can't download/install updates...

a couple of days ago i was playing starcraft, in the middle of my game vista suddenly closed everything and started to install updates...after it restarted, it had changed my resolution to 640x480 from 1440x900, changed my theme, and a few other random things.

long story short, i now can't download or check for updates, they just don't download, and when my computer shuts down it tries to install updates but it just gets stuck...

help?
thanks in advance

edit to add some specs: running vista home premium 32 bit on an hp dv9620us laptop.

also now it would seem that i can't even load installed updates from the remove programs panel...

:X

You can try to register the following DLLs if Windows Update service is not starting up or having some issue updating/running Windows Updates:

1. Create a batch file and copy the following contents in it and then double click on it to register modules.

regsvr32 c:\windows\system32\vbscript.dll
regsvr32 c:\windows\system32\mshtml.dll
regsvr32 c:\windows\system32\msjava.dll
regsvr32 c:\windows\system32\jscript.dll
regsvr32 c:\windows\system32\msxml.dll
regsvr32 c:\windows\system32\actxprxy.dll
regsvr32 c:\windows\system32\shdocvw.dll

2. Restart the Windows Update and Automatic service

3. Stop the Cryptographic Service

(Click Start, click Run, type services.msc. In the Services dialog box, right-click Cryptographic Services, and then click Properties. In the Cryptographic Service Properties dialog box, click the General tab, and then click Stop.)
4. Remove the folder \Windows\System32\Catroot2

5. Rename the \Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder.

This above folder is the restoration point for Windows Update service.

6. Now restart the Cryptographic Service.

7. Create another batch file and put the following lines in it and then double click on it to register the modules:

regsvr32 /s Softpub.dll
regsvr32 /s Mssip32.dll
regsvr32 /s Initpki.dll
regsvr32 softpub.dll
regsvr32 wintrust.dll
regsvr32 initpki.dll
regsvr32 dssenh.dll
regsvr32 rsaenh.dll
regsvr32 gpkcsp.dll
regsvr32 sccbase.dll
regsvr32 slbcsp.dll
regsvr32 cryptdlg.dll
regsvr32 Urlmon.dll
regsvr32 Shdocvw.dll
regsvr32 Msjava.dll
regsvr32 Actxprxy.dll
regsvr32 Oleaut32.dll
regsvr32 Mshtml.dll
regsvr32 msxml.dll
regsvr32 msxml2.dll
regsvr32 msxml3.dll
regsvr32 Browseui.dll
regsvr32 shell32.dll
regsvr32 wuapi.dll
regsvr32 wuaueng.dll
regsvr32 wuaueng1.dll
regsvr32 wucltui.dll
regsvr32 wups.dll
regsvr32 wuweb.dll
regsvr32 jscript.dll
regsvr32 atl.dll
regsvr32 Mssip32.dll

Your Windows Update should work,

If not you may need to consider a system restore as updates are very important.

If that dosent work upload your C:\Windows\WindowsUpdate.log file.



Good Luck

i tried doing that stuff, and some of the first dll's couldnt be loaded or found...i couldn't stop cryptographic services, or delete catroot2, or rename softwaredistribution because i need permission.

now i can't system restore, it just times out.

how do i go about getting a reformatting disk?

It should have worked. The cryptograpic services should have stopped. I just checked on my computer, it has stopped successfully for me.

Sorry,
Fmjc001