why has vista stopped automatic updates?

You have IE9 and Office 2007 installed. Catching up from the previous patch day, your preinstallation requirements for unblocking Windows Update are

KB4012497

KB4012204

KB3178676

KB3178677

KB3178682

KB3178683

No more, no less.

So, April 11 is "D-DAY" for us Vista users.

Does anyone know if MS will issue a final patch before they pull the plug? - and does anyone know what new patches there are since mid March?

Like others here, my windows update just keeps going around in circles not picking up anything.

Thanks to this thread however, at least I'm able to download the patches manually.

Any help would be greatly appreciated - thanks

Well MM, this is a long-shot, but you might try running System File Checker from elevated command prompt to see if it finds/fixes any errors. Right-click command prompt under Accessories and click Run as Administrator. Then type "sfc /scannow" without the quotes. There is a space between sfc and the /scannow.

You would need much more than a Vista Installation DVD. See Bill Smithers here.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows\_vista-windows\_install/how-to-do-repair-install-on-windows-vista-sp2/c38986e5-b800-4f41-8642-d919bb29c26c

If it was me, I'd rather create a Ghost Image (Norton Ghost 14 or 15) or use SSR2013 to create a backup Image of where you are now just in case. Then I'd try a clean install of Vista and experiment from there.  Did your PC come with a Recovery Partition or the ability to burn a Recovery Disc Set? You might also use System Restore to take you back a few updates and try to get more with Windows Update. System Restore must often be run from Safe Mode to complete successfully. Boot to Safe Mode Command Prompt and type rstrui.exe after the system32> It can take some time to open.

This link might help as well. At least you are not alone - only 150,215 Views :-)

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows\_other-update/error-code-80070490-when-installing-windows/c1fea6da-9c98-4194-af64-be69de5e9c6d

OUgrad

Hi Great White North,

My quote you refer to has worked for me several times with one instance reported earlier in this Discussion Thread. I still use it with Windows 7 as well as Vista. It has also worked for others.

OUgrad