Difficulty with Windows update function

I would appreciate your help and thoughts on this situation. On a recently acquired used Dell M1330 notebook PC, the Windows update function appears to be dysfunctional. When I attempt to search for Windows updates, I get the following message: "Windows could not search for new updates. Error(s) found: Code 8024A000". I Googled the code, but this was not very helpful. I did discover the "Microsoft Fix It" function, but when I tried to download and open it, I encountered an error, "Powershell failed".

This situation occurred after I loaded Windows Home Vista Premium, circa 2008, and Dell drivers on the hard drive. The specs on my PC:

Dell XPS M1330 notebook PC
Intel Core 2 Duo [email protected]
GPU: NVidia GeForce 8400M GS
Sound: SigmaTel High Definition Audio CODEC
Windows Home Vista Premium
RAM 4 GB
Hard drive: Western Digital WD5000 500 GB 7200 rpm

Any suggestions to resolve this problem? I've performed a clean install twice, including drivers, in an effort to resolve the Windows Update problem, but to no avail. Please note I cannot seem to activate the Microsoft Fix It function as well.

Please let me know if you need additional information, I apologize for any info omissions. Thanks much for your attention and any suggestions.

PG

 

Depending on what level of Service pack you are on, i would manually D/L and install SP1, then SP2 Download Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Five Language Standalone (KB936330) from Official Microsoft Download Center Learn how to install Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2) then retry the updates. Since Vista mainstream support has ended you will only be able to get security updates.

 

no offense, but i find this hard to believe. you must've installed over the top. a clean install would resolve this issue with 99.9% certainty. you might also consider upgrading to at least W7. i can personally attest to W8 running no problem on a similar setup, FYI.

 

"I Googled the code, but this was not very helpful."

Did you do what this thread offers as the solution?

Windows Update Error Code 8024A000 - Microsoft Community

Just sayin...

 

Thanks for your suggestions. The Windows Vista OS install disk I used has SP1 installed, so I was not able to delete SP1--it can be deleted only if it was separately installed. I had installed SP2 separately, and I decided to reformat the hard drive and perform a clean install of Windows Vista and SP2. Unfortunately, I get the same error message when I try to search for updates. Incidentally, my Microsoft Security Essentials also does not update properly, both before and after the clean re-install of Vista. Admittedly I did not know until your note that Windows stopped supporting Vista and I suspect the update errors are due to this. I will probably update the OS to Windows 7 or 8. Thanks much again.

No worries, thanks for your interest. Admittedly I installed "over the top" initially, but as I noted above, I subsequently reformatted the hard drive and cleanly re-installed the Windows Vista OS plus SP2. Unfortunately I get the same results and will likely upgrade to Windows 7 or 8. Thanks much again.

Thanks for your suggestion. I must have overlooked the above thread during my Google search. I will try the suggestions in the thread, but as I noted above, I suspect now the update errors (including for Microsoft Security Essentials) are due to cessation of Windows support for Vista. Thanks again.

The suggestions outlined in the thread above worked and the Windows Update function has been restored. I remember now seeing this in my initial Google search and for some reason I overlooked it. Thanks much again.

PG

I wanted to provide an update--the first Windows Update search after I got it working detected 137 updates, which are currently being installed. Apparently I was wrong, the updates for Windows Vista are still available despite Windows ending support for Vista. Thanks again.

 

You're welcome.

I had a hard time thinking that Vista updates had been discontinued.

 

I had surmised that with the cessation of Microsoft support for Vista, the updates would be discontinued, but of course that premise was erroneous.

 

Sorry if i mislead anyone, Vista with SP2 is in extended support so there are only new security updates being pushed out. Update: Microsoft retires Vista from mainstream support this week - Computerworld
So if you fresh install Vista and load SP2 you should get -- reliability and stability updates created until April 2012, & security updates until 2017.

 

No worries, the presumption about Windows updates no longer being available for Vista was entirely mine. At the time, It seemed plausible to me that if Microsoft ended its mainstream support for Vista, the main updates for it may no longer be available, but I realize now that as long as Vista has extended support, all previous main updates, as well as ongoing security updates, should remain available to Vista users.