Software Updates Troubleshooting

Reader Question:
“Hi Wally, I am having problems with Software Updates and wondering how to fix it?” - Jonathan M., USA

Before addressing any computer issue, I always recommend scanning and repairing any underlying problems affecting your PC health and performance:

Step 1 : Download PC Repair & Optimizer Tool (WinThruster for Win 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP and 2000 – Microsoft Gold Certified).
Step 2 : Click “Start Scan” to find Windows registry issues that could be causing PC problems.
Step 3 : Click “Repair All” to fix all issues.

Setting up weekly (or daily) automatic scans will help prevent system problems and keep your PC running fast and trouble-free.

Wally’s Answer:

Overview of Software Updates

Many of the applications installed on your computer will have software updates become available at some point. Often these software updates will fix bugs that can cause the program to run slowly or crash. Sometimes the developers will introduce new features to applications through a software update.

Software companies provide these software updates over the Internet, but some companies require you to purchase a disk to install the update. Some customers cannot or will not connect to the Internet to download and install a software update. Companies will often provide the software update on a disk for these customers, but will usually charge a fee for creating the disk and mailing it to them.

Most software will automatically download the software update and install it in the background. Some software will only inform the user if a software update is available and it is up to the user to decide when or if to download and install the update.

Usually, the software will include a software update setting allowing the user to decide whether the application will look for updates on its own or wait for the user to initiate the process manually.

What Problems are Associated with Software Updates?

Many programs will present the user with an error message when it is unable to install a software update. Most of these messages will be similar to, “The update could not be downloaded or installed, please try again later.”

Restarting the computer and trying the software update again is often a good first step as many of these problems are a result of program conflicts. If the application the user needs to update is the first program opened and updated, many of these errors can be avoided.

This error can also be the result of heavy traffic on the server hosting the software update. The best solution is to attempt the software update at another time when fewer computers are connected to the update server.

Other times, the computer is unable to connect to the update server because the firewall is preventing access. Creating an exception for the application in the firewall will often resolve this issue.

Sometimes the error presented will include an error code. Searching the Internet with the error code can also produce advice about how to successfully install the software update. It might be necessary to contact support to find out the exact cause of the error and discover the steps necessary to resolve it.

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Is Your PC Healthy?

I always recommend to my readers to regularly use a trusted registry cleaner and optimizer such as WinThruster or CCleaner. Many problems that you encounter can be attributed to a corrupt and bloated registry.

Happy Computing!

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About the Author

Wally PhillipsWindows Wally is a helpful guy. It’s just in his nature. It’s why he started a blog in the first place. He heard over and over how hard it was to find simple, plain-English solutions to Windows troubleshooting problems on the Internet. Enter: Windows Wally. Ask away, and he will answer.