"Windows Can't Check for Updates" in Vista 32 bit

Hi,

1.      Which Microsoft Fixit have you tried?

2.      Were there any recent changes made on the computer prior to the issue?

Please follow the methods provided below and check if it helps.

Method 1: Fix the problem with Microsoft Windows Update that is not working

http://support.microsoft.com/mats/windows_update/

Method 2: Restart the Windows update services and check.

a.       Click Start, type services.msc in the Search box, and then press Enter.

b.      If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password or click Continue.

c.       Locate Background Intelligent Transfer Service and check the Status.

d.      If the Status is Stopped, right-click Background Intelligent Transfer Services, and then click Start in the menu.

e.       Locate Windows Update and check the Status.

f.       If the Status is Stopped, right-click Windows Update, and then click Start in the menu.

g.       Locate Workstation and check the Status.

h.      If the Status is Stopped, right-click Workstation, and then click Start in the menu.

i.        Close Services.

Method 3: Set your computer in Clean Boot state and try to install the updates.

To help troubleshoot error message, you can start Windows Vista or Windows 7 by using a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This kind of startup is known as a "clean boot." A clean boot helps eliminate software conflicts.

How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows Vista or in Windows 7

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

Please note: After the troubleshooting, make sure to boot your computer to normal mode by following the step 7.

Method 4: Reset Windows update components from the following link and check.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058

Registry disclaimer

To do so: Important this section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

322756 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322756/ )

How to back up and restore the registry in Windows

Method 5: Unable to install updates in Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2509997

Important: While performing chkdsk on the hard drive if any bad sectors are found on the hard drive when chkdsk tries to repair that sector if any data available on that might be lost.

Let us know if it helps!

I have tried everything on this page and all others I could find. I still get a "Windows Can't Check Updates" everytime I check for updates.  After the third attempt I get an error 800F080D. 

Sorry, running Vista SP2, Explorer 9, Panda Security (which I deinstalled with no change).

Hi Lester,

To avoid confusion, we would suggest you to create a thread of your own.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us

I have done everything suggested and still have note resolved this problem... last update for me was Aug.22, 2016

See:

https://answers.microsoft.com/message/9366cc04-59d6-4b37-bee9-dffcdc7c602a?threadId=42c98c78-157b-44b7-858a-3ba92933cb90

:)