HTTP 500's? Problems with Windows Update?

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If you installed the latest security patches manually or via WSUS, this included MS05-051.  On systems where the default security on %windir%subscriptions has been modified, you may experience the following symptoms (from the KB article):

  • The Windows Installer service may not start.
  • The Windows Firewall Service may not start. 
  • The Network Connections folder is empty.
  • The Windows Update Web site may incorrectly recommend that you change the Userdata persistence setting in Microsoft Internet Explorer. 
  • Active Server Pages (ASP) pages that are running on Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) return an “HTTP 500 – Internal Server Error” error message. 
  • The Microsoft COM+ EventSystem service will not start.
  • COM+ applications will not start. 
  • The computers node in the Microsoft Component Services Microsoft Management Console (MMC) tree will not expand.
  • Authenticated users cannot log on, and a blank screen appears after the users apply the October Security Updates.

The fix is to reset permissions per this article:

https://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=909444
(Incidentally, we talk about this in today's podcast, which will be available some time this weekend).