Windows Update problem

[GreggsEggs]

Just got an eMachines m6805!! This is my first laptop and my question is about Windows Updates. Does this work on a laptop?? Am I not supposed to update anything? :scratch:

The reason I ask is because I go to the Win Update site and click on Scan for updates and it stays at 0% and then locks up. If I am supposed to use Updates, does anyone know what is going on?

Also, I am new to routers, so am wondering if I am connected through a router if I still would need any of the security updates?

Thanks for any help

[gr8gatzby]

you will need the security updates regardless of how you connect. i connect through a software firewall which connects through a hardware firewall which connects through another router. why it locks up is strange...you can always download the updates seperately as a whole package. it's the same thing, just not automated.

[GreggsEggs]

Thanks for the info on the security updates.

However, the main problem is that the Windows Update page is NOT working for me at all on this computer! It stays at 0% forever and then when I try to close the page, it's locked up. So it never shows ANY updates to pick and install. Tried it on my desktop just now and it has no problems scanning for updates and installing, so I know it's not an issue with their site.

[tallan]

Thanks for the info on the security updates.

However, the main problem is that the Windows Update page is NOT working for me at all on this computer! It stays at 0% forever and then when I try to close the page, it's locked up. So it never shows ANY updates to pick and install. Tried it on my desktop just now and it has no problems scanning for updates and installing, so I know it's not an issue with their site.

Are you running ZoneAlarm by chance? Had the exact same behavior until I disabled it when running Windows Update. Also check your security settings in the browser and try moving them down a notch.

Also turn pop-up blockers etc. OFF for the update - WU does a lot of back-and-forth with your machine which can be seen as pop-up or intrusions.

I think it's security related - keep trying :smash: .

[rkingston]

Does it show a error? Another odd thing to check is make sure you have a language selected. Xp will not update with no language selected. Goto tools/ internet options / general tab/ On bottom is button called languages click it, and make sure english is showing in the box. I almost did a full reinstall once before I discovered that. For those that doubt that. Deselect english, and try to run your updates. lol

[GreggsEggs]

The error was just a general error code. (sorry I don't have it written down)

I've tried everything I could after doing a lot of research on the error code.
Checked language, checked and deleted expired certificates, No ZoneAlarm, Norton is Off, No pop-up blockers, tried https instead of http, etc. This machine is only 2 days old, so nothing has really been installed on it yet.

I finally found a direct link to just go search for any updates and then pick and choose what I want. I would've preferred to do it the "normal" Windows Update way, but..... I really got tired of messing with it after a few hours!

Thanks to all who offered suggestions. :dude:

[tallan]

The error was just a general error code. (sorry I don't have it written down)

I've tried everything I could after doing a lot of research on the error code.
Checked language, checked and deleted expired certificates, No ZoneAlarm, Norton is Off, No pop-up blockers, tried https instead of http, etc. This machine is only 2 days old, so nothing has really been installed on it yet.

I finally found a direct link to just go search for any updates and then pick and choose what I want. I would've preferred to do it the "normal" Windows Update way, but..... I really got tired of messing with it after a few hours!

Thanks to all who offered suggestions. :dude:

Don't give up: download the Windows Update Software direct and do a fresh install. Also, the Update site itself goes down from time to time - servers crash or get overloaded. About three days ago now the update wouldn't work for me for a number of hours - it appears fine, but nothing happens. Could be MS updating code, DOS attack, Web overload, who knows. But you don't want lose auto updating if you can help it!

:awdance:

[GreggsEggs]

Well I finally figured it out. After all that it was the damn router blocking it, Duh! Man I wasted a TON of time figuring that one out. Oh well, got it now!

Thanks to all who took time to help me!

[MarkY]

Glad to see you figured it out. Now you should post HOW you figured it out, so that other people searching for the same solution will be able to read yours. Did you have a port blocked or what?

[GreggsEggs]

Well I am new to the whole router thing so I'm still not even sure HOW to open the ports. I tried opening just specific ports but still couldn't get through. So what I wound up doing, (this is a D-Link 604) , is setting it to DMZ which opens ALL ports to 1 computer. I did this long enough to get the Updates and then closed the ports again.

Sorry that's about all I know. :scratch: If there is an easier/better way to only open certain ports for the Windows Updates, I would Like to know what to do. Thanks.

[Ruckus]

hey sup everyone. Well i juss reformatted my m505x and i went to the microsoft website to update it. I dl sp1 first and then after i would dl the rest of the security updates they failed. Could this be that sp1 already had the security updates that failed?