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
    2016-08-05T22:18:50+00:00

    Okie-dokie.

    We've been at this for a while - does the "Windows Update just spins and spins, seemingly without end" behavior persist today or...?

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-08-05T04:28:32+00:00

    After running http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/validate/ I got this message:

    Welcome to Windows!

    Because Windows installed on your PC is genuine, enjoy the security, reliability and protection it provides.

    Microsoft Security Essentials

    Genuine Windows customers get a complimentary subscription to Microsoft Security Essentials, the award-

    winning, antivirus software that helps you protect your PC.

    Get it now

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-08-01T17:26:28+00:00

    Please open Internet Explorer (only!) to http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/validate/.  Don't TOUCH your computer or close the IE tab/window until the remote validator has finished its scan, then restart your computer. If you were not able to Validate, proceed as follows:

    1. Download the following diagnostic tool, saving it to your desktop, then right-click on the saved file & select Run as Administrator to run the utility: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=56062
    2. After the run completes, click on the Continue button then click on the Copy (to clipboard) button.

    Note: You may want to copy/paste the contents of your clipboard into Notepad & save for future reference.

    1. Copy/paste the contents of your clipboard into a reply to this post.

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-08-01T06:48:41+00:00

    The answer is no. It just says "Service Desk Upgrade"

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  5. Anonymous
    2016-07-30T19:33:47+00:00

    OK, do the Vista Ultimate DVD labels say OEM or Retail?

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