Any hope for error update error code 80070490

Since purchase of this computer Windows has never been able to check for
updates, it gives "unknown error code" 80070490.

All of my other products can update, is there any hope for me?

 

Copied Ñesponse from MowGreen [MVP]

MowGreen 11/10/2009 7:17 PM PST

For Beginners and Intermediate Users -

1) You receive a "0x80070490" error code when you use Windows Update or
Microsoft Update Web sites to install updates

a) Run sfc /scannow from an Elevated Command Prompt
<http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936212>

b) Download, save, and then run the System Update Readiness Tool (CheckSUR)
<http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947821>

c) > To resolve this issue, you must perform a repair installation of
Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008.

For Advanced Users or The Fearless -

2) How to overcome error 0x80070490 when installing updates in Windows
Vista/Server 2008
<http://blogs.msdn.com/andrekl/archi...ing-updates-in-windows-vista-server-2008.aspx>

3) Update manually. Security updates are issued the second Tuesday of
the month.
Non-security Windows updates are issued the fourth Tuesday of the month.
A list of all update content by month:

Description of Software Update Services and Windows Server Update Services
changes in content for 2010
<http://support.microsoft.com/kb/894199>

*** Be wary of installing NON-essential software *** that will then have to
be updated when a vulnerability is discovered in them.

Ex: Windows Desktop Search; Silverlight; etc.


MowGreen
======

OR

Here is the thread which has many potential steps you may try for the issue
related to the same:

<http://www.microsoft.com/communitie...59f8&mid=c87c2e31-ed1f-447a-838d-3afc249659f8>
-=-

 

Operating System?
Service Pack level?
Was this a *used* computer?

 

• Which version of the Windows operating system am I running?
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/...-of-the-windows-operating-system-am-i-running

• Is my PC running the 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows?
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/find-out-32-or-64-bit

Always state your full Windows version (e.g., WinXP SP3; WinXP 64-bit SP2;
Vista SP1; Vista 64-bit SP2; Win7; Win7 64-bit) when posting in a forum or
newsgroup. Please do so in your next reply.

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your
subscription current? What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)?
What third-party firewall (if any)?

Has a(another) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on the
computer (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you bought
it)?

 

For the many affected that are scouring the Net for a solution to this
problem there is hope! After much digging I found the "System Update
Readiness Tool for Windows" (REF:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947821/en-us).

After installing this tool / update on a Vista SP1 x86 installation I was
able to download the > 90 updates available. Please note that the fix took
some time to complete and I rebooted the affected machine before downloading
and installing the delta updates.


Hope this is helpful!

Richard A. Schwartz

Sr. Consultant, Avanade Inc.