Wuauclt.exe - Application error can anyone help me?????

everytime I switch on my laptop which is running windows xp professional I get the following message -

The instruction at " 0x6077f0d1" referenced memory at "0x6077f0d1". The required data was not placed into memory because of an I/O error status of "0xc000009c".
Click on OK to terminate the program
Click on CANCEL to debug the program

I am unable to do anything on the laptop and its driving me mad!!

Can anyone offer any advice? My kids are desperate for the laptop to work and I have no idea whats gone wrong or what i can do if anything to fix it.

Hi Sod it, not seen you for a little while.
I was going to say the same as Ben. Good luck, hope you get it sorted out.

Disable Automatic Updates. That's what that program is.

http://www.liutilities.com/products/wint...

wuauclt.exe is a process managing automatic updates for Microsoft Windows. This process continuously checks for the latest updates and uses the Internet to do so. This program is important for the stable and secure running of your computer and should not be terminated. Click to Run a FREE Scan for wuauclt.exe Related Errors. -> http://www.liutilities.com/products/camp...

Right - easy answer.

As you're here, I assume you can use another computer, with good internet and CD writer. Download Ubuntu live CD. Booting a live CD takes a few minutes longer than booting from hard drive, but it gives you a working desktop with full office suite pre-installed.

Later on, you can waste time trying to fix XP - and then I would make some space - maybe 10GB - and install ubuntu, so that if ever XP failed (Heaven Forbid I suggest such a thing!) then you have a very reliable backup system.

I did this, the trouble is... I never use Windows any more.
I installed a Virtualbox in ubuntu, and installed XP in there, so the few softwares I really MUST run with Windows can still run on my desktop, but my desktop has no antivirus, no antispyware..... no 'START' menu :P it's nice.

If you install, you will have a choice of ubuntu/suse/PCliinux or Windows when you boot.

Microsoft has a newsgroup dedicated to windows update issues. One thing you might try is re-registering the dll's associated windows update. Here's a link to the MS newsgroup. Oh, if you type in the error that you are receiving in Microsoft's web site, you'll probably get decent help on it.

Disable windows automatic updates first.

refer to this page from microsoft help and support to remedy the problem....

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/931852/e...