Vista Ultimate (x86) Windows Update Hanging

[Greatguardian]

Okay, so, I get a lot of free software from my University. When I decided to try out Vista, the OS disk they gave me was the Ultimate edition x86 SP1. Both after my original "Upgrade", which was a stupid idea, and the subsequent Reformat+Reinstall, I've been having issues with Windows Update hanging for ridiculous amounts of time.

I try to avoid even rebooting my machine at this point, since every shutdown and startup can take over an hour apiece. Because I'm on the school network, I'm unable to disable automatic daily updating. So, I'm getting shit like Windows Ultimate Extras and Language packs constantly clogging up my system. I really don't need to be able to type in Romanian.

One option I'm given is to simply opt out of Windows Update entirely, but I'm cautious with this since I don't want to miss out on Security updates, service packs, or anything else that might actually be important.

However, as is, the updates my computer is constantly trying to install/configure aren't even doing that properly. I have tried, multiple times, to simply reboot my computer over night and let all the updates run their course to be done with them. Unfortunately, when I wake up in the morning, half the updates it tried to install will have "failed" their installation and/or configuration. On a couple occasions, I've had to sit and wait at a "Configuring Updates" screen for over an hour only to have my computer reboot and say the updates were not configured properly. Then, wait for it to spend another hour removing said updates so it can boot.

The solution I've had to use so far is to simply keep my computer on at all times. I don't really have any overheating issues, and don't pay the electricity bill, so it's worked out so far. But, whenever I install a new game or program, or do anything that requires a reboot of the machine, I have to deal with this ridiculous update crap all over again. Plus, that little popup window Windows is always throwing at me about updates is just plain annoying.

Is there anything I can do to fix these update issues? Can they be installed manually while the OS is active so that I won't have to deal with them? Is there a hang somewhere that I need to fix? I know a decent enough amount about computers, I simply don't know what the hell the problem is for me to fix.

A possibly/possibly-not related issue I've been having for a time as well, is with my roommate's 1TB WesternDigital MyBook external harddrive, which I borrowed to backup my files with before my reformat. For some reason, any time I plug it into my machine now it'll just sit and hang, and it will not show up as a drive in "Computer". The machine will not get past my BIOS if the XHD is plugged in on startup. It will show up in device manager, and I know the driver software that came with it is working properly, I just can't access it and it's rather annoying since I can neither get my stuff off of it or use it again in general. Even plugging it into my laptop, which runs Windows XP x86, it will not show up on "My Computer" and I'm not really sure what caused it.

I do plan on upgrading to Win7 x64 *as soon as humanly possible*, but as a college student my budget is incredibly limited and I'll only be able to get it for free from my university at least a month if not two after its official release. If there's a way to get it on the cheap (A real copy, not torrented), maybe student discount or something, I'm more than interested.

Relevant stats on the machine:
AMD Athlon 3800+ Dual Core 2.0 Ghz processor, Nvidia 9400GT+ PCI 1GB, 4GB physical RAM (not all of which is used because of the OS and GPU), Windows Vista Ultimate x86 SP1, aaaand.... I'll edit this with the stats on my Mobo and HDD as soon as my computer boots up -.-''

Edit:
HDD is a single WDC WD20 00JS-60NCB1 SCSI Disk Device 200GB. I'm unable to figure out what exactly my mobo stats are, but my BIOS is Phoenix-AwardBIOS v6.00PG. I'm unsure as of what date the BIOS drivers are current, as the machine itself is a modified pre-owned Hewlett Packard Pavilioin RJ181AA-ABA a1600n. I bought it about 2 years ago and proceeded to upgrade the RAM and Graphics card only, the NIC and other devices I use are onboard. I'm pretty sure the mobo is at least a Nvidia nForce series.

[Olo401]

I'm confused at how you're unable to disable automatic updates.. Unless you don't have administrator rights on your own computer (or even if you do?) you should be able to turn them off.

[Cephius]

Try creating a new user account on your computer and give it administrator rights. Then do windows update on that account. Make sure you uncheck the useless ones (like language packs) if you can.

[rezn0r]

try this:

(in command prompt)

net stop bits

delete C:\Windows\Softwaredistribution\downloads

net start bits

re-try update

[sruon]

Just bumping on the Windows 7 part -- did you check this out?

Windows 7 US Online Store - Student Registration

http://www.microsoft.com/student/en/...windows-7.aspx

http://www.neowin.net/news/main/09/0...scount-or-free

$29.99 for Win7

[Greatguardian]

Sorry for the delayed response, got a bit caught up with homework.

I'm unable to switch my Windows Update settings from anything but "Install Updates Automatically" because of a Group Policy put in place by my University network. At least, that's the explanation Windows Help gives me, and the other options are all grayed out.

The only two options I have on the settings page are whether or not to include recommended updates (Off), and whether or not to use Microsoft update at all (On).

I haven't tried Rezn0r's method yet, since I'm finishing up a paper at the moment, but I will in a little bit.

As for Win7, I'm going through confirmation email stuff now! Thanks a bunch!

[Greatguardian]

Okay, I'm able to stop the Background Intelligent Transfer Service, but when I try to delete the Download folder in C:/Windows/SoftwareDistribution, it tells me that it's in use by another program. I'll try rebooting my computer to let the currently queued updates take a whack at installing.

And I do deselect updates all the time, but for some reason it's constantly reselecting them by default. It's getting rather annoying.

[AoE]

Okay, I'm able to stop the Background Intelligent Transfer Service, but when I try to delete the Download folder in C:/Windows/SoftwareDistribution, it tells me that it's in use by another program. I'll try rebooting my computer to let the currently queued updates take a whack at installing.

And I do deselect updates all the time, but for some reason it's constantly reselecting them by default. It's getting rather annoying.

I've been having the same problem you did and used reznuh's advice and it stopped my laptop from hanging up. I haven't restarted yet though and since I can download Windows 7 tomorrow, I'm probably gonna leave my laptop on for the night.

Anyway you did the same thing I did before I realized "durr", read the destination again.

C:\Windows\Softwaredistribution\downloads

[Greatguardian]

Awesome, I think that worked thanks a bunch.

[rezn0r]