Cloned 1TB C: Drive to new 2TB, now I can't get Windows Update.

I just used Acronis True Image WD Edition to clone my 1TB WD SATA drive to a 2TB Seagate SATA Drive to upgrade the boot drive in my HP PC. The cloning process went well and was without errors, and the computer boots fine from the new drive. All settings are correct, etc. The problem is that I can no longer get Windows Updates, download updates to Security Essentials, or upload troubleshooting info to MS. I can access the internet, browse sites, download files, get e-mail, etc. I did have to reactivate Office 2010 when I booted from the new drive, and that went fine.

Windows Update gives me an error message that the update service is not running and I should restart the computer. However, according to services.msc, the update service is running. I tried stopping and restarting the service but it didn't change anything. It was suggested that this hardware change might have caused Windows to deactivate, but it still shows as activated. Nonetheless, I reactivated it (successfully) but there was no change.

The UAC message I get before I run any MS system program (like mmc) shows the publisher as "Unknown". My user account (the only one on the machine) has Administrator privileges, but in order to run certain system programs from the command prompt I have to invoke cmd.exe by selecting "Run as Administrator" or else I'll get the message that I must have Administrator privileges to run the particular system program.

When I reinstalled the original 1TB drive, everything worked fine.

Frankly I'm stumped and would appreciate any ideas as to what may have happened and how to fix it.

Thanks!

Welcome to Windows Seven Forums.

This a real stab in the dark, but I'm wondering if the problem is related to the fact you've cloned to a larger size drive?

Perhaps partitioning the 2TB drive into 2x1TB partitions might help?

Failing that, I'll defer to experts who have more knowledge on drive systems and cloning than I do.

I suppose it's possible, but the PC doesn't have any troubles recognizing, booting from or accessing the drive.

It's almost as though the OS has "forgotten" who Microsoft is (as evidenced by its showing the publisher of MS system programs as "Unknown") and/or that file and folder ownerships and privileges have somehow become corrupted.

This often works to reset Windows Update when it stops working: How do I reset Windows Update components?

The problem is maybe that security modules are not functioning properly.

Try creating a new user account with admin privileges and see if it can start system programs and Microsoft is recognized as publisher.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I tried using the Window Update troubleshooter, and I was encouraged when it told me it found two bad components and repaired them, but that didn't fix it. Every time I run it, it says it found two bad components and fixed them, but every time no success. The errors it reports are that one or more Update components were configured incorrectly, and that the Windows Update location had to be change to the default location.

I set up a new administrator account, but the same problems remain.

I have EaseUS installed, but do not have another drive with enough capacity to try it out on yet.

Try running SFC -SCANNOW Command.

If this fails consider a Repair Install which should set it right.

You may also want to download and run the System Updates Readiness Tool, which is designed to fix updating problems.

Download: System Update Readiness Tool for Windows 7 (KB947821) [August 2011] - Microsoft Download Center - Download Details

This is the 32-bit version.

Thanks once again for the help. I ran SFC /SCANNOW and it said it found errors that it couldn't fix. I just ran the Readiness Tool but it stopped with an Installer error 0xc8000247.

I don't know what else to try besides re-cloning with Acronis.

Very strange!