[Solved] Windows will not update

There are 32 Windows Updates ready for my laptop. Have tried 3 times and each time when I go to look if they have been updated it says "failed"

 

Hi Patricia, Microsoft have a fixit tool to download and run, from here :-

http://support.microsoft.com/gp/windows-update-issues/en-gb

Try that first and see if that helps.
Please let us know how you get on,

Nev.

 

Not having much luck so far. Will try again later.

 

I tried again. D/l the Microsoft fixit but it will not work as it tells me BootStrapp has stopped working. I remember some months back when trying to fix something else I got the same message.

 

Hello Patricia,
After a good search to remind me of what it is, I found it all points to a fault with Microsoft Office, do you have that on your computer?
However, it can also indicate a system file fault as well.

So first is to check the system files and see if they can be repaired if any faulty files are found. This is done with the System File Checker, quite often refered to as SFC Scannow.
To perform this in Windows Vista, click start, then in the search box, type cmd

You should then see cmd.exe at the top of the search result.

DO NOT click on it, you must right click, then select "Run as administrator"

When the Command Prompt black box opens, type in :-

sfc /scannow

Please note there is a space between the sfc and the /
Once typed in as above, press the enter key, it will then commence to check and verify the system files and if possible repair them.
If it finishes and reports all correct, try the original fixit for Windows updates again.

If on the other hand it finishes and reports that it could not repair some files, run the sfc /scannow again as it can sometimes fix files it couldn't do the first time. It has been known to need running up to five or six times in the case of some faults.

Let us know what results you get from that please, as the next thing to try will possibly be a clean boot.

That will be from following the advice from the Microsoft site on this link :-

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...-working/6d60bbb8-3867-492a-8e2b-8b828c492fef

Unless you are confident in trying the Microsoft advice and the link in it to clean boot, please let us know first.

Nev.

 

Further to what advice Nev has given it in the previous post, could be something as simple as not having the correct year, time and date set.
Right click on the time in the task bar and check "Adjust time and date " is correct.
If any changes needed then click "Apply" and "OK"

 

Are these critical updates or optionals or both? What Antivirus program are you running? Dougie could be on to something with the date and time as well and if it is wrong and you set it it doesn't hold, then
it could be a cmos battery causing the settings not to hold.

 

These are critical updates. I think the time has come to take the bull by the horns and use my recovery discs to take it back to what it was like when I first got it. I use it mainly for Paint Shop Pro making signature tags for members of my Aimoo Forums. I have started putting everything I want onto a 2 tgb removable HD. I did not want to do this as I have 100's filters I use and need. I have a Win 7 desktop but some filters I am having difficulty getting to work.
I use Avast and keep it up to date also I keep my malware prog updated.
I also use Paratelogic Health and it tells me my HD is healthy. Although this program also cleans the registry. I would rather leave the registry alone.

 

Forgot to add......the date and time are set correctly.

 

Hi, just one more thing worth a try if it is possible, is a system restore back to a time when you know everything was working correctly, have you tried that yet? If not it is worth a look at.

Nev.

 

Great idea to try System Restore first but I think we have all seen some "wackiness" occasionally with Vista and Windows 7 where time is really saved by a return to "day 1" so nothing wrong with that idea
when all else fails. I would scrap "Paratelogic Health" as any use whatsoever of a reg cleaner can easily create irreparable damage to the registry where for some reason even reg backups do not fix the issues. Overinstall would be still another approach as that will repair a registry often times.
Let me share my 2 favorite anti reg cleaner posts:
http://miekiemoes.blogspot.com/2008/02/registry-cleaners-and-system-tweaking_13.html


http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=643

 

I did a system restore. Laptop a bit faster than it was. I tried to update. There are now 37 updates pending. It only ipdated 3 all of which were Windows Defender. I will definitely scrap Paretelogic Health. I do not like any program that messes with the registry. Thank you all for your help.
When I get all my PSP filters installed on my Win 7 desktop I will clear this old laptop and start afresh.

 

Sounds like a plan to me!