Windows update chicken dance as posted by Brad (specifically for error 0×80244019 but may work for others):

This fixed the problem:

Cleared the cookies
Cleared the Temporary Internet Files as well as offline content
Restored the defaults in the Security tab of Tools/Internet Options, for
each zone.
Restored the defaults in the Advanced tab of Tool/Internet Options.
Under the Advanced Tab, uncheck Enable third-party browser extensions
Click to select the Use HTTP 1.1 and the Use HTTP 1.1 through proxy
connections
checkbox.

Reset the proxy list
Open IE. Go to Tools Menu, Internet Options.
Click the Connections tab, click the LAN Settings, and then click Advanced.
Delete any entry in the Exceptions section.
Quit IE
Open a command prompt and run the following commands
proxycfg -d
proxycfg -u
net stop wuauserv
net start wuauserv

This came from the Microsoft Support group and after doing these steps, I
was able to connect to the Windows Update website.