Windows vista update will not check for updates

[neilawallace]

Hi

I have recently been having problems with windows update and many other things. Basically it won't check for updates. When you click to check for updates, the bar starts but stays stuck searching. I then also notices microsoft security essentials does the same when u try and update. AVG free failed to install and I tried installing google chrome because I hate explorer and it also failed due to windows installer error. I tried manually installing service pack 2 from windows and it also failed. Nothing windows based will update.

I first noticed all this when I moved in with my girlfriend and started using her laptop. It is a decent laptop and the first thing I noticed it was a bit sluggish and I checked the CPU usage and one thing was hogging 70% all the time. It was windows error reporting or something similar which I disabled through systems, but nothing changed. Thats when I tried to update windows and it had 1 important update and 2 optional which I did. I remember one completed and 2 failed I think and after I restarted the computer the updater has not been working at all.

I got tune up utilities but it did not change anything after cleaning up various things. I also got rid one one malware thing from a free month trial with malwarebytes I think.

I have seen people talking about command prompts and cleaning registries but I cant get them to work properly.

I do not get errors report codes which is also a problem because its always frozen on checking for updates.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.]

Thankyou

[-pops-]

Have you tried a System Restore?

Can you restore from your backup/image?

If neither of those is practical, is this useful to you?

/>http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial148.html

[bludgard]

In addition to what -pops- has suggested,check repeat entries in Event Viewer>Custom Views>Administrative Events to get a clue as to the source of the update failures.

Google Source and Event ID to narrow down problematic software/hardware.

As for Microsoft Security Essentials,there is a file that gets corrupted at times and needs to be deleted.The file will be regenerated on next reboot.Follow the path in screenshot below to locate file.Show hidden files/folders must be enabled to locate this.

I suggest only one installed antivirus or there may occur some serious issues with performance.MSE in my opinion is adequate.

For general update failures check out this website:http://support.microsoft.com/kb/906602

[bludgard]

EDIT:Screenshot....

[neilawallace]

thanks guys was away for a couple of days. In work now I will check these ideas tonight.