Problem Turning On Automatic Updates

The article [Q306525] explains how to configure the Automatic Updates features to include how to download updates and drivers from the Windows Update Catalog.

Unfortunately, there's no single spyware removal program that will do the job. You need multiple programs. The free ones include Spybot, Adaware, and Microsoft's anti-spyware. Get all three, use all three... Because my first thought is you've been hit with spyware that is disabling automatic updates to try and keep some specific volnerability it uses, open.

Of course once you clean up the spyware mess, you've got a choice. You can either keep using IE and Outlook Express if you use it, and keep having to clean up the messes they create every so often (sort of like a little puppy that pees on the carpet because it isn't housebroken yet, only you can never house break IE), or you can start using something else which doesn't (currently) suffer from the problem. Something such as Mozilla Firefox for a browser. While technically someone could write spyware for Firefox, there are a number of fundamental design differences between it and IE which would make the task much more difficult. You may never be completely safe, but you can add extra layers of insulation, so that fewer things manage to get through.

It tackles updates in another way and can be useful.

http://www.autopatcher.com/

Bob