Step 1)
Delete Temporary Internet Files
There is a possibility of some corrupted files in your Temporary Internet Files (TIF) storage... So we need to clear out this folder.
To do so:
Start Internet Explorer.
On the Tools menu, click Internet Options, and then click the General tab.
Under Temporary Internet files, click Delete Cookies.
Click OK when you are prompted to confirm the deletion.
Click Delete Files.
Click OK when you are prompted to confirm the deletion.
Under History, click Clear History.
Click Yes when you are prompted to delete your history of visited Web sites.
Click OK.
Close Internet Explorer
Start Internet Explorer and try the Windows Update Site again.
If it fails with the 0x800A138F error again try Step 2
Step 2)
Check Security And Content Settings In Internet Explorer
a) Check the security settings for the Trusted sites zone in Internet Explorer.
To do so:
Open Internet Explorer, on the Tools menu, click Internet Options, and then click the Security tab.
Click Trusted sites, and then click Default Level. (This should be Low, these are sites you trust!)
Now click the Sites button.
Clear the check box "Require server verification (https:) for all sites in this zone."
Type the following URL's EXACTLY as follows:
http://Windowsupdate.microsoft.com http://V4.Windowsupdate.microsoft.com https://v4.Windowsupdate.microsoft.com (Note: The https is correct)
http://Download.Windowsupdate.com *.akamai.net (Note: Yes this really is correct!)
Type each one then, click Add, and repeat until they all show in the bottom box. Now click OK, and then click Apply.
TIP: It is also worth checking to make sure NONE of these URL's appear in the "Restricted Sites" section.... Some of the popular spy blocker type software can automatically place any URL in this section..
Clear the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) state and AutoComplete history.
To do so:
(Windows XP Only...)
Open Internet Explorer, on the Tools menu, click Internet Options, and then click the Content tab.
Under Certificates, click Clear SSL State.
Click OK when you receive the message that the SSL cache was successfully cleared.
Under Personal information, click AutoComplete.
Under Clear AutoComplete history, click Clear Forms. Click OK when you are prompted to confirm the operation.
Click Clear Passwords. Click OK when you are prompted to clear all previously saved passwords, and then click OK two more times.
Close Internet Explorer
Start Internet Explorer and try the Windows Update Site again.
If it fails with the 0x800A138F error again try Step 3
Tip:
You can test your ability to connect to Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) websites by using this SSL test site...
Step 3)
Verify that Internet Explorer is configured to use SSL 2.0 and SSL 3.0.
To do so:
Open Internet Explorer
On the Tools menu, click Internet Options, and then click the Advanced tab.
In the Settings box, under Security, click to select the Use SSL 2.0 and Use SSL 3.0 check boxes (if they are not already selected), and then click OK.
Now Close Internet Explorer
Now open Internet Explorer and try the Windows Update site again.
If it fails with the 0x800A138F error again try Step 4
Step 4)
Please uncheck "Check for server certificate revocation":
Open Internet Explorer
Click on Tools
Click on Internet Options
Click on the Advanced tab
Scroll down to the Security Section
Unselect "Check for server certificate revocation"
Reboot the machine
Now open Internet Explorer and try the Windows Update site again.
If it fails with the 0x800A138F error again try Step 5
Step 5)
Verify that the Date and Time Settings on Your Computer Are Correct
You are most likely seeing the error code 0x800C0008 in the update log. This usually indicates a date error. Another symptom will be not being able to visit checkouts online, login to secure banking etc...
Because SSL certificates have an expiry date, if the date on your computer isn't correct, it may prevent you from connecting to secure sites. To verify that your computer is configured with the correct date and time settings:
Click Start
Click Control Panel
Click Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options,
Click Date and Time
Select the Date & Time tab
Check to make sure that the date and time settings are configured to use the current date and time, and then click OK
(NB - You could also check your date/time in the CMOS - on start up.....)
Now open Internet Explorer and try the Windows Update site again. You may be surprised to hear that this is the NUMBER ONE reason folks tell me was stopping them accessing the site!!!
NB - If you have error 0x800C0008 and the date is NOT your problem, then copy and paste the following into your browser, hit enter, let the page load then close and reboot, then try the Update website again:
https://a248.e.akamai.net/v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/getmanifest.asp If it fails with the 0x800A138F error again try Step 6
Step 6)
Now I said earlier that some of the suggestions were a little odd... Well...
The error may occur because the language-setting in Internet Explorer is missing.
To add a language, in Internet Explorer:
Open Internet Explorer
Click on Tools
Click on Internet Options
Click on the General tab and click the "Languages" button.
Add a language to the list if empty.
Now click OK and then OK and close Internet Explorer
Or.....
In some reported cases you have to add a second language, English-United States, and move it to the top of the list!
Side Note:
(NB - For those of you wondering why this may happen. Well the file that contains your Update History is called iuhist.xml, and there is a known bug where the Send method of XMLHttp on XML 2.6, or later, fails with error code 0x800A138F if there are no languages specified in Internet Explorer.)
