We need a bit more info:

 

Do those updates download but fail to install?

Do they fail to download?

Exactly what error messages are you seeing?

 

Ron 

Try this first and see if they install

 

 

Re-register the Windows Update DLL with the commands below

Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.

Type the following commands. Press ENTER after each command.

 

regsvr32 wuapi.dll
regsvr32 wuaueng.dll
regsvr32 wuaueng1.dll
regsvr32 wucltui.dll
regsvr32 wups.dll
regsvr32 wups2.dll
regsvr32 wuweb.dll

 

 

Attempt to run Windows Update

SWEET! What ever you had me do worked. But I have few more questions. Why did I have to do this on my laptop and not my desk top?  Should I change any settings to prevent this issue in the future? How did you know what to do? If I went off the deep end, Im sorry, I just like to understand. Thanks again for your help and the speed off it. Keep it up.

It was a past experience of mine. I had it happen to me and between Microsoft & Google, I can't remember where I found the answer first but it is on Microsoft's website, somewhere. It happened right after I repaired my system using the disk. Has 60 updates, at the time, that downloaded but failed to install. There are no settings to prevent this from happening. Others had also use the registering of the .dlls to get theirs to work also. It may or may not happen again. Most likely, if you do another clean install or repair, it will happen again.

 

Also, since it seems like you did a repair or a clean install of Windows, did you go to drivers and downloads and install these drivers in the order Dell recommends?

 

Desktop System Software or Notebook System Software
Chipset or SMBus driver
Processor Driver (if applicable)
Video
Audio (sound)
Input Drivers (keyboard/mouse)
Modem
Network Card

I am sitting there reading your response and my laptop shut down by its self. Then I am trying to type a response to your thread and it booted me off as if I never had a program running. I must say that this laptop has got me boggled. Any ways I never did a clean install. XP came installed on this laptop. What gave you that impression? As far as the drivers go, if I did not do a clean install, should I still go to this website to check for driver updates? Compared to my desk top this laptop seems to be somewhat unstable.  Another thing that happens is the network repair wizard comes on frequently. Not sure if this is normal. The only thing I can think that would cause this is I have BitTorrent installed and running. Another new program that I do not know to much about. Any ways let me know. Talk to ya soon. Thanks

You say you got booted off. Do you mean that the computer shutdown and restarted or you got disconnected from the internet?

 

Using any type of peer to peer program tends to mess with the connection and still lasts for about a week after you no longer use the program.  WinSock XP Fix should fix that problem for you, for the time being. If it happens often, you may have to run  WinSock XP Fix more often.

 

Go to Dell's website and update the drivers that are URGENT and consider the ones that are recommended.

Thanks for the help.