I have wrote zeros to my hard drive and re-installed windows 2000 pro. The first time I went to windows update it started to do the usual download of required files to use windows update. It downloaded them but when it came time to install it said they both failed. I downloaded the files from the microsoft web site and manually installed them. The files were: Microsft Windows Installer 3.1 and Update for Background Intelligent Transfer Service (bits) 2.0 and WinHTTP 5.1(KB942773). After that I was able to get into windows update.
I clicked the express button and it came up with 58 critical updates. It downloaded all of them no problem but when it came time to install they all failed like the first two updates did. I have also tried installing one update at a time and no difference. I also looked in add/remove programs and it shows no hot fixes so as far as I can tell it's not asking me to install updates i already have.
I have installed Internet Explorer 6 and service pack 4 and the rollup update for it.
I have already had some spyware take control of my system so any help anybody can give to help get windows update working so I can then work on getting it off my system would be greatly apreciated. Thanks all.

Is your HDrive larger than 127GB? You may need to Enable LBA.
I suggest you run a drive fitness test and mamory test.

Look at the link below and see if it applies.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/305...

Mine is 80gb. The link only applies to service pack 2 or earlier. Because of the spyware I have re-installed windows 2000 pro again and am using service pack three. Windows update still won't install updates.

It's a simple fix. You need to reregister the DLL files for Windows Update. I forget the article number. When it fails you can click on the link to get help. It will take you right there but basicly what you need to do is reregister these dll files.

I created a batch file....

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

Run those commands and try it again. You should be set.