Windows Update just spins and spins, seemingly without end

Anonymous
2016-07-18T01:20:12+00:00

A week ago, Windows Update seemed to stop working on my laptop. It never seems to finish looking for updates for my Window Vista, but just spins and spins and spins. Before this, it always took 6 minutes or less to check for updates and let me know if there were any. If it was downloading an update, it would let me know its size and how long it would take. Anyone know what's going on?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-07-28T23:37:35+00:00

    While we continue to await Volume Z's return to your thread, please answer-by-number as before:

    1. What installation media did you use to do the clean install of Vista Ultimate 32-bit on the replacement HDD?
    2. Where/how did you obtain the installation media did you use to do the clean install of Vista Ultimate 32-bit?
    3. Can you successfully update Norton AntiVirus Online manually?
    4. Have you ever encountered a "Windows is not Genuine" warning?
    5. How does your computer connect to the internet (e.g., ADSL or cable broadband; dial-up; WiMax; mobile wireless, whether tethered to a phone or not)?
    6. You no longer reside in Twin Falls, Idaho, is that correct?

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-07-28T07:28:44+00:00
    1. Computer purchased on ebay from someone in Arizona.
    2. None, the HDD had been wiped clean. It died soon after I installed OS, so I bought a replacement on ebay. I reformatted it and installed Vista.

    3a. Yes, via CenturyLink.

    3b. I was until June 2015, when I moved to Thailand.

    1. Aug. 30, 2014

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-07-27T22:22:31+00:00

    While we're awaiting Volume Z's return to the thread, please answer-by-number as before:

    1. Where or from whom did you purchase the used Dell computer in August of 2014? [1]
    2. What, if any, anti-virus application or security suite was installed when you purchased the used computer?

    3a. Did you install Norton AntiVirus Online or...?

    3b. Are you a CenturyLink (ISP) subscriber?

    1. In Windows Explorer [WinKey+E], navigate to & right-click on:
    • **C:\Program Files**Norton AntiVirus Online [or similar name] <=this folder

    Select PROPERTIES: What's the CREATED date displayed on the resulting GENERAL tab?

    ==================================

    [1] You cannot trust the security of any used computer unless & until YOU have formatted the HDD and then done a clean install of Windows (or paid someone else to do it for you).

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  5. Anonymous
    2016-07-27T08:44:29+00:00

    1a. Computer was purchased used in August 2014.

    1b. Dell

    1c. Vista Ultimate 32-bit

    1d. No

    1. Norton AntiVirus Online, expiration date unknown. No

    anti-spyware or third-party firewall.

    1. No
    2. No
    3. Yes, all are listed in installed updates.
    4. Java not installed in IE9, which I rarely use. I mainly use

    Firefox.

    1. Version 22,0,0,210 on IE9.
    2. IE9 update vers. 9.0.51 (KB3160005).
    3. Yes, Firefox 47.0.1, which automatically updated from 47.0

    when I checked the version.

    1. No, I only use the system tools that came with Windows.

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