Checking for updates results in an error message (0x8024001D)

Running windows update, Express or Custom it does not matter, when checking for updates an error message (0x8024001D) saying “the page can not be displayed” occurs.

Rename the SoftwareDistribution folder:

Stop the Automatic Updates Service
Go to Start>Run and type in: services.msc
Click on OK or hit ENTER
In the right-hand pane of the Services window, right-click on Automatic Updates and then select Stop

Now, navigate to C:\Windows (C:\WINNT, if using Windows 2000) folder, locate and rename the SoftwareDistribution folder to SDOLD

Restart the Automatic Updates Service by re-opening the Services window,

right-click on Automatic Updates and then select Start.

Please note that a "side effect" of renaming (or deleting) the SoftwareDistribution folder is that you will lose your current Update
History listing.

Found solution here:

http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.aspx?dg=microsoft.public.windowsupdate&tid=b5f7cbb5-4307-42a1-b3dd-8b259937525e&p=1