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Windows Vista Windows could not search for new updates.

Discussion in 'Legacy Windows' started by Geoff Hands, 2008/04/21.

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  1. 2008/04/21
    Geoff Hands Lifetime Subscription

    Geoff Hands Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    This is a Vista Ultimate 64 bit system.
    The message I get says Error Code 80080005 Get Help , but clicking on help brings up a list of different error codes, and different problems.
    Any suggestions ?
     
    Geoff Hands,
    #1
  2. 2008/04/21
    mattman

    mattman Inactive Alumni

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    Hi Geoff, can you give us more details? Is it for Windows Update or maybe for driver updates? Is the updater set to automatic or are you running it manually?

    There is a Windows Update troubleshooting site at MS.

    Could say, the firewall be blocking the updater?

    Matt
     
    mattman,
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  4. 2008/04/21
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Hi Geoff Hands. In addition to what mattman has already said, are you having problems with installing updates or searching for updates? If your problem is with installing updates then navigate to the C:/Windows folder and delete the entire SoftwareDistribution folder and then reboot. Try searching for updates again. If you are having a problem with installing certain updates have you tried downloading the stand alone update from the microsoft website and then installing it? Either way please give us some more information about your problem, thanks! :)
     
    Evan Omo,
    #3
  5. 2008/04/22
    Geoff Hands Lifetime Subscription

    Geoff Hands Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    more info...

    I have Windows set to "always install the latest updates..." but every time I boot up I get the message "Windows can't check for updates" - and if I go Start/Windows Update I get info that the last check was on 16th February , the last actual installation was 14th April , and that I have Windows set to Automatically install new updates every day at 3.00 (am). I leave the machine on all night every few days for this to happen.
    I have just gone back to that window to refresh my memory of these dates etc, and clicked on "check for updates" - after it has been running for a few minutes it turns back to "Windows can't check for updates , Error code 80080005 Get Help. However, the help screen reached from this message does not help.
     
    Geoff Hands,
    #4
  6. 2008/04/22
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Thanks for the additional info. Navigiate to the C:/Windows directory and delete the entire SoftwareDistribution folder. Then reboot. See if you can check for updates again.
     
    Evan Omo,
    #5
  7. 2008/04/22
    Geoff Hands Lifetime Subscription

    Geoff Hands Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    can't delete the Software Distribution folder

    when I try I'm told the file is in use in another program, and I should first close it and then try again. . There was no other program running ( visibly - although no doubt some running in the background as there always is ) . I re-tried a couple of times, then did a re-start in the hope of shutting everything down and being successful with another try , but same result.

    Assuming that it's running in the background, how can I get to it to stop it ? Task Manager, will that do ?
     
    Geoff Hands,
    #6
  8. 2008/04/22
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    This is the procedure to delete the SoftwareDistributian folder on Vista:

    1. Click Start, and in the Search box on the start menu, type CMD, then press Ctrl+Shift+Enter (this will get you an elevation prompt for an Administrator command prompt)
    2. At the command prompt, type net stop wuauserv, then press Enter
    3. Type rmdir /s %windir%\softwaredistribution\DataStore, then press Enter. Type Y to acknowledge the command.
    4. Run Regedit (Start > Run, type regedit and press Enter)
    5. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ Curr entVersion \ WindowsUpdate. Right-click on WindowsUpdate in the tree and choose Delete. Close Regedit.
    6. At the command prompt, type net start wuauserv, press Enter and close the command prompt.
    7. Use the Windows Update Web site again to install updates.
     
    Arie,
    #7
  9. 2008/04/22
    Geoff Hands Lifetime Subscription

    Geoff Hands Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    problem...

    When I do that I get "Safari can't open the specified address. Safari can't open "?%20CMD" because the address does not start with a valid character "
     
    Geoff Hands,
    #8
  10. 2008/04/22
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Geoff

    AFAIK you must use Internet Explorer for Windows Updates - possible to update via Firefox with an extension, but Safari - ????
     
    PeteC,
    #9
  11. 2008/04/22
    Geoff Hands Lifetime Subscription

    Geoff Hands Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    I'll have another try tomorrow ; thanks for info.

    Ditto- I'll try again tomorrow.
     
    Geoff Hands,
    #10
  12. 2008/04/23
    Geoff Hands Lifetime Subscription

    Geoff Hands Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    I'm having problem following instructions...

    I have reset browser so that IE7 is the default, and closed all browser windows which were running. I then go back to Start/Search/CMD and when I go Ctrl/Shft/Enter I get an IE window with a google search on the term CMD...

    Have tried several times.

    ?
     
    Geoff Hands,
    #11
  13. 2008/04/23
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Get into Command Prompt this way: Start< All Programs< Accessories< Right click Command Prompt and click Run as Administrator.
     
    Evan Omo,
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  14. 2008/04/23
    Geoff Hands Lifetime Subscription

    Geoff Hands Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    we're making progress...

    Well, that works ; I get the black window , with C:\Windows\system32>

    but what do I do now ? How do I delete the folder this way - please ?
     
    Geoff Hands,
    #13
  15. 2008/04/23
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Follow Aries instructions above with running those commands from command prompt.
     
    Evan Omo,
    #14
  16. 2008/04/23
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    Do what??

    Follow the instructions I posted.
     
    Arie,
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  17. 2008/04/28
    Geoff Hands Lifetime Subscription

    Geoff Hands Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    problem persists

    I did all of that , got to the Windows Update site. Clicked on Automatically etc ( it was showing Never check...) It started searching for updates, then bingo, I get the message :-

    Windows could not search for new updates.
    Errors found - Code 80080005 Get help

    Which is where all this started...

    I shall read replies when I next boot up expected to be 9th May
     
    Geoff Hands,
    #16
  18. 2008/04/28
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    At this point in time I would try a repair install of Vista using the Vista DVD. In the past I have also had problems with windows update and after performing a vista repair all of my windows updates issues were fixed. I would personally only do the repair install as a last resort. Hopefully some other members will provide a new possible solution for you to try. :)
     
    Evan Omo,
    #17
  19. 2008/05/09
    Geoff Hands Lifetime Subscription

    Geoff Hands Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Repair not on offer..

    I'm now back home and back to the problem. I started to have a go - at repair using the original installation disk. But I don't find any mention of repair as an option- I seem to have only the possibility of a complete re-installation ? So far I have not done anything.
    Question , is there any easy way of transferring everything except the operating system to to another PC ? I have one with plenty of disk space running XP Home ? Could I do that, and then transfer it all back ?
     
    Geoff Hands,
    #18
  20. 2008/05/09
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Geoff Hands, what I meant by a repair install is to do an upgrade installation over your existing Windows Vista install. In order to do this boot from the Windows Vista DVD and choose the upgrade option instead of using the custom option. The Upgrade acts just like a repair install where it replaces all of the windows files but it keeps all of your personal data intact. If you would rather just perform a clean install then back up all of your important data onto a USB Flash drive or a CD and then perform a clean install from the Windows Vista DVD. :) Follow the steps outlined here. http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html
     
    Last edited: 2008/05/09
    Evan Omo,
    #19
  21. 2008/05/09
    Geoff Hands Lifetime Subscription

    Geoff Hands Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Just one question..

    I'm learning... if I use the "upgrade" option, does it leave my software as it was - so I won't have to reinstal that ?
     
    Geoff Hands,
    #20
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