Windows Vista Vista updated automatically then crashed

I have Vista Home Basic on a new machine. Yesterday it automatically downloaded the updates from Microsoft and installed them (or tried - according to the update list they all failed because of the following problem). When it rebooted Windows did not start instead I got a black screen with a message stating that "Windows failed to load because a required file is missing or corrupt ". The file was the ntoskrnl.exe. The fix was to insert the Vista CD and boot from it. Then run a repair function. Yes, this brought the system back but at this point I cannot install any of the security updates issued by Microsoft for Vista using the automatic function (or manually for that matter) as each time it runs I get the black screen and Windows load failure message. Does anyone have any ideas as to how I can correct this issue?
Thank you for your help.

 

MS have just recently issued an "update" for Windows Updater. I would look at that as being the possible cause. Keep running Windows Updater on and off, it may appear. Look at the downloads for Vista at the MS website, you may be able to download and install it separately.

Matt
PS, go to your system manufacturer's website and check for updated drivers and software. I was looking at one of the OEM websites (HP or Dell, I don't recall) the other day and there was a "Warning" about Vista's Windows Updates.