The update cannot be started because the content sources cannot be accessed

Event Type:   Error
Event Source: Windows SharePoint Services 3 Search
Event Category:       Gatherer
Event ID:       2424
Date:            10/22/2010
Time:            6:25:08 AM
User:            N/A
Computer:     <ServerName>

Description:

The update cannot be started because the content sources cannot be accessed. Fix the errors and try the update again.

Context: Application 'Search', Catalog 'index file on the search server Search'

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

The update cannot be started because the content sources cannot be accessed. This error usually occurs in SharePoint index server with an event id:2424.One may have noticed that this error will occur when the search content sources was in progress and this will be repetitive in fashion, say in every 5 minutes.

Follow the steps below for a simple fix:-

1. Login with Farm account on MOSS index server.

2. Open the services console start à Run à services.msc

3. Right click on "Windows SharePoint Services Search" à properties

4. Click on Log on tab; make sure you have "This account" enabled

5. Click in "Browse" to select the same farm account.

Your logon entry will look like the below, "Log on As" changed from "<domain\FarmAccount>" before then change to "<FarmAccount@domain.com>" thereafter.

6. Click on Apply, and then say OK.

7. Finally stop "Windows SharePoint Services Search" service and restart it again.

Stay sometime in the server and verify the errors. It should be stopped by then!