Problems with Windows Updating on laptops

familyfitz

Hi

Hoping someone can help please.

We have two identical laptops( Dell Inspiron 1545) in the home which are failing to update Windows..They are both set to automatically update but we have discovered they havent been doing so for ages. Have now tried to manually check for updates and it says it cant with the error message

80070002

given.. Failed to sort the problem out following links by Windows regarding these error messages. Did run malwarebytes on both machines (altho one wouldnt let me update first) and both came back not showing any probs - sorry havent got log to hand but can do another scan & post if necessary)..

From some searching done by my dh, he wonders if there is a conflict with AVAST, malwarebytes and windows updating?

We are wondering now whether to uninstall both AVAST and malwarebytes and load BULLGuard onto both machines and see if that helps (we have a license for Bullguard to cover both laptops having purchased it for dh's desktop-recommended by IT guys who fixed the latter)..

I incidentally have AVAST & malwarebytes on my laptop without problem but an older Dell Inspiron 1525.

Hope this lessage can be followed and any advise would be appreciated re the issue existing, successful removal of avast and malwarebytes if deemed appropriate.

Thanks

OneADay

Followed this ?

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Windows-Update-error-80070002

Used something like ccleaner and cleared cache?

familyfitz

Thanks OneADay.
We have followed through to point of contacting the Windows update solution centre as the previous onstructions didnt sort the problem. Will go through to solution centre after lunch when we intend to pursue & hopefully sort the problem for good.

Are you suggesting ccleaner & clearing the cache in addition to the above and if so can you possibly link to safe place to get ccleaner etc?

Many thanks

OneADay

CCleaner http://www.piriform.com/

Disable automatic updates in Windows (control panel setting), run ccleaner, restart pc and try doing manually updating through IE link.

Once all sorted, re-enable automatic updates.

Worst case, try restarting in safe mode and see if you can do updates.

familyfitz

Thanks again - dh seems to be suggesting he did go onto windows support centre but still no joy.

Will look at what you have suggested once got all computers set up closer to hand.

I take it you mean doing the above before trying to remove avast etc and hopefully using ccleaner and manually updating will sort issues out?

omen666

just go direct to windows updates and see if they will come down then LINK

Then resolve the problems after

Alternatively start up in safe mode with networking and try

familyfitz

OneADay wrote: »

CCleaner http://www.piriform.com/

Disable automatic updates in Windows (control panel setting), run ccleaner, restart pc and try doing manually updating through IE link.
QUOTE]

Have done above, if by manually updating through IE link you mean searching on google for microsoft website and then it brings up the usual windows update page.

BUT, still the same error message saying could not search for new updates.

Not sure how we start up in safe mode etc to do next suggested step by both yourself or omen666

Edit: meantime we are downloading the system update readiness tool from microsoft which suggests it tries to deal with the error & problem existing.....we await its completion!

OneADay

Try doing the additional steps described here
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/910336

I had a similar problem - it was after some twerping around I got it working.

GeoffX

It's not a solution to your problem, but a useful alternative is Autopatcher. It comes in two parts:
1/ apup.exe which connects to sites such as Microsoft to download updates.
2/ Autopatcher.exe which allows you to choose which updates you want to install.

Note that the first time you run apup.exe it will download all the existing updates for whichever operating system(s) you choose, which can amount to several hundred megabytes.

familyfitz

familyfitz wrote: »

Edit: meantime we are downloading the system update readiness tool from microsoft which suggests it tries to deal with the error & problem existing.....we await its completion!

OK downloaded this, (offered option to open or save for later so opened), during which it did a hotfix update then said installation complete.
Cannot find any way in which we would further 'run' the installation but again not sure if that is needed.
Restarted the computers and still same error message when trying to update and still shows no history of updates at all (probably as it hasnt been doing them!)

About to look at further link you posted OneADay but dh thinks he did the default action the other day. What does aggressive mean and what's might we loose on the computer?

Thanks for continued help

OneADay

familyfitz wrote: »

OK downloaded this, (offered option to open or save for later so opened), during which it did a hotfix update then said installation complete.
Cannot find any way in which we would further 'run' the installation but again not sure if that is needed.
Restarted the computers and still same error message when trying to update and still shows no history of updates at all (probably as it hasnt been doing them!)

About to look at further link you posted OneADay but dh thinks he did the default action the other day. What does aggressive mean and what's might we loose on the computer?

Thanks for continued help

Default / Aggressive - probably doing a bit more with Aggressive mode.
You should not lose anything if you are only doing what the articles suggest.

One more thing to try is Custom update, where you fire up Windows Update, and choose to do custom rather than default installation of any available updates. And do updates in smaller batches till you get the one that might be causing the root problem.

I did have similar issue but just can't remember what I did :eek: - about 2 months ago I think.

Also try doing this (the SoftwareDistribution which you might have renamed but rename back to SoftwareDistribution).
Might want to make a backup copy of anything you delete.

Click Start.
Choose Run.
In the Run box, type %windir%\SoftwareDistribution
Click OK.
Open the DataStore folder.
Delete all contents of the DataStore folder.
Close the window.