Windows Update error 80072efd on Windows 7

For a couple months now I haven’t been able to update my precious Windows 7.  I would get a message that the updates failed with, “Windows Update error 80072efd.”  I tried all the steps from the Windows Help and Support window (running the Windows Update troubleshooter and adding the Windows Update websites to the Windows firewall exception list) to no avail.  Out of desperation I found a reference to correct this problem on Vista by running netsh winhttp reset proxy.  It worked!

Open a command prompt as administrator (Start / All programs / Accessories, right-click “Command Prompt” and select “Run as administrator”).

At the command prompt run:

netsh winhttp reset proxy

Try Windows Update update again.