Windows Update has Stopped Working - Vista

[Arthur ASCII]

A couple of weeks ago, Windows Update stopped working. I now have an update icon in my tray that, when I "mouse-over" reads "Windows can't check for updates".

When I try and check manually, a window briefly opens and closes, then - nothing. No error message. I've tried reinstalling Windows Update, but Microsoft doesn't let me, I get an "already installed" message.

Everything else runs OK on my PC.

Do any of you gurus know what the problem might be? 

[JJ 3000]

Click Start then Run and type in:   sfc /scannow
Have your windows CD ready.

[Arthur ASCII]

Click Start then Run and type in:   sfc /scannow
Have your windows CD ready.

Thanks for your prompt reply JJ 3000. I don't have a Windows CD, my OS was pre-installed. Can I use a borrowed CD for this task?

[JJ 3000]

yes - it has to be the same version!

In the Meantime, can you give some more info about your computer?
Did you make any changes to your system before this happened?
What antivirus software do you have?


Disable your firewall (just temporarily) to rule that out as the culprit.

[Arthur ASCII]

OS - Vista Premium SP1
I use Microsoft TotalCare and Spybot SD

I've tried turning off my firewall and disabling my antivirus software.

but I am getting the following Script Error message on startup:

Line:  75
Char: 5
Error: "ConfigData" is null or not an object
Code: 0
URL:   res://c\programdata\microsoft\oc\channels\ch4\html\item_temp\common\fixes\AFLcommon.dll/main.htm

[JJ 3000]

Try doing a system restore to before the problem started.