Repeated Failure to Update Error 80070020

Fungrus · 12 Sep 2011

Hi, I'm running Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit. Windows Security Essentials for antivirus and Windows firewall as my firewall. For a few months now Windows has failed on the automatic updates. The updates are:

Security Update for Windows 7 (KB2556532)
Security Update for Windows 7 (KB2532531)
Security Update for Windows 7 (KB2536276)
Update for Windows 7 (KB2570791)
Security Update for Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5.1 on Windows 7 SP1 x86 (KB2539635)
Security Update for Windows 7 (KB2563894)
Update Rollup for ActiveX Killbits for Windows 7 (KB2562937)
Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer 8 for Windows 7 (KB2559049)
Update for Windows 7 (KB2607712)
Security Update for Windows 7 (KB2567680)
Security Update for Windows 7 (KB2555917)

They all fail with error code 80070020.

I tried following the steps in this article: You receive error 0x80070020 when you use the Windows Update Web site or the Microsoft Update Web site to install updates

I tried starting windows in safe mode, but windows update will not run then.
I tried doing a clean boot by following the steps in the article but no success. I tried turning off the antivirus and firewall but that did not help either. Then the article runs out of ideas so here I am. Thanks very much for taking the time to help.

Layback Bear · 12 Sep 2011

Can you download updates of your anti vires or other security programs? Try Malwarebytes Anti Malware and update it. Have you tried manually downloading one at a time and installing one at a time. MSE and Windows 7 should not stop Windows updates.
Sometimes a virus will stop you from downloading any security updates for any security program.
Can you run scans with MSE?

Fungrus · 13 Sep 2011

Layback Bear said:

Can you download updates of your anti vires or other security programs? Try Malwarebytes Anti Malware and update it. Have you tried manually downloading one at a time and installing one at a time. MSE and Windows 7 should not stop Windows updates.
Sometimes a virus will stop you from downloading any security updates for any security program.
Can you run scans with MSE?

Hi, thank you for your advice, the problem seems to be resolved for now, here is what happened:

MSE updated fine, I ran a full scan and it found a few things, but after removing them my computer still would not update. I then tried manually downloading each update one at a time and that seemed to work fine. So I have installed all the updates that I needed using that method. Thanks again for the advice.

Layback Bear · 13 Sep 2011

So far things are getting better. Lets go a litter farther.
Free ESET Online Antivirus Scanner
This is used by many. Jacee recommends this a lot and I trust her.
Their is no one program that does it all. It will take a bit of time. Don't forget to do that Malwarebytes Anti Malware; it a great program. Their is not much anybody can do until we know the computer is clean.

karlsnooks · 13 Sep 2011

LaybackBear,

You are probably familiar with the Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper.

Microsoft offers the same capabilities as on online program that they offer in the Standalone Sweeper.

Safety Scanner, Microsoft Safety Scanner - Antivirus | Remove Spyware, Malware, Viruses Free, is free, downloadable, provides on-demand scanning and helps remove viruses, spyware, and other malicious software. It does not interfere with your existing antivirus software.

karlsnooks · 13 Sep 2011

Fungrus said:

So I have installed all the updates that I needed using that method. Thanks again for the advice.

You still have a problem if you must install each update individually.

Don't try to outguess MS. Don''t base your install/not install decisions upon the title of an update. Simply install each and every update.

Today is update Tuesday. So later today, then use control panel | Windows Update and try to install all of the updates offered at one time rather than individually.

Let us know the result.

Layback Bear · 13 Sep 2011

karlsnooks said:

LaybackBear,

You are probably familiar with the Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper.

Microsoft offers the same capabilities as on online program that they offer in the Standalone Sweeper.

Safety Scanner, Microsoft Safety Scanner - Antivirus | Remove Spyware, Malware, Viruses Free, is free, downloadable, provides on-demand scanning and helps remove viruses, spyware, and other malicious software. It does not interfere with your existing antivirus software.

Good call I forgot about it.
Their is something still a muck. After doing what M/S recommends and downloads don't work correctly their is still a problem.
To the OP. Running sfc /scannow might help and it won't hurt. If it finds a problem run it a couple more times. Some times a virus will change things in system files.

Fungrus · 14 Sep 2011

Hey thanks guys for all the advice, I downloaded malwarebytes and it ran a full scan, it found some things. When I said "all the updates I needed" I should have said "all the microsoft required updates", I didn't try to guess which ones I need. Anyway the updates from tuesday all worked fine, but none of them needed me to restart my computer so I guess I'll have to wait till some other updates to see if I get the same problem.

karlsnooks · 14 Sep 2011

Great.

Unless you get another virus, then you will have no problems.

Layback Bear · 15 Sep 2011

Tid bit time. I always boot after installing Windows updates. My process is checking MSE all by itself for up dates and then I go to Windows updates and check for updates. That keep Windows updates and MSE up dates two separate operations. I don't reboot after MSE updates received through MSE unless instructed to.