Windows Update isn't working

[M Skabialka]

Whenever I go to the Windows update site it only finds and downloads the
Windows Genuine Validation Tool, over and over, and won't go to the next
step of finding current patches, etc. This Dell Dimension 4600 PC was new
from Dell within the year, and has a valid Windows XP CD and key number. I
have shut down and rebooted multiple times, and have just been through a
painful process removing some spyware so I know it is clean of that. I
checked the ActiveX security levels and matched them to what Microsoft
suggests for downloading this tool, but it does download and install OK -
just over and over!

 

[Guest]

Try going to microsoft home page,select microsoft update,try running the
advanced version of update..

 

[S. Taylor]

Try letting the Windows Automatic Update applet do it's thing.
Start|Control Panel|Automatic Updates

 

[GaryK]

Seems computers and programs have become more and more complicated as of
late. I experienced problems also with Windows Update, got Microsoft
involved, went through weeks of correspondance with them trying different
solutions(?) and accidently stumbled on the solution myself. I had a program
called BrowseBlast installed that was supposed to speed up browsing on the
internet. If I disabled that program, turned off pop up blocker in Windows
XP and disabled my antivirus program, everything worked ok.

Also had problems accessing some websites including on line banking that my
computer deemed innappropriate. Went through the same process with Microsoft
again with weeks of emails. Also posted my problem on another computer help
site and a respondee commented that my email was being processed through a
proxy server. When I disabled that everything worked fine.

You may have other problems but just letting you know that some programs on
your computer can unknowingly cause problems and Microsoft doesn't always
have the answer and they are the Pros(?)