Problem Description
After configuring network adapters on a Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7 Windows Update may fail with the following error message.
Event Log
Log Name: Microsoft-Windows-WindowsUpdateClient/Operational Source: Microsoft-Windows-WindowsUpdateClient Date: 26.02.2012 01:10:25 Event ID: 25 Task Category: Windows Update Agent Level: Error Keywords: Failure,Check for Updates User: SYSTEM Computer: XXXXX Description: Windows Update failed to check for updates with error 0x80072ee2.
Windows Update Log may show mentioned below errors :
Path : %windir%\windowsupdate.log
2012-02-26 01:42:42:473 928 5ec AU Triggering AU detection through DetectNow API
2012-02-26 01:42:42:473 928 5ec AU Triggering Online detection (interactive)
2012-02-26 01:42:42:473 928 a3c AU #############
2012-02-26 01:42:42:473 928 a3c AU ## START ## AU: Search for updates
2012-02-26 01:42:42:473 928 a3c AU #########
2012-02-26 01:42:42:488 928 a3c AU <<## SUBMITTED ## AU: Search for updates [CallId = {8F44C348-AE32-418B-8BD3-F95C9BAD867D}]
2012-02-26 01:42:42:488 928 b44 Agent *************
2012-02-26 01:42:42:488 928 b44 Agent ** START ** Agent: Finding updates [CallerId = AutomaticUpdates]
2012-02-26 01:42:42:488 928 b44 Agent *********
2012-02-26 01:42:42:488 928 b44 Agent * Online = Yes; Ignore download priority = No
2012-02-26 01:42:42:488 928 b44 Agent * Criteria = "IsInstalled=0 and DeploymentAction='Installation' or IsPresent=1 and DeploymentAction='Uninstallation' or IsInstalled=1 and DeploymentAction='Installation' and RebootRequired=1 or IsInstalled=0 and DeploymentAction='Uninstallation' and RebootRequired=1"
2012-02-26 01:42:42:488 928 b44 Agent * ServiceID = {9482F4B4-E343-43B6-B170-9A65BC822C77} Windows Update
2012-02-26 01:42:42:488 928 b44 Agent * Search Scope = {Machine}
2012-02-26 01:42:42:488 928 b44 Setup Checking for agent SelfUpdate
2012-02-26 01:42:42:488 928 b44 Setup Client version: Core: 7.5.7601.17514 Aux: 7.5.7601.17514
2012-02-26 01:42:42:504 928 b44 Misc Validating signature for C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\WuRedir\9482F4B4-E343-43B6-B170-9A65BC822C77\muv4wuredir.cab:
2012-02-26 01:42:42:504 928 b44 Misc Microsoft signed: Yes
2012-02-26 01:42:45:562 928 b44 Misc Validating signature for C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\WuRedir\9482F4B4-E343-43B6-B170-9A65BC822C77\muv4wuredir.cab:
2012-02-26 01:42:45:562 928 b44 Misc Microsoft signed: Yes
2012-02-26 01:42:45:562 928 b44 Misc Validating signature for C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\SelfUpdate\wuident.cab:
2012-02-26 01:42:45:577 928 b44 Misc Microsoft signed: Yes
2012-02-26 01:42:46:030 928 b44 Misc Validating signature for C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\SelfUpdate\wuident.cab:
2012-02-26 01:42:46:045 928 b44 Misc Microsoft signed: Yes
2012-02-26 01:42:46:045 928 b44 Setup Skipping SelfUpdate check based on the /SKIP directive in wuident
2012-02-26 01:42:46:045 928 b44 Setup SelfUpdate check completed. SelfUpdate is NOT required.
2012-02-26 01:42:46:544 928 b44 Misc Validating signature for C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\WuRedir\9482F4B4-E343-43B6-B170-9A65BC822C77\muv4wuredir.cab:
2012-02-26 01:42:46:544 928 b44 Misc Microsoft signed: Yes
2012-02-26 01:42:46:576 928 b44 Misc Validating signature for C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\WuRedir\9482F4B4-E343-43B6-B170-9A65BC822C77\muv4wuredir.cab:
2012-02-26 01:42:46:576 928 b44 Misc Microsoft signed: Yes
2012-02-26 01:42:46:576 928 b44 PT +++++++++++ PT: Synchronizing server updates +++++++++++
2012-02-26 01:42:46:576 928 b44 PT + ServiceId = {9482F4B4-E343-43B6-B170-9A65BC822C77}, Server URL = https://www.update.microsoft.com/v6/ClientWebService/client.asmx
2012-02-26 01:43:47:338 928 b44 Misc WARNING: Send failed with hr = 80072ee2.
