If you cannot run Windows update on Windows Vista or Windows 7 sooner or later you will have to fix it. If you do not fix this error at some point you will start to leave security holes and your operating system and leave it open to attack from malware and other issues.

How do you fix the Windows update error?

There are numerous reasons for this issue from your version of Windows not being recognised as genuine to system file errors. If for some reason your Windows Vista or Windows 7 computer is not recognised as being genuine you run the risk of not only not being able to update it but you may end up with a blank screen when it is deactivated.

Here are some steps to follow to fix this Windows error.

#1. The first thing to do is to verify that the problem is not with the update server. Occasionally you may not be able to run Windows update and the fault may not be on your PC.

To verify this first of all try to run Windows update from the start menu. If this does not work go to update.microsoft.com and try from there. If neither of these work go to the next step.

#2. Verify the time and date are correct on your computer. If the date is wrong it can prevent Windows update from working. If the date and time are correct go to the next step.

#3. Start internet explorer and then go to the tools menu at the top of the internet explorer window, then go to internet options, then click on the security tab. Once in there click on the trusted sites icon, then click on the sites tab beneath that. Once in there untick the 'require server verification' box. Once you have done this add these sites in there using the add button.

windowsupdate.com
update.microsoft.com
windowsupdate.microsoft.com
update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/default.aspx

Once you have done this close the box and click apply.
Doing this can prevent your version of Windows from not being recognised as genuine when it is. Once you have done this try to run Windows update again. If it still does not work follow the next step.

#4. Re-registry the Dll files required to run Windows update. To do this run the following one at a time from a command prompt. To get to the command prompt go to the Windows stat menu then go to run and type in "CMD" without the quotes and press enter. Once you have done this enter the following one at a time. Do not enter them all at once. Then press return after each one.

Regsvr32 /s wuapi.dll
regsvr32 /s wuaueng.dll
regsvr32 /s wups.dll
regsvr32 /s wups2.dll
regsvr32 /s wuwebv.dll
regsvr32 /s wucltux.dll
regsvr32 /s wudriver.dll

5. If this fails you may have malware on your computer preventing Windows update from running or one or more DLL files required for Windows update are corrupt. To fix this download and run a system scanner. This will scan your computer for DLL errors, malware and registry errors all of which can cause the Windows update error. Following these steps can fix this update error quickly.