windows Update. Your older Windows devices can continue to use Windows Update by manually installing specific SHA-2 enabling updates.

 

//

 

Most users will not be impacted by this change. Starting with Windows 8 Desktop and Windows Server 2012, connections to Windows Update service endpoints use a more modern algorithm (SHA-256). Older versions of Windows connect to Windows Update service endpoints by using the less secure SHA-1 algorithm.

 

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/windows-update-sha-1-based-endpoints-discontinued-for-older-windows-devices-10b58bd9-5ba2-b23d-498b-139ce5c709af

[goretsky Supervisor]

Hello,

I do not have a Microsoft Windows Vista VM to test with currently, but have you tried applying Microsoft Hotfixes KB4493730 and KB4474419 to provide SHA-2 support?  If so, did that make any difference in being able to update the computer?

 

Regards,

 

Aryeh Goretsky

 

[Turbonium]

On 15/09/2021 at 21:02, Jim K said:

Microsoft dropped it August of last year...

 

 

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/windows-update-sha-1-based-endpoints-discontinued-for-older-windows-devices-10b58bd9-5ba2-b23d-498b-139ce5c709af

Well, that's unfortunate...

 

On 15/09/2021 at 23:23, goretsky said:

Hello,

I do not have a Microsoft Windows Vista VM to test with currently, but have you tried applying Microsoft Hotfixes KB4493730 and KB4474419 to provide SHA-2 support?  If so, did that make any difference in being able to update the computer?

 

Regards,

 

Aryeh Goretsky

 

I'm not sure what you mean (those updates don't seem to be intended for Vista).

Edited September 16, 2021 by Turbonium

[goretsky Supervisor]

Hello,

Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista share a common codebase.  Many (if not all) of the operating system patches for one can be applied to the other.

 

Regards,

 

Aryeh Goretsky

 

[Yonah Member]

On 16/09/2021 at 01:21, goretsky said:

Hello,

Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista share a common codebase.  Many (if not all) of the operating system patches for one can be applied to the other.

 

Regards,

 

Aryeh Goretsky

 

For future readers I would like to answer your question. KB4493730 and KB4474419 hotfixes do not make a difference; however, when I want to update this operating system I specify the intranet update service location to be my WSUS machine and this does work.