Troubleshooting Windows Update in Windows XP, Vista and 7: Part One

This article is the first of a two-part troubleshooting series on the subject of troubleshooting issues with Windows Update, specifically in Windows XP, Vista and 7. This is a general troubleshooting guide that goes through some of the steps that can be taken to resolve many Windows Update issues.


In this document we have provided a .bat file. In some cases your virus software may detect this as a virus, in which case follow the instructions below to manually create the file on your machine. This file will remove the contents of the Windows Update cache Download folder.

1. Log in to an administrator account on the machine, or make sure that your account has administrative access.
2. Download the Clear Windows Update Cache batch file by clicking here. Then open the zip file.
3. If using Windows XP, double-click on the file to run it.
4. If using Windows Vista or Windows 7, right-click on the file and choose Run as Administrator
   
   


5. If prompted for permission, choose Yes or Allow to continue.
6. Once the file has finished, the update cache will have been cleared. Restart the computer and check for updates again to proceed. If it still fails, move on to Troubleshooting Windows Update Issues: Part Two. If for whatever reason you are unable to run the above batch file, here is how you can create it yourself.
7. Open a new Notepad document by going to Start, then to All Programs, then Accessories, and finally clicking on Notepad to open the program.
   
   


8. Once open, copy the following information in to the program:
   net stop wuauserv
   rd /s /q %windir%\SoftwareDistribution\Download\
   net start wuauserv
9. The first line stops the windows update service. The second line removes the "Download" folder within the Windows Update (SoftwareDistribution) folder. The third line starts the windows update server again.
10. Save the file as "clear_windows_update_cache.bat". Note that the quotation marks are required. Make sure that you save the file somewhere you remember. For example on the Desktop.
    
    


11. If using Windows XP, double-click on the file to run it.
12. If using Windows Vista or Windows 7, right-click on the file and choose Run as Administrator
    
    


13. If prompted for permission, choose Yes or Allow to continue.
14. Once the file has finished, the update cache will have been cleared. Restart the computer and check for updates again to proceed. If it still fails, move on to Troubleshooting Windows Update Issues: Part Two