BleepingComputer.com: updates fail

Using Windows Vista Home Premium

Here is the situation: (First started having problem in September)
Updates are downloaded OK
Message says Updates are successfully installed
Asked to restart now
Restart begins and "configuring updates" process begins
Goes thru 3 stages - each stage completes 100%
Then continues shutting down
Then message appears "Updates were not configured correctly. Reverting changes. Do not turn off your computer."
Then attempts to configure updates a second time with same failure - message appears again "Updates were not configured correctly. Reverting changes. Do not turn off your computer."
Finally completes the reboot but update history shows updates as "failed"

This process usually takes 30 to 40 minutes.

I am gradually getting more concerned about not being able to install updates because most of the failed updates are "important" and many deal with security. My PC seems to run OK without these updates (for the time being) but I am afraid that I will eventually run into problems without updates.

I have temporarily turned off my firewall but that did not help. I ran System Mechanic but that did not fix. I contacted Smart Computing support and they sent me here for help.

 Update_history_Nov_09.jpg (367.12K)
Number of downloads: 15

clebeau2@cableone.net

Hi there clebeau and welcome to BC try this fix, it registers your win updates :

Click start>accessories> right click CMD and run as admiistrator

To Register WUPS
Type in cmd : net stop wuauserv
Click enter

To Register WUPS.dll file
Type in cmd : regsrvr32 %windir%\system32\wups2.dll
Click enter
Click OK on each varification

Start the automatic updates service
Type in cmd : net start wuauserv
Click enter

Remember to put spaces inbetween typing where i have !
Hope this helps let me know how you get on with it !
Good Luck !

Restart your system after doing this for it to take full effect !

I did this and after the first step I received message: "The Windows update service is not started."

Patch Registration Cleanup Tool http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...83-1ba674374d71

Maybe this will help.

Thanks.

I used the link but there were several choices of downloads (see attached). I downloaded all of them and only the first and last files would open. The first file was merely the agreement. The last file produced a message asking for a product code.

I'm lost here!