Vista thinking "Windows is up to date"

Using Windows Update with Windows Ultimate, I started downloading a number of
updates, but cancelled the installation. Later, when I wanted to repeat the
process, the result of the search was "Windows is up to date". But none of
the 30 updates were ever installed. I ran the search several times with the
same result, and then looked for the Windows Update website, which you cannot
use any more...

I don't know if this was a coincidence, but now I was able to run the search
from Control Panel again, and getting all 30 updates. Strange...