Windows Update doing nothing

[Scythy]

I go to the windows update site, and after I click custom install to see all the updates, it just "scans" forever, and doesn't really do anything... Is this a common problem with an easy answer that I'm just not seeing?

Any help is appreciated, thanks.

 

[RealBlackStuff]

Are you using Internet Explorer?
If not, it won't work.

 

[Scythy]

Oh yea, I'm using IE. Mozilla for regular browsing.

 

[RealBlackStuff]

I did not read the question properly.
Custom Install should give you the complete overview of available updates for your selected OS. If that is XP, it will be a humonguous amount of files as it checks THEIR database.
Letting MS do the regular update check, it will check YOUR PC and then tell you the few that are available, and you have not yet got them.
As I said, this only works in IE.

 

[Scythy]

I have automatic updates enabled but set for me to confirm when installing. I've never seen it download or rather inform me of anything ready to be installed

What I mean by forever, is if I click custom or express I let it run for over 3 hours and still nothing happened

 

[RealBlackStuff]

What happens if you click on the Windows Update button on the Start-menu?
(and set any and all your preferences with MS-website to default)

for W2K I get directed here:
http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp

for XP its probably //v5.win...

 

[Scythy]

I was sent to http://v5.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/v5consumer/default.aspx?ln=en-us

I also restored all the default settings for IE (since I don't use it who cares ) and I still have the same problem.

 

[RealBlackStuff]

Would you have set your Security-settings to the maximum?
Or did you put Microsoft in the Forbidden Zone?

 

[Scythy]

I just set the security settings to low, and actually windows update is in my trusted zone.

Here a screeny of what I'm actually seeing.

Basically just has that progress bar going but does absolutely nothing.

Edit: (Whoops.. its big...sorry)

 

[RealBlackStuff]

Just wondering if your XP is a legal copy, if not that could explain.
If it is, I hope someone else can help you further.
(My advice would otherwise be, to ditch XP and go back to Windows 2000 Pro).

 

[Scythy]

Unfortunatly it is legal

Time to buy a different operating system huh..

Well, Windows 2000 is good then?

I really have no clue what could be better than windows XP

 

[RealBlackStuff]

Make a backup of all your personal data.

Then do an in-place repair of first Internet Explorer, if that does not work, repair Windows.
See the HOW TO repair at the top of this forum.

If all else fails, do a fresh install.