Windows vista windows update service not working

Hello wwsras, Welcome to Microsoft Answers Forum! How to rename the SoftwareDistribution folder in Vista - 1. Right-click the Windows Update service and click Stop.

Locate and rename the SoftwareDistribution folder. Right-click the Windows Update service and click Start. You can check which updates are installed on your computer by — Start button Control Panel Programs Under Programs and Features - click View installed updates.

Try this and let us know if it works. In reply to Irfan H's post on October 16, Hello Irfan, Thanks for taking my issue. Verify that you have sufficient privileges to stop the system. The program only allows me to cancel the program. I'm the only user on my pc and believe I have admin privileges. Is there a way to satisfy the message to allow the program to continue? Thanks Walt. Irfan, Since my last reply, I took the following additional steps.

I was successful at running the MS Fixit program. The program indicates it found 12 updates to install. I have no issues with dowloading data from any other source, just Windows Update. What you you recommend as next steps to try to fix this issue? Thank you. Ok so here is the solution step by step. I had difficult times in installing the Microsoft Vista Windows Update that was released few days ago.

After the recent updates three always failed code error to install when ever Windows Automatic Update runs. And then windows update will display annoying alerts in System tray all the time ready to install and then the same thing all over again,the sytem will failed to update. Just type the update code that you are having problems with in the search tab above in the page, for example KB click on the search all download center and then when the update is found Validate your Windows Vista operating system and download the installable manually you can either run it or save to install it at a later time but i recommend to install it right away by choosing run then accept the Microsoft license agreements and wait for the installation to be complete.

Deleting files from previous operating system updates may also help get the Windows Update service up and running again on your PC. Rather than using Windows Update, you can download and install the latest updates for Windows 10 manually via the Microsoft Update Catalog website.

That might help fix the service for subsequent updates. Optionally, consider installing the latest Servicing Stack Update for your Windows 10 version. That can help fix additional issues with Windows Update.

You can search for and download it from the Microsoft Update Catalog website. If the Windows Update service still fails, you can use the Windows Update Assistant to force-install the latest feature update for Windows If you continue to experience problems, you might want to perform a system restore.

That helps roll back any recent changes to the operating system that prompted the issue to occur. You can also try uninstalling the previous Windows update. Finally, resetting Windows 10 to factory defaults should work as a last-ditch measure to fix the Windows Update service for good. Dilum Senevirathne is a freelance tech writer and blogger with three years of experience writing for online technology publications.

When he isn't hammering away at his Magic Keyboard, you can catch him binge-watching productivity hacks on YouTube. Read Dilum's Full Bio. The update that is offered to a device depends on several factors. The following are some of the most common attributes:. If the update you're offered isn't the most current available, it might be because your device is being managed by a WSUS server, and you're being offered the updates available on that server.

It's also possible, if your device is part of a deployment group, that your admin is intentionally slowing the rollout of updates. Since the deployment is slow and measured to begin with, all devices will not receive the update on the same day. If these services stop unexpectedly, then you might see this behavior. In such cases, follow these steps:.

Devices running Windows 10, version through Windows 10, version that are configured to update from Windows Update including Windows Update for Business are able to install servicing and definition updates but are never offered feature updates. Without the MSA service running, the global device ID won't be generated and sent by the client and the search for feature updates never completes successfully. If you can't allow RANGE requests, you'll be downloading more content than needed in updates as delta patching will not work.

Go to Services. Stopping the service associated with Windows Firewall with Advanced Security is not supported by Microsoft. For more information, see I need to disable Windows Firewall. Windows Update provides a wide range configuration policy to control the behavior of the Windows Update service in a managed environment.

While these policies let you configure the settings at a granular level, misconfiguration or setting conflicting policies may lead to unexpected behaviors. For more information, see How to configure automatic updates by using Group Policy or registry settings for more information. Ensure that devices can reach necessary Windows Update endpoints through the firewall. For example, for Windows 10, version , the following protocols must be able to reach these respective endpoints:.

The connection will fail. The specific endpoints can vary between Windows client versions. See, for example, Windows 10 Enterprise connection endpoints.

Similar articles for other Windows client versions are available in the table of contents nearby. Windows client devices can receive updates from a variety of sources, including Windows Update online, a Windows Server Update Services server, and others. To determine the source of Windows Updates currently being used on a device, follow these steps:.