Vista - Windows Update doesn't work

Hey,

The last time an update was installed was in January..since the next time i was offered an update, Windows Update or any of the programs that use windows update fail to update. Also i can't download the updates manually..standalone msu installers also dont work.. windows defender, IE8 installations also fail to update. And unfortunately i have deleted the recent system restore checkpoints before i knew about this problem.
Windows Update gives error 80070002, i have tried the "solution" to delete temp update files, and all other solutions i could find on the internet. Windows defender gives the same error. The updates can be downloaded from windows update, but cannot be download (not even manually in .msu package)
I also lost many shortcut files of MS Office (the icon turned white and they lost their target). Some shortcuts of 3rd party programs are also lost (which were supposed to be in c:\windows\installer\blabla\

I have Windows Vista Home Basic with SP1 (SP1 came with the ssytem when i bought it). This is very weird. I have no other choice than to reformat drive and use recovery disk. Please help.

Hi Huki,

Have a look here;
http://www.vistax64.com/software-too...air-tools.html

Also check that your system date and time are correct

Pooch

I tried the 2nd and 3rd methods, they didn't work. The download link for the 1st method just redirects to the homepage. The system date and time are correct. Could a bad update have caused this problem? If that is the case, this would happen again even if i reinstall vista O_O

The download for the first method has been removed I do not know when it will be back

It is possible that this has been caused by an update, but that does not mean that it will happen again

Have you tried this fix?
Fix Error 80070002 When Using Windows Update in Vista » My Digital Life

Pooch

After trying tons of methods trying to fix this, and recieving 3 emails from microsoft support, the problem is finally solved using System File Checker
How to repair the operating system and how to restore the operating system configuration to an earlier point in time in Windows Vista

First turn off the Windows firewall on the computer then you should be able to update the Windows Updates.