2012-02-26 01:43:47:338 928 b44 Misc WARNING: SendRequest failed with hr = 80072ee2. Proxy List used: <(null)> Bypass List used : <(null)> Auth Schemes used : <>
2012-02-26 01:43:47:338 928 b44 PT + Last proxy send request failed with hr = 0x80072EE2, HTTP status code = 0
2012-02-26 01:43:47:338 928 b44 PT + Caller provided credentials = No
2012-02-26 01:43:47:338 928 b44 PT + Impersonate flags = 0
2012-02-26 01:43:47:338 928 b44 PT + Possible authorization schemes used =
2012-02-26 01:43:47:338 928 b44 PT WARNING: SyncUpdates failure, error = 0x80072EE2, soap client error = 5, soap error code = 0, HTTP status code = 200
2012-02-26 01:43:47:338 928 b44 PT WARNING: PTError: 0x80072ee2
2012-02-26 01:43:47:338 928 b44 PT WARNING: SyncUpdates_WithRecovery failed.: 0x80072ee2
2012-02-26 01:43:47:338 928 b44 PT WARNING: Sync of Updates: 0x80072ee2
2012-02-26 01:43:47:338 928 b44 PT WARNING: SyncServerUpdatesInternal failed: 0x80072ee2
2012-02-26 01:43:47:338 928 b44 Agent * WARNING: Failed to synchronize, error = 0x80072EE2
2012-02-26 01:43:47:338 928 b44 Agent * WARNING: Exit code = 0x80072EE2
2012-02-26 01:43:47:338 928 b44 Agent *********
2012-02-26 01:43:47:338 928 b44 Agent ** END ** Agent: Finding updates [CallerId = AutomaticUpdates]
2012-02-26 01:43:47:338 928 b44 Agent *************
2012-02-26 01:43:47:338 928 b44 Agent WARNING: WU client failed Searching for update with error 0x80072ee2
2012-02-26 01:43:47:338 928 b90 AU >>## RESUMED ## AU: Search for updates [CallId = {8F44C348-AE32-418B-8BD3-F95C9BAD867D}]
2012-02-26 01:43:47:338 928 b90 AU # WARNING: Search callback failed, result = 0x80072EE2
2012-02-26 01:43:47:338 928 b90 AU # WARNING: Failed to find updates with error code 80072EE2
2012-02-26 01:43:47:338 928 b90 AU #########
2012-02-26 01:43:47:338 928 b90 AU ## END ## AU: Search for updates [CallId = {8F44C348-AE32-418B-8BD3-F95C9BAD867D}]
2012-02-26 01:43:47:338 928 b90 AU #############
2012-02-26 01:43:47:338 928 b90 AU Successfully wrote event for AU health state:0
2012-02-26 01:43:47:338 928 b90 AU AU setting next detection timeout to 2012-02-26 04:43:47
2012-02-26 01:43:47:338 928 b90 AU Successfully wrote event for AU health state:0
2012-02-26 01:43:47:338 928 b90 AU Successfully wrote event for AU health state:0
2012-02-26 01:43:52:345 928 b44 Report REPORT EVENT: {3372E4F8-29A8-445A-99D2-0785EC54128C} 2012-02-26 01:43:47:338+0200 1 148 101 {00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000} 0 80072ee2 AutomaticUpdates Failure Software Synchronization Windows Update Client failed to detect with error 0x80072ee2.
2012-02-26 01:43:52:361 928 b44 Report CWERReporter::HandleEvents - WER report upload completed with status 0x8
2012-02-26 01:43:52:361 928 b44 Report WER Report sent: 7.5.7601.17514 0x80072ee2 00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000 Scan 101 Unmanaged
2012-02-26 01:43:52:361 928 b44 Report CWERReporter finishing event handling. (00000000)
Solution
The problem mostly occurs if multiple network adapters with the same default gateway are used on a Server or Pc. I haven’t investigated too much to find out the root cause of this problem but disabling all network adapters except one and restarting the Server, Pc or Network Service will allow you to get the windows updates again. This is only a workaround and needs further investigation.
Good luck !