Written by huddy   
Tuesday, 08 December 2009 16:18
When Windows Update goes wrong
 
Windows update is taken for granted. It just ticks along updating your system without you needing to do anything.  But what happens if update goes wrong or stops updating leaving you vulnerable to security threats? Here's what to do.
 
 
Windows update failure all more than often a synchronisation between your PC and the Microsoft host so it’s simply a case of reset the sequence to get things moving again.
 
The most common thing I’ve seen is the date is set incorrectly, notably after re-installing Windows and forgetting to set the date correctly, so make you’re your system date and time are current.
 
For all Windows Operating Systems (including Windows 7), hit the “r” key whilst holding down the Windows key for the run dialogue box. Type ‘regsvr32 jscript’ then ‘regsvr32_vbscript’ and ‘regsvr32 /i mshtml’ pressing ok each time, and then restart your system. The updates should now start coming down.
 
If your updates are failing to install, then there could be a conflict on existing updates or a setting blocking the update. Try clearing the cache using Piriform Ccleaner and tidying up the registry using the same utility.
If this fails to work then we need to apply some brut force.  Try the following step but be careful, changing the contents of the Operating System may kill your Windows installation so make sure you follow this to the letter: ( please note my disclaimer)
 
Again, hit the “r” key whilst holding down the Windows key for the run dialogue box.
Type ‘services.msc’ press Enter.
 
Locate the “Cryptographic Services” service and click “Stop”. Do not disable as this needs to reset after next boot.
 
Launch windows explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\System32\ and rename the “Catroot2” folder to “Catroot2old”. This folder contains the Windows update processes which may have become corrupt. By renaming it you’ve effectively deleted it. The next time the system attempt to to a windows update it will think there’s nothing there, and create a new folder and the process is tricked into starting again.
 
Reboot and hopefully, Windows update will resume as normal.
 
If all works navigate back to the folder above and delete “Catroot2old” folder.
Last Updated on Tuesday, 08 December 2009 16:23