What is Windows Update Agent?
Want to download Windows Update Agent 5.8.02469 or later? Click here
Most of you (and once me too) had to look for the Windows Update Agent when encountered failure installing an application from Windows Live Services, otherwise nobody even cared what Windows Update Agent was all about.
If you had tried executing Windows Live Installer on an operating system earlier than XP (with SP2), remember the error message that was thrown that meant that you cannot install an application from Windows Live if you didn't have Windows XP with SP2. Was SP2 that essential? Yes because it was the first time with SP2 that Windows Update Agent came into existance, and since Installing Windows Live required Windows Update Agent makes SP2 essential.
Am I confusing you?... Windows Update Agent existed only after SP2 then how did Windows Update happened earlier??... It did use to happen!!!
Yes Updates happened using an application called "Automatic Windows Update" that used to be a standalone software that looked for the updates on the microsoft site. Now since SP2 the task of looking for updates and downloading no longer is handled by the application but a seperate COM Component name "Windows Update Agent" handles it, and it provides a set of COM Interfaces named "Windows Update Agent API" which any application can call and use Windows Update Agent's capabilities to check for updates, download, and deploy them.
OK...OK! So Windows Live Installer is one such application that uses Windows Update Agent API to check for latest versions of softwares, to downlaod and to install them.... then why didn't it function when I had XP with SP2 which had Windows Update Agent and still asked for Windows Update Agent 5.8.02469 or later...
Well the Windows Live Installer is making a API call that was added only after the above version and hence knowing it cannot continue it displays the message for you so that you can get and install it?
Understood, but why did I had to manually download the update and install it, when Automatic Update Service itself could have done it?
Good question! and answer may be that due to download breakups, other more priority downloads or for some other reason it failed to update itself automatically and thus required you to manually do it... and if that doesn't satisfy you... probably because barbers don't have hair-cuts themselves 
So in essence, Windows Update Agent is here, you like it or not... and going to live, with Windows Live... and may be a lot of software in future would use the API to update themselves. So keep yourselves (I mean your PC) updated.
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March 10th, 2008 - 14:07
my msn dont run when ever i try to conect it ask me bout windows update 5.8.0469 from where can i get free plz help with it
April 9th, 2008 - 13:06
please can you help me
June 6th, 2008 - 11:06
i cant install live messenger. I get a note that the windows update agent 5.8.02469 must be installed first.Can’t find .could you help
July 18th, 2008 - 16:03
I am a computer instructor for a vocational training center and along with everyone else I can not get MSN, Messenager, Windows Live or any other page or website connected with Microsoft. The error message tells me to download Agent 5.8.02469 which is impossible because I can’t connect to the page.
Our server is Internet Explorer and MSN is the home page. The student’s text book excercises are based primarily on the use of the Microsoft pages mentioned above.
How do I solve this problem?
August 15th, 2008 - 05:35
i just want to know if you could please help me to find a website where i can download Agent 5.8.02469 for freee plz plz
cause msn messenger does not work on my pc unless i download Agent 5.8.02469 and thx
September 19th, 2008 - 13:49
pomatzite
ja ovo ne znam amjkemi moje
October 5th, 2008 - 15:35
my windows live messenger beta is refusing to be uninstalled
and when i want to install another type it says it requires windows update agent 5 or higher
help!!
November 28th, 2008 - 22:19
i don’t need msn upgraded to live? i want MSN without a hiding agent. my virus/Spyware protection does not like it. HIDDING AGENT bypassed my security center, why even include a security center now.
November 29th, 2008 - 16:19
But if I put the updates on then my windows will fail because windows are hacked. I do not want authentifications etc. This is the main reason UI have all updates off and I never download anything from windows’ site. They almost all require autentification.
What can I do to use msn on hacked pcs? I mean the ones that are cracked to work without having to buy the windows package?
October 15th, 2009 - 23:46
I had latest security updates waiting to be downloaded and installed, was busy so clicked icon and said “not now; later.” Went to update center today to reload those 13(!how Halloweenie)security updates, & basically found out I’d had my chance, missed it, tough luck. It took eons to find out why (WUA) and ages to find your simple, easy-to-understand explanation (Catch-22). I used all these words just to say “Thank you.”