Hi Mark,
I finally got things working. not sure about the validation theory because I
had activated my copy of Vista within days. And it was after I activated that
my updates were failing. It could have been that several updates were
downloaded and installed before I activated Vista. Just more shots in the
dark...
Anyway I resolved my situation taking the following steps:
1. The first thing i had to do was delete all the software distribution
components. I had to do this because everytime I attempted to do something
that required a reboot, the update would try to kick in on shutdown and foul
things up.
2. I then restored my system to the earliest point I had available. This
brought me to the point of creating a new account. I had to create something
bogus to get past that point.
3. Once I logged on under my previous profile, I verified that no updates
were installed and I immediately turned OFF the autoupdate to prevent update
from fouling things up yet again.
4. I then manually went to Windows Update and downloaded all priority updates.
5. THIS IS THE IMPORTANT PART. I monitored the entire process including the
install. After about 19 out of 52 updates were installed I got a much
friendlier message with similar wording "windows modules installer stopped
working". At this point I took down the name of the update that was currently
installing "KB938979".
6. I had to repeat step 1 again to ensure that KB938979 would not attempt to
install when I continued the Windows Update.
7. After doing so I went back to Windows Update again but this time I
removed KB938979 from the downloads.
8. All the remaining updates installed just fine. I evem went back and
installed Microsoft Update and installed any remaining updates and drivers
EXCEPT for KB938979.
9. Unfortunately I will have to do my updates manually from now on because
the KB938979 updates insists on being included each time.
I hope this helps some other frustrated folks trying desperately to get
Vista to work. I dont know and dont care what is in the bum update but I
believe it was the source of all my grief.