Check Windows Update Settings

• In some circumstances, Windows Update may not launch at all, preventing you from receiving important updates. The first time you experience problems with Windows Update, check your Windows Update settings. Open the Start menu and click on "Control Panel." Find the Automatic Updates applet to view your current settings. Windows allows you to configure updates in one of four ways--automatic, manual with download, manual without download or disabled. Make sure Windows Update is not disabled. The easiest way to ensure that you will always get updates is to choose the "Automatic" option, which instructs Windows to download and install all available updates without user intervention. The "Manual with Download" option downloads updates automatically but prompts the user to install them. The "Manual without Download" option prompts the user to download as well as install available updates. Click "OK" to save your settings.
  
  

Finding Error Codes

• If you have checked your Windows Update settings but continue to have problems installing software updates on your PC, pinpoint what update is causing your problem. Go to the Windows Update website by opening the Start menu, expanding the "All Programs" list and clicking on "Windows Update." The Windows Update application will launch in Internet Explorer. After it loads, click on "Review your update history" on the left side of the window. This produces a list of updates that have been found for your computer. Look for any entry with a red "X" next to it, indicating a failed installation. When you click on the question mark next to the red "X," it will bring up a description of the installation problem and the associated error code. Copy the error code and click on the "Find solutions" link. This will take you to the Microsoft support site, where you can search for a solution to the error.
  
  

Other Options

• If Windows Update problems persist, look into other methods to update your system's software. Use Microsoft Update instead of Windows Update. Microsoft Update will find the same software updates as Windows Update does, but it also checks for updates for Microsoft Office and other non-standard software. Windows Update and Microsoft Update require an Internet connection. If you cannot solve problems with Windows Update by other means, make sure the issue is not with a faulty Internet connection.