It wont install my automatic updates

[AWC4eva]

Hello,

My parents recently gave me their laptop and it's windows XP. However when the yellow shield appears at the bottom right of the screen to announce new updates, it can't install them. There's a lot of updates, about 30 roughly. I don't know how they built up into such a large quantity but it can't install.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Many thanks,

AWC

[vehelpfulguy]

This could be for all sorts of reasons. It is very difficult to suggest solutions unless you have some sort of error message or error code.

Windows update does store all its messages in a file called WindowsUpdate.log which it stores in the C:\WINDOWS folder.

Have a look in there (edit it with notepad). Go to the bottom (latest entries) and see if you can see any messages or codes.

Then search the web for those error messages.

[vehelpfulguy]

Another suggestion. Go into the IE browser, then select Tools then Windows Update. This should give you the Windows Update page.

On the left select "Review your update history". This will list all the fixes that have been installed, and if any have failed.

If one or more have failed click on the red cross next to it and it should tell you more.

Also on the left is an option showing "Get help and support".

This page gives you some hints and tips to solve common Update problems, and also a troubleshooter that may help.

[vehelpfulguy]

This Microsoft support article suggest how to fix Update problems

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/906602

Couple of simple suggestion that may help:

If the laptop has a firewall, turn it off and see if the updates install then.

Also, make sure the browser is set to allow ActiveX controls to run. If the browser is set to stop ActiveX controls running I think that stops Update running.