Spyware definitions for Windows Defender beta (v. 1.1.1347.0) that I'm running were reported as obsolete; began running the Windows Defender update, then recalled that I would usually have to update the spyware definitions by running Windows Update anyway due to problems with the beta.
Began running Windows Update; Windows Update asked me to install the new Windows Genuine Advantage engine. I proceeded.
Attempted to complete a Windows Update from windowsupdate.microsoft.com. When I attempted to run Windows Update, it would ask me to validate; when I would proceed with the validation, it would return the error "Validation Incomplete: Unable to Perform Validation [0x80080299]". Restarted computer and tried again; failed. Uninstalled Norton Internet Security completely using the Symantec SymNRT tool; tried Windows Update again; still unable to validate.
Went to Windows Genuine Advantage Diagnostic Site (http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/diag) and successfully completed validation there after changing Internet Options->Security->Internet->Custom Level...->Miscellaneous->"Access Data Sources Across Domains" to "Prompt". However, next time I attempted Windows Update, it still asked me to validate, and the validation still failed.
Am reinstalling Norton Internet Security because the issue appears to be unrelated to this 3rd party firewall. Throughout the course of my troubleshooting, the Windows Firewall was left enabled, though I did try the Windows Update once with the Windows Firewall down.
WGA Diagnostic Data (1.5.0530.2):
--------------------
Genuine Validation Status: Genuine
Windows Product Key: *****-*****-TY78H-GBX66-2TTV3
Windows Product Key Hash: gbJUHcQ0NLkC8aW5ZWfbcIDNBlA=
Windows Product ID: 55274-OEM-2215335-11781
Windows Product ID Type: 3
Windows License Type: COA/Sysem Builder
Windows OS version: 5.1.2600.2.00010100.2.0.pro
Download Center code: Expired code.
ID: aa0f38ec-058b-4e6a-b9ed-2fc5e55c5b19
Is Admin: Yes
AutoDial: No
Registry: 0x0
WGA Version: Registered, 1.5.530.0.
Signature Type: Microsoft.
Validation Diagnostic:
Scan: Complete
Cryptography: Complete
Office Status: 109
Office Diagnostics:
Proxy settings: N/A
User Agent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Win32)
Default Browser: C:\PROGRA~1\MOZILL~1\FIREFOX.exe
Download signed ActiveX controls: Prompt
Download unsigned ActiveX controls: Disabled
Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins: Allowed
Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe: Disabled
Allow scripting of Internet Explorer Webbrowser control: Disabled
Active scripting: Allowed
Script ActiveX controls marked as safe for scripting: Allowed
Office Details: <GenuineResults><MachineData><UGUID>aa0f38ec-058b-4e6a-b9ed-2fc5e55c5b19</UGUID><Version>1.5.0530.2</Version><OS>5.1.2600.2.00010100.2.0.pro</OS><PKey>*****-*****-*****-*****-2TTV3</PKey><PID>55274-OEM-2215335-11781</PID><PIDType>3</PIDType><SID>S-1-5-21-484763869-261903793-682003330</SID><SYSTEM><Manufacturer>System Manufacturer</Manufacturer><Model>System Name</Model></SYSTEM><BIOS><Manufacturer>Award Software, Inc.</Manufacturer><Version>ASUS A7V8X ACPI BIOS Revision 1011</Version><SMBIOSVersion major="2" minor="3"/><Date>20030129000000.000000+000</Date></BIOS><HWID>CD2C3E8F0184396B</HWID><UserLCID>0409</UserLCID><SystemLCID>0409</SystemLCID><TimeZone>Eastern Standard Time(GMT-05:00)</TimeZone></MachineData> <Software><Office><Result>109</Result><Products/></Office></Software></GenuineResults>
