Vista 32 won't update

[SanDiegoPC]

Can't get dot.net to install, and Windows updates fail. It came to light when we tried to install QuickBooks 10 on it. QB got as far as the dot.net 35 install and failed. I tried to install dot.net by itself, and it won't go. Windows update just hangs.

I d/loaded the dot.net fixer/uninstaller and got rid of old entries, then tried dot.net again but same result. I scanned/removed spyware with MalwareBytes but that had no effect.

The drag is that the PC actually runs fine in every other respect. I could erase & reinstall it if we wanted to put Windows7 on it ... but I am hesitant to buy another OS for it because it runs so well the way it is. It's a core2duo laptop with 4G of RAM. We had no idea there was a problem with this computer until seeing that QuickBooks would not install, and I followed it up by trying to do windows updates (which I had turned off.)

Suggestions greatly appreciated.

 

[Dahak]

anysort of error codes when windows update fails? Also I have had software firewalls block windows update from working right if it was not properly allowed ... IE norton 360 and norton internet security 2008 and 2007 had issues with that

 

[mechBgon]

Try installing the Microsoft Update engine, too. Head to http://update.microsoft.com to trigger the upgrade from Windows Update to Microsoft Update.

 

[SanDiegoPC]

Thanks guys I'll letcha know what I find.

 

[country2]

My son his Vista 32 would only do the Window's Defender update's and no windows update in auto or manual they would download and install but upon the reboot it would say they all fail..except for the defender updates. Googled it and tried everything mentioned but nothing worked

Ran multiple anti virus programs and other scanner but never could find anything wrong and yes it was a legit activated and verified OS. Even did a rollback to when it used to work but did not help. Gave up and reformatted all good now.