Windows Update not happening in 2003 Server ; Error number: 0x8DDD0018

While doing the monthly update on my client's server topology where I have to perform such as Windows Updates, Trend Micro status check and Symantec Backup check, I found that in one of the server running Windows 2003 Server the Windows Update was not happening. The following three error messages were being received.

Error number: 0x8DDD0018
 Automatic Updates, BITS,
and Event Log services must be started



Even though in the services.msc all these services were found to be running Windows Update was not happening. A thorough investigation through Google brought me to this page.

Tech Arena

As per its advice I ran the following command string from Command Prompt,

regsvr32.exe wuaueng.dll


And now the update window dialog started on the Internet Explorer browser and updates were completed.

Another detailed search on the above command string brought me to this link.

Yahoo Answers

Apparently the dynamic link libraries and Active X Controls which enable the Microsoft Windows Update mechanism to run on the Internet Explorer browser had to be restarted. The regsvr32.exe is the program that needs to be run and wuaeng.dll module enables Active X communication from the browser with Microsoft website.