Windows Update and other Windows programs don't work

[accordeoniste]

I did a clean installation of Windows 7 a few days ago. I used the HP repair program to install it since Windows 7 was installed when I purchased the system. I don't have installation disks. Update: I do have Win installation disks but they're ISO disks I used during a Repair Installation, see below. I'm running Windows 7 Home Edition.

Soon after the installation I noticed that I couldn't install Microsoft Security Essentials or run the Windows Troubleshooter / MS Fix-it Center or Windows Update. All other programs that I installed work okay.

I ran Norton Security Scan and Norton Security and no viruses were reported. Then I ran sfc / scannow a few times. Each time, corrupt files were reported. I reviewed the CBS log files and could find no specific references to corrupt files. No corrupt files were reported as being repaired.

The system passed all diagnostic tests run at bootup: startup, PCI devices, hard disk and memory.

What are my valid options? I'm inclined to think I should do a repair install, although on one website a couple of Microsoft certified advisers recommended a clean installation to address the problem of MS programs not running. Should I upgrade to Service Pack 1 first? Do I need to do a clean boot first? The last time I did a repair install, a couple of years ago, it worked well.

 

[Megahertz07]

Try this
- Install SP1 - Win 7 SP1 download
- Install IE 11 - IE 11 download
Install "SP2" - MS releases SP2 for Windows 7

 

[accordeoniste]

Megahertz07 -

Thanks for your suggestions, but how do you know that SP1 will work? Moreover, MS recommends that SP1 be installed by Windows Update. If SP1 is needed to enable my system to work properly, I'll download and install it. In that case please tell me which files I should download: the ISO file and the appropriate symbols file and SP1 file, or just the symbols file and the SP1 file?

 

[Megahertz07]

Win 7 SP1 for 64 bits is the windows6.1-KB976932-X64.exe
https://download.microsoft.com/down...AB78-7FB0D4461357/windows6.1-KB976932-X64.exe

Once you've installed SP1, reboot and then
- Install IE 11 - IE 11 download
Install "SP2" - MS releases SP2 for Windows 7

 

[AddRAM]

Also read this.

Windows Update will not update and I've tried multiple fixes

The best thing you could do is to download a fresh iso file and create a new installer.

We can post the Microsoft link, just let us know exactly what you need.

 

[accordeoniste]

Hi Megahertz07, You answered my questions about which files to download, but not my first question. That is, how do you know that this will work, i.e. that Windows Update will work once SP1 is installed? Please answer it so I can make a sound decision about whether to install it or not.

 

[accordeoniste]

Hello AddRam,

Thanks for your reply.

The first part of your suggestion doesn't appear to apply to my situation. The post you referred to is about a malfunction in the way Windows Update works, if I understand the post correctly. Windows Update on my system doesn't start at all.

What you said about downloading a fresh ISO file may apply to me. I have an Win 7 ISO on CD. If you know of a way I can install only the files necessary to repair Windows Install, Windows Troubleshooter and MSE, I'd appreciate if you'd tell me about it.

By the way, what does "R.I.P. Gary" on your profile refer to?

 

[Megahertz07]

If you install in the order I posted on post 4, it will work and save a lot of time.

 

[accordeoniste]

Megahertz07,

If you honestly tell me that you've seen it work with these programs, I'll believe you and will install SP1, IE 11 and SP2. If you haven't, how do you know that it works with them installed? I won't install programs of that size on my system until I'm sure they'll work. I'm sure a repair install of Windows 7 will work, even if it takes longer.

 

[Megahertz07]

After a recent installation, Windows update wasn't working.
- As to run most of recent programs, you need to have SP1, that's the first thing I had installed.
- Then IE11 as many M$ sites requires IE11 to work.
- Then install SP2 that is a single file with all updates till last April.
Windows update will then install form April to date.

I strongly recommend. It's up to you.

 

[accordeoniste]

Thank you, but did you mean Windows Update worked after you installed SP1? I need for Windows Update to work.

The reason I'm doubtful SP1 will work for me is that I ran sfc / scannow and it found corrupted files. If the file system is corrupted, I don't believe SP1 will solve that. A repair install will. It worked for me before in this kind of situation.

 

[accordeoniste]

Megahertz07 -

Because I didn't receive your answer to my question, I will proceed to do a repair install.

I found no information in my research that indicated SP1 would fix my corruption problem. SP1 is meant to be an upgrade to Windows 7. It's not meant to fix individual system errors.

You don't need to reply to this post. I don't think you would anyway.

 

[Megahertz07]

If you are having corrupted files when you run Sfc, you must find the reason this files are being corrupted.
Run chkdsk c: /f It will schedule a disk check next time you boot.
If it finds bad clusters or bad blocks, you have a disk that is dying and must be replaced.
If the disk is good, do a repair install.
Then install SP1 and IE11.

Windows update will never fix a installation. It will only fix security vulnerabilities.
More important than have Windows update running is to have SP1 installed.

 

[accordeoniste]

Megahertz07 -

I ran chkdsk /f. No bad clusters or bad blocks were found. As the disk is good, I should do the repair install. We agree on that.

I tried installing SP1 yesterday. It failed to install. Fortunately, I was able to speak with a Microsoft agent, who verified my Windows license and helped me burn a DVD with a Windows 7 ISO image. That image includes SP1. I won't have to install SP1 separately. It'll be an upgrade to my Home edition.

I'll install IE 11 after the repair install. Then I'll install SP2 if I need it.

Thank you for your good advice in this matter.

 

[Megahertz07]

Good you have now a Win 7 with SP1.
SP2 has all Win 7 update till last April. It will save you a lot of time.
MS releases SP2 for Windows 7

 

[AddRAM]

Gary was a member here

Service Pack 1 is not an upgrade, it`s just all the updates up to that point bundled up.

Now that you have SP1 installed you should run SFC, if you have corrupted files, I would get them fixed.

The 1st thread I suggested would have fixed windows update, yes I have used it.

And the reason I suggested creating a new installer is because yours is old, and having just done your install, you could have just reinstalled with the latest installer with SP1 and it would have fixed all your problems.

But you do it how you want.

 

[accordeoniste]

AddRam, I know Service Pack 1 isn't technically an upgrade. I only called it that because I consider it an upgrade compared to what I have. It's a collection of upgrades.

 

[AddRAM]

No it`s a collection of updates

And your corrupt system files are either coming from your old installer, or if you installed any updates, but you said windows update would not work.

Yes there are windows updates that cause corrupt files in a SFC.

The only updates you need to install are security updates, all other important or recommended updates need to be gone over to see if they are even needed.