Resolving Error Code 0x8024402c: Troubleshooting Windows Update in Windows Server 2008 R2

To rectify the error code 0x8024402c in Windows Server 2008 R2, follow these practical steps:

1. Verify internet connectivity: Ensure your server has a stable internet connection with no interruptions.
2. Restart the Windows Update service: Navigate to Start > Run, enter 'services.msc', and hit Enter. Find the Windows Update service, right-click, and choose 'Restart'.
3. Disable your firewall temporarily: Deactivate your firewall to see if Windows Update can proceed. If successful, consider configuring an exception for Windows Update in your firewall settings.
4. Conduct a malware scan: Use your antivirus to perform a thorough scan and identify any malware that might be blocking the update process.
5. Reset Windows Update components: Launch Command Prompt as administrator and execute the following commands, pressing Enter after each:

    net stop wuauserv
    net stop cryptSvc
    net stop bits
    net stop msiserver
    ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
    ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old
    net start wuauserv
    net start cryptSvc
    net start bits
    net start msiserver

6. Manually check for updates: If the problem persists, manually search for updates by navigating to Start > Control Panel > Windows Update > Check for updates.