\Automatic Updates downloads don't work

[Guest]

My PC is set up to alert me when updates are available, but not download them.
When I was recently alerted to new updates, I clicked on the download
button, and nothing happened.
The files did not download.
I contacted Microsoft Support via phone, who went through a process of
switching off the Cryptology system, and re-name my Windows Catroot2 folder
to Catroot2old, and then re-starting the Cryptology service.
In the meantime, I had successfully used the Windows Updaye website to
download the latest updates for my PC, but there is obviously something wrong
with the Automatic Updates system downloads.
The advisor at Microsoft told me to carry out a system restore to a time
earlier than that of downloading the latest updates from the Windows Update
website, which I did.
We then tried the Automatic Updates system again, and still the downloads
did not happen.
Switching the Cryptology system on and off, and re-naming the Catroot2
folder again (this time to Catroot2old2, as the there was already a
Catroot2old file as per the above) was tried again, but this did not work.
At this point, the advisor said she could not help me any further after a 40
minute phone call, and that I should try again in a few days.
I have since restored my PC by undoing the system restore that the advisor
told me to carry out, thus I have the latest updates installed.
I have 3 questions now - Why is Automatic Updates not working correctly
(this seems to be an intermittent problem on my PC) ?
Is it safe to delete the okld Catroot2 folders (Catroot2old and Catrootold2)
that were created when I spoke to the advisor - that is, they will not affect
my PC's security or Windows performance ?
And finally, after using system restore twice, this does not affect Windows
performance or security in any way, does it ?

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

You cannot install some updates or programs: Go to: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;822798&Product=winxp

 

[Guest]

As per my post, I have already done what Microsoft asked, and it did not
resolve the problem with Automatic Updates. I have since manually updated my
system using the Windows Update site.
The main thing that concerns me now is whether there is any security risk in
re-naming the Catroot2 folder (I have 2 of them-Catroot2old and
Catroot2old2), and whether this will affect my PC's performance in any way.