Windows update stuck on checking for updates

Please answer all of the following diagnostic questions by number in your very next reply (no need to quote this post):

1. What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your subscription current?  What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)?  What third-party firewall (if any)?

2. Has a(nother) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on the computer?

3. Did a Norton or McAfee free-trial come preinstalled on the computer when you bought it? (Doesn't matter if you never used or Activated it.)

1) CLEAN INSTALL SO NOTHING

2) CLEAN INSTALL SO NOTHING

3) CLEAN INSTALL SO NOTHING

Really sorry about that i did mention at the beginning of my last post it was a clean installation. I went straight to windows update as i usually do as windows updates come before any antivirus/adware/spyware/malware programs get installed.

If running Fix It #50202 in Aggressive mode hasn't resolved the problem, you're seeing the effects of another hijackware infection IMNSHO. See...

     Cleaning a Compromised System
     http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc700813.aspx

Back-up any personal data (none of which should be considered 100% trustworthy at this point) then format the HDD & do a clean install of Windows.  Please note that a Repair Install (AKA in-place upgrade) will NOT fix this!

HOW TO do a clean install of WinXP: See  http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html#steps and/or Method 1 in http://support.microsoft.com/kb/978307

NOTE: If your computer didn't come with a set of disks, there will be a hidden Recovery partition (not to be confused with System Restore) you would use to do the clean install (AKA a "destructive recovery").

VERY IMPORTANT!! => After the clean install, you will have the equivalent of a "new computer" again so take care ofEVERYTHING on the following page BEFORE otherwise connecting the machine to the internet or a local network (i.e., other computers)AND BEFORE connecting a flash drive, SDCard, or any other external drive to the computer:

     4 steps to help protect your new computer before you go online
     http://www.microsoft.com/security/pypc.aspx

Other helpful references include:

HOW TO get a computer running WinXP Gold (no Service Packs) fully patched (after a clean install)
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsupdate/msg/3f5afa8ed33e121c

HOW TO get a computer running WinXP SP1(a) or SP2 fully patched (after a clean install)
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/a066ae41add7dd2b

Tip: Download the installers for any needed Service Packs and the new anti-virus application on another computer then transfer them to the computer via CD or DVD (not a flash drive, SDCard or external drive). The AV will require SP2 (or SP3) to be installed so install the needed Service Pack(s) & the AV app BEFORE you connect the computer to the internet or a local network. First order of business then is to update the AV definitions THEN check in at Windows Update.

Tip: After getting the computer fully-patched, download/install KB971029 manually before connecting any external drive to the computer: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971029

EQUALLY IMPORTANT!! => Any Norton or McAfee free-trial that came preinstalled on the computer when you bought it will be reinstalled (but invalid) when Windows is reinstalled. You MUST uninstall the free-trial AND download/run the appropriate removal tool BEFORE installing any updates, Windows Service Packs or IE upgrades AND BEFORE installing your new anti-virus application (which will require WinXP SP2 or SP3 to be installed).

     Norton Removal Tool
     ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/removal_tools/Norton_Removal_Tool.exe

     McAfee Consumer Products Removal Tool
     http://download.mcafee.com/products/licensed/cust_support_patches/MCPR.exe

Also see:

Risks & Benefits of P2P file sharing
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/data/downloadfileshare/filesharing.aspx
http://blogs.technet.com/mmpc/archive/2008/10/06/the-cost-of-free-software.aspx
http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/tips/ST05-007.html

If you need additional assistance with the clean install, please begin a new thread in this forum:  http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7repair/threads

Good luck next time around!

So far everything posted has been completely irrelavant to the problem, CONSIDERING IT IS A COMPLETELY CLEAN INSTALL OF WINDOWS XP so no anti virus/anti spyare/anti adware/anti malware software has even been installed yet. find below the steps i take when doing a clean install of windows

MY STEPS

1) LOW LEVEL FORMAT

2) CLEAN INSTALL (SINGLE PARTITION NTFS)

3) ACTIVATE WINDOWS

4) WINDOWS UPDATES

5) DRIVERS

6) ANTI VIRUS / ANTI ADWARE / ANTI SPYWARE / ANTI MALWARE

7) PROGRAMS I USE

I WILL NOT INSTALL ANY OTHER PROGRAMS UNTIL STEP 4 IS FINISHED. Since I CAN NOT finish Step 4 its pointless continuing until i can install all of the updates.

i know there are 5 or 6 update batches in total to fully update windows xp and i can not perform the 3rd batch.

any proper help would be appreciated