Unable to Start Windows 7 Updates, w/CBS Log & Error Info

Finally got things all fixed and all of the important updates installed. I appreciate this forum, and all who have posted in it, and especially those who shared good advice. Each tip or technique got me a bit further in the process.
After doing what y'all recommended, (see top post for details), here are the additional steps that worked for me, found in this forum, through Google, and the MS website:
1. The Microsoft support site, found this page, selected my version of Windows and went through all the steps:
Access Denied
2. The "Holy Grail" fix for me, was found at the How-To Geek website. It was a link to a "Convenience Rollup" of all updates for Win 7 from SP1, through May of 2016. It is basically a "Service Pack 2". And it downloads and installs all of them at once, (quickly!), instead of sequentially. The HTG page steps you through any prerequisite actions, then provides a link to the download of the super update. I still do not know what was hanging me up at that point, but whatever it was, that massive update cured the worst of the problems. Here is the link to that page, (and a not to the good folks there at HTG!):
https://www.howtogeek.com/255435/how...nience-rollup/
3. Once that completed, I tried using Update, which did get past my previous failure point, but still wouldn't run to completion. So I restarted my laptop, and for the first time, there was a user called Administrator in addition to myself! I logged into that profile, (it was not password protected initially, but I took care of that), and now I was able to finally rename the Software Distribution folder as specified in the MS Troubleshooter. Another restart, and the Windows Update completed, identifying 86 updates, (34 Important, 52 Recommended).
4. I selected only the Important updates, and during the installation, 2 of them failed. I did another restart, ran Update again, and those 2 passed.
Now my system is stable, and seems to be operating trouble-free for a few days now.
I did a full backup to my external USB hard drive, and then saved a system image/clone in case things go wrong later on.
THANK YOU TO ALL HERE AT SEVEN FORUMS!! I will continue visiting and attempt to pay it forward whenever I can.

Hi OlJim,

I have only just seen this post otherwise I would have responded earlier!

OlJim said:

2. The "Holy Grail" fix for me, was found at the How-To Geek website. It was a link to a "Convenience Rollup" of all updates for Win 7 from SP1, through May of 2016. It is basically a "Service Pack 2". And it downloads and installs all of them at once, (quickly!), instead of sequentially. The HTG page steps you through any prerequisite actions, then provides a link to the download of the super update. I still do not know what was hanging me up at that point, but whatever it was, that massive update cured the worst of the problems. Here is the link to that page, (and a not to the good folks there at HTG!):
https://www.howtogeek.com/255435/how...nience-rollup/

Using the Convenience Rollup Package [KB3125574 - May2016] was the old and much slower way to doing it!

After a clean install of Windows 7 SP1 you needed to download [.msu files] and install the following updates in the order stated below:

[1] - KB3020369 - Servicing Stack Update - April 2015.
[2] - KB3125574 - Convenience Rollup Package - May 2016.
[3] - KB3172605 - Functional Update Rollup [THIS ONE IS IMPORTANT] - July 2016.
[4] - KB3179573 - Functional Update Rollup - August 2016.

Then run WU to get all the WU's from May 2016 to date.

The recognised method now is to use DISM++ which is a FREE implementation tool that has the ability to perform Windows Updates [WU]. Some of the advantages [but not all] are:

[1] The GUI is very easy to understand and use.
[2] It is much faster than M$’s WU because it uses a different engine.
[3] It downloads the latest WU DB from the M$ servers, scans your OS, and then lists the updates available.
[4] It doesn’t install superseded updates like M$ does.
[5] It gives you the option of what you want to install.
[6] The pre-ticked updates are what is recommended and are similar to the WU critical and recommended updates. The un-ticked updates are similar to the WU optional updates.

[7] It warns you if an update:

• Includes telemetry.
• Has known issues with certain hardware.
• Needs exclusive access.
• Is suspect.
• Your OS doesn't need it.
• Has any other known issues.

[8] It doesn’t require re-booting between updates.
[9] It can be used to either update an install.wim image OFFLINE, or to update the LIVE OS.

This is just for your information in case you ever need to do this again in the future!

Anyway, I am glad you have resolved it.