Unable to check for updates

[JustThat70]

From the console:

[Updates] Configured update policy on this system: "Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them".
[Updates] Path to module: C:\Windows\dxgi.dll
[Updates] Using hardcoded hash.
[Updates] Checking against hash "22622.3880.66.5.320c4bb6f886ecab"
[Updates] Update URL: /download/ep_setup.exe
[Updates] Unable to check for updates because the remote server is unavailable.

I am on the internet and this worked up until I manually updated to this release. I've disabled the firewall and that does not resolve the issue

[Amrsatrio]

Check if notifications for Explorer are enabled.

I don't think the update URL is valid. Screenshot the updates section in your EP properties window.

[PierrotIV]

Same here:
[Updates] Configured update policy on this system: "Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them".
[Updates] Path to module: C:\Windows\dxgi.dll
[Updates] Using hardcoded hash.
[Updates] Checking against hash "22622.3880.66.5.320c4bb6f886ecab"
[Updates] Update URL: /download/ep_setup.exe
[Updates] Unable to check for updates because the remote server is unavailable.

It happens since I applied #3228

[pyrates999]

are you at a work network?

[PierrotIV]

are you at a work network?

Home but similar to a professional network.

[pyrates999]

Check your network then. And if you're going through a proxy, that might be blocking this.

[PierrotIV]

Check your network then. And if you're going through a proxy, that might be blocking this.

That was a good thought but:

• it worked perfectly well before 22622.3880.66.5 update
• no proxy here

Btw I checked and no dns request is sent when trying to check for updates, meaning the problem doesn't "get out" from the OS.

Other point I checked, I'm using Kaspersky as AV and firewall. I disabled it, meaning Windows Defender activates itself in place of Kaspersky, and that doesn't change the issue.

Just a thought: if someone using previous stable version could paste here the console output of a serch for update request, that might validate the validity of the update url (Amrsatrio point in his first answer to the OP).

[pyrates999]

Then disable Defender.

[PierrotIV]

Then disable Defender.

No change

[JayKay-Gitz]

Same issue here since updating to latest version. "Unable to check for updates"

• Was working prior to 22621.3880.66.5 update
• No vpn, proxy, other issues with network connections

[pyrates999]

Did you disable windows firewall? And then try to check for updates?

[JayKay-Gitz]

I just tried disabling Windows Defender Firewall, it didn't help. I also have no virus protection apart from windows defender. I did have the issue where i needed to add the paths to my exclusion list in defender in order to update to this version, but i don't think that's related. I tried disabling defender virus just in case, didn't help.

[ARM07470]

I had the same issue this morning and managed to fix it by setting HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ExplorerPatcher\UpdateURL to https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher/releases/latest. That registry key was blank on my machine for some reason.

[PierrotIV]

Did you disable windows firewall? And then try to check for updates?

I did, no change.

[PierrotIV]

I had the same issue this morning and managed to fix it by setting HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ExplorerPatcher\UpdateURL to https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher/releases/latest. That registry key was blank on my machine for some reason.

That worked, thank you!
Btw mine was also blank. I guess this is related to AV not allowing update in first place before I added the lines from #3228 .

[Amrsatrio]

Alright, I'll admit that I changed some stuff in the updater code so something might have slipped. If you don't mind helping me in troubleshooting the issue, does deleting the UpdateURL key fix it?

[PierrotIV]

Alright, I'll admit that I changed some stuff in the updater code so something might have slipped. If you don't mind helping me in troubleshooting the issue, does deleting the UpdateURL key fix it?

No problem.
Update was not working because HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ExplorerPatcher\UpdateURL was empty.
Filling it with https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher/releases/latest did restore update functionality.

[JayKay-Gitz]

Alright, I'll admit that I changed some stuff in the updater code so something might have slipped. If you don't mind helping me in troubleshooting the issue, does deleting the UpdateURL key fix it?

I had already changed the key, but i just tried deleting the key and the update function is still working. Not sure if that would be the case if someone hadn't updated and tested it prior to deleting.

[Amrsatrio]

Okay so the problem is if that key is present but empty then the updater won't work. Will fix it tomorrow.

By default that key does not exist.

[ARM07470]

I just deleted the key, restarted File Explorer and updates worked. Put it back w/no value and it stopped working. So, yes, the issue is if the key is present but empty. I never touched that key before, so I'm not sure when it got added w/a null value.

[s-renz]

does deleting the UpdateURL key fix it?

Yes. Just deleting it, without changing anything first, does fix it

[Apocalypse612]

Same issue here after running the .ps1 script provided to allow all EP updates through the Windows Defender firewall. Since the last update was complaining about viruses, I ran the script then got the update, then this error occurred. Can confirm that deleting the reg key listed above fixed the issue.

[Amrsatrio]

Promoted 66.6 into release - should fix the updates issue. Sorry for those who updated to 66.5 and used the Restore default settings in the past. I'll pin this.