why has vista stopped automatic updates?

The above links was for March 2017 updates no longer work. I get the "this website has encountered a problem - please try later.

My last successful updates were on Feb 12 and like everyone else, i get the "checking for updates" thingy and nothing happens. Today I left it on all day and still getting nowhere. Shame on %$#@ Microsoft!

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

Hi NH (and JI).

Google Search finds Error number: 8DDD0010 a common problem with downloads from the Microsoft Update Catalog - Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 and Microsoft Office Discussion Threads reported here. No simple solution and several suggestions from Microsoft Personnel.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows\_7-update/windows-update-error-8ddd0010/40bc7c4c-2490-4bbf-a886-a6e36bd3570c?tab=question&status=AllReplies#tabs

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows\_8-update/error-8ddd0010-cant-use-microsoft-update-catalog/255749a2-2686-4d44-afc8-78669d3012f8

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows\_10-update/error-8dd0010-when-trying-to-install-updates-via/4e8fe325-993a-4e5a-9b8a-9014ac4eb009

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/office/en-US/ebef21be-f8fa-4652-835a-e4e65da443c5/microsoft-update-catalog-error-8ddd0010?forum=w7itprogeneral

I just tried the first download link again using my Windows 7 PC and successfully downloaded the Security Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB4012583). I only use the IE11 Browser.

You might try later as Frederick suggested. The MS Server may be overloaded. Windows Update issues have also been widely reported with Windows 7 over the last year or two and many more Users may be taxing this Manual Update Server.

"Tell me, how do you find those lists of fixes, and how can I tell in what sequence they should install ?"

Frederick, I found the March Vista Update list using Google Search, asking Google to look for something like Vista Security Updates March 2017 - don't recall exactly. They were all at various MS websites in the search. Regarding sequence, Microsoft confirms installation sequence can be an issue in that MS link I posted earlier, but how to confirm I have no simple answer. If I was having a problem with an update installing, I'd probably try Google Search with the KB# and the phrase installation sequence.