why has vista stopped automatic updates?

I see the same '8DDD0010' error when I retrace the steps I took a couple days ago that worked fine.

Possibly, there's a problem at MS Server City, so what I'd suggest is wait a few days, then try again.

That's what I'll do at my end, and reply once I get through properly.

Just to clarify what I did, that worked:

Browser:  Google Chrome, searched "Microsoft Update Catalog

Resultant Display: the MS Globe top left on a blue background screen, search box top right.

Searched:  all those KB fixes in OUgrad's note from March 18, one at a time

Notes:  When you search, you get the "Title" listing down the left, and you select which one applies to your PC

            ( be careful to select applicable one, x86 or x64, whichever your PC is)

            Click the "Download" box on the right side for the correct fix, which will result in a window popping up

            on the left side with the fix(es) that are part of the Title, and they'll be in dark blue.

            You need to click these fix(es) that display in order to initiate the download, and for multiple KB's in that

            list, select each line one at a time from the top down to download each one into your "Downloads" folder

            When you've downloaded them all, go to that folder and double-click each one in the same sequence to

            launch the "Install".  The Standalone Installer should take over here with a progress status, and upon the

            successful completion, will direct you to restart your PC to invoke most of them.

One thing I'd like to add here.  There's one fix (KB4012204) which is titled as "Cumulative Security Update for IE8

through IE11.  This is an important fix to apply, since I believe the Windows Updates relies on having that one

installed before letting you carry on; hence the "checking for updates" thingy that John in Thornhill mentioned.

Hope I've been of help here, and NO, I'm not a Microsoft Insider, but just like you, trying to get things to work.

Regards,

Frederick

When I try to do the update I keep getting this error code.Error number: 8DDD0010.

Can you help?

I have tried all these updates and they do not download. Now what??

Will you please be a little more specific on what download step does not work, if you get an error message along the way, mouse clicks don't work, etc. I assume you mean Download and NOT Install?

It takes several clicks and browsing to your preferred Download Folder to get each of these. Plus, the first time I used the Microsoft Update Catalog I had to allow MS to install an add-on or agree to something - don't recall exactly. After gaining permission, I now have to click Add, click View Basket, click Download (may need to allow Pop-Up Blocker here), click Browse to preferred Download Folder, click Yes for User Account Control, select the preferred Download Folder, click OK and click Continue. Some of these may also require clicking on a link at the end as I recall.

nhetznelson,

If I may help here, you need to download those 7 KB's suggested by OUgrad's post.  If I read your note correctly, it seems you downloaded just the MS Office fixes, which will not address your Windows Update concerns.

It's ultra-important that you go into Windows Updates Settings, and select the bottom option ("No, don't automatically send updates...."), then BEFORE you start to install those 7 KB's, RESTART Windows.  This step is essential, because the "normal" mode of Auto Updates invokes WUAS (Windows Updates Automatic Services), and

you cannot Standalone-install any of the 7 while one instance of WUAS is already running.

Be patient, as most of the fixes require RESTART after they install, so look to spending some time doing all this.

Hope I've shed some light on this for you, as those "roll-ups" got my Updates running again after a 3 month period during which I hadn't been using the PC, and not getting any auto-updates.

Regards,

Frederick