Will not download Windows updates

Have a friends Toshiba laptop here and have cleaned it up a but and used a lot of the optimise tut but now it will not download Windows updates as it is telling me that the service has been blocked.

I have reset the msconfig back to enable all but still the same result.

The other thing is whenever I click on updates from the Control Panel, IE or the dedicated icon in the start menu it always goes to the Control Panel site and the same message.

Any ideas please?

I'd say scaning with antivirus/antispyware would be a good start. I am being blocked from getting MS Updates - Microsoft Answers

townsbg said:

I'd say scaning with antivirus/antispyware would be a good start. I am being blocked from getting MS Updates - Microsoft Answers

Click to expand...

Ok townsbg Will give the Microsoft Malicious Tool a run as I have got one malware with MBAM and I don't think the machine has been looked after that well as the more I dig around the more rubbish I find.

Sounds good. Keep us posted.

Sorry late reply townsbg No go mate have just done a full scan with MS tool and on boot I get Wimdows has blocked some start up programs - but I have everything enabled - I did originally disable stuff like the bloat and Adobe stuff in Strat up not updates as for one thing it was ot listed and some I wouldn't do.

Have checked in msconfig the services are all ticked and have checked the update particularly. I have also set msconfig to normal start up.
On boot all I get when I click on updates there is a screen that is Control Panel> Windows Update and a message in the window with a red shield Check for updates etc. Click on Check for updates and get another message saying that the service is not running and it might need to restart your machine yet in msconfig it confirms it is running?

Is there anywhere in regedit that would show if the Update has an entry?

I think I know what it might be. Open up start menu and type in services.msc. Look for Windows update and double click on it. Make sure it is set for automatic or automatic (delayed start) [mine is set for delayed start] and that the start button is grayed out. If it isn't click on the button to start it. If it starts check functionality.

Yes the Start button is grayed out and I have swapped from auto delayed to auto but no change am still getting the same as I just posted.

If you haven't tried system file checker (SFC).

Hum seems to have a bit of a problem there townsbg I type sfc click on "Open" the .exe - nothing happens then run as admin and I get a very quick flash of something happening in a ? DOS window then nothing.

You have to open up an elevated command line first. http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/66978-system-files-sfc-command.html

Oops townsbg am doing that now. Just as matter of interest I did some rootkit scanning last night plus a Hitman Pro - nothing, BUT a Comodo full scan I started last night was still running this morning stuck at 82% and the running time was almost ten hours so I think something is dreadfully wrong with this puppy.

Anyway SFC is now rnning will get back to you when done.

Ok townsbg this is what I got.

I have done a Google and there is something on the Windows site suggesting stuff but have no idea on what to do with them.

Ok townsbg I have found the log for the sfc but don't know how to post it and in the meantimes I have discovered via the device manager and diskpart this machine has two HDD's - apparently some shipped with two am going to shut the thing down and physically check what is inside.

Have really spent a lot of time on this one and am now just wondering if it is all worth it to be honest as nothing seems to work.

There are some folders on that second drive that I cannot access for whatever reason so I cannot tell what they actually do

Follow the instructions in the tutorial to extract the most relevant sections of the log. Also instead of using a camera you can use the print screen button. Alt + print screen only takes a pic of the active window whereas print screen takes a pic of the entire screen. Either way paste the picture into paint or any other picture editor.

What folders are on that other hard drive? Have you tried running a scan in safe mode. I'll confess I don't know much about root kits but they can be nasty.

Ok will have a go as I hate things beating me. The files in the other drive are just weird and empty did a chkdsk on it and it came up no problems. Still I'll have a go at those logs.

Ok again I'll do the scan in safe too once I have the logs sorted.

I don't know if this will work townsbg but here goes

Ok that isn't a system critical program however it could be an indication that something is wrong with .net framework. Which updates won't install? Are they .net related? Also is there any reason why there isn't a service pack installed as indicated in the log? I'm sure some of them require at least SP1.

Oh to be honest townsbg I didn't really notice the lack of SP1 I just checked with the system tools and Speccy and no mention of it.

Now I suspect since the install in 2008 maybe the updates have been switched off somehow as this machine has been used by all and sundry and to be honest thoroughly used without anyone doing any maintenance on it.

Perhaps it is worth downloading SP1 from my machine to a stick and try installing it that way.

In any case the machine is running like a lame snail and I have told the owner maybe a new HDD and 7 more RAM would be the go as this could take ages to fix and still no guarantee it will be of any useful purpose - what do you reckon? I mean for about $280 it's gonna have a decent sized HDD, OS and more RAM.:huh:

Well townsbg have installed SP1 via stick the machine seems to run a tad faster if anything but still no updates.

I have attached a zip file but don't know if this is going to be of any use

Hiyya townsbg did a stop services - Windows update then deleted the folders in C:Windows\SoftwareDistribution and then restarted the services updates like I think you said before and I happened across in another forum ref I think it was in a couple of Microsoft ones and the updates are pouring in - there is a LOT as I think it has never been updated at all.

Well it certainly has been a learner for me and thanks for all your time and patience mate I do so appreciate it