Vista - Can't find a solution to this update problem!

I have vista home premium and for months now iv tried to use windows update, i click to install the updates and then after a while it says "preparing to install updates".

This however never changes no matter how long i leave it, i dont recieve any error message.

Its stopping me for getting updates for windows live messenger and getting the new Internet explorer version because i dont have the required updates.

Can anyone help??

Thank you!

PS. i have attatched a screen shot

Download and install the following updates:

Windows Installer
DirectX (You need this whether you running DirectX 9, 10 or 10.1)
.NET Framework
C ++ for Vista 32 bit
C ++ for Vista 64 bit

Now reboot your pc. Once back at the desktop run windows update again. It will come up with a list of all the updates available for you. Uncheck every box except for the oldest update. Then click Install.

This way you are telling vista to only install one update. If that fails then run windows update again and select a different update to install making sure that you only select 1 update to install.

for some reason when i try and download that software it either says that its not for my system or comes up with an error

thank you for taking the time though!

No problem. If you can't get at least one of those links i gave you to install then your Operating System has major issues.

Go to this link System Files - SFC Command and run the sfc /scannow command. If it finds any errors then your vista installation has become corrupt and you should reinstall Vista.