Today we are going to talk about what to do if Windows Update does not work. As you know, Windows update is an important tool in keeping hackers out of your computer. This tool maintains a safe and stable operating system and patches many parts of the Windows operating system. The patches are usually rolled out on “patch Tuesday” which is the second Tuesday of every month. In addition, the tool also updates some other components such as Net Framework and Silverlight. In the past, we have seen many issues related to the Net Framework updates. There are times when these updates have duplicated them selves and tried to install several times. In addition, I have seen some computers have problems after installing some .net framework updates. I personally stay away from most of them. . Net is very difficult to repair if it gets corrupted.
Occasionally when either upgrading an XP computer to a new service pack or even when performing a reformat, windows update will not connect to the website. In cases such as this, reinstalling the Windows Update Agent will do the trick. This file will fix any corrupted or missing files that are required for the agent to connect to Microsoft.
Often time’s problems with connecting to the Windows Update client are due to Malware infections. A virus infection will sometimes block the service from connecting to Microsoft. In addition, your anti-virus program may also have difficulty connecting to the Internet in order to gather the new updates. This often is caused by the virus creating a proxy to its own server or sometimes by going so far as to change your DNS numbers. In order to restore order to your PC, you will need to remove the Trojan. Most of the virus infections that can cause this type of problem can be extremely dangerous. By dangerous I mean that they can gather personal information from your computer including things like bank account information, passwords and credit card numbers. If you have an infection of this nature do not take it lightly. Be sure to get a professional cleaning immediately.
Sometimes the Windows update service will not work because of services that are not started or damaged. The services needed for Windows Update to work include Automatic Updates, Background Intelligent Transfer Service, Cryptographic Service, Event Log and Remote Procedure Call (RPC). If any of these services are not running or are corrupt, you will not be able to use the update service. In addition, you must have a valid copy of Windows to connect to the Microsoft Update website.
There are yet other cases where when nothing else works, a repair install of Windows may be required. Be sure to backup all your files before doing this in case something goes wrong. In yet more extreme cases or when the problem involves Vista or Windows 7, you might have to completely reinstall the operating system.
As you can see, repairing a Windows Update issue can be tricky and downright confusing. It is usually a lot easier to get a trained professional to do the job for you if you are not an expert at repairing systems.
For more information on repairing this issue, visit us at Computer Geeks Online.
Author: Joe Zelenak, Staff Writer
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