vista updates

[evan_040104]

Certain updates are not installing properly when going through the windows updates procedure.Only 7 out of 14 were installed successfully.I have tried several times but keeping getting the same 7 that dont install.Your help would be appreciated with this.

[BurrWalnut]

1. This is known to help in some cases:
Go to Internet Options > Security Tab > 'Trusted sites' icon > click Sites then uncheck 'Require server verification' and add these two entries http://*.windowsupdate.microsoft.com and http://*.windowsupdate.com.
Click Close, Apply and OK.

2. Do you get error messages with the failures? If so, look here http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/ph/6527/

3. Sometimes the update log will give a clue as to the reason/error. Go to the Windows Orb (Start), type %windir%\windowsupdate.log and press Enter. To find the error(s), go to the end of the file (Ctrl+End) then use ‘Find’ (Ctrl+F) to check for the word 'fatal', use search ‘Up’ to search upwards from the end of the file.

If the above doesn’t solve it, there are other things to try.

[evan_040104]

Thank you for your reply.Problem has been solved now,appreciated

[jakjon]

hiya,,,i have got problems with the latest windows updates,it appears to download them ok but then after restarting to install it says that they cannot be configured and it reverts back to settings before.i have tried your suggestion also with no luck and was wondering if u got anyfurther advice
many thanks

[BurrWalnut]

Jakjon

Here are a few more things to try (if you haven‘t already):

1. If you have a third-party firewall, check that it’s not blocking the downloads. Also, check that the BITS (Background Intelligent Transfer Service) is running, click the Windows Orb (Start), type services.msc and press Enter. Scroll down to BITS and check that it is Started and set to Automatic.
2. You could try stopping the Windows Update service, rename the software distribution folder then restart the service, as follows:
2a. Make sure you are logged on as an Administrator, click the Windows Orb (Start), type services.msc and press Enter. Scroll down to Windows Update service, right-click it then click Stop.
2b. Click the Windows Orb (Start), type %windir% in the Start Search box and then press Enter. Locate and rename the SoftwareDistribution folder to, say, SoftwareDistributionOLD. By renaming the folder your update history will appear to have been erased as it is not presented to the Windows Update website. However, updates can still be viewed by going to Control Panel > Classic View > Programs and Features > View Installed Updates.
2c. Go back to Administrative Tools > Windows Update service (Provide the Administrator password or confirmation if prompted to do so), right-click it then click Start. Try to download the missing updates again.
3. Lastly, Google your exact problem/message.

[jakjon]

hi,,thanks for your help but i still got problems,in fact now when i go to windows update i get a window saying to check for updates i must install an update for windows update,but when i click on install it does nothing more than go back to the begining ,sorry to be a pain to ask again for further help if you possibly can
kind regards

[BurrWalnut]

Here are a couple of ‘straw-clutchers’:

1. If you have a third-party firewall, check that it’s not blocking the downloads. Also, check that the BITS (Background Intelligent Transfer Service) is running, click the Windows Orb (Start), type services.msc and press Enter. Scroll down to BITS and check that it is Started and set to Automatic.
2. Try running the system file checker from an elevated Command Prompt. Click the Windows Orb (Start) > All Programs > Accessories and right-click Command Prompt, then ‘Run as Administrator’. Type sfc /scannow (note the space) and press Enter. This may take some time and, depending upon your installation of Vista, you may have to put the Vista DVD in the drive. Try to download the updates again.