I am presently working on a Dell 8400 Dimension computer. I tried to Update Windows and all the updates fail to download. After looking at the download History for this computer, there are over 1500 failed downloads for Windows Update. Many are repetitive. How can one remove the failed update listings from the History report? What would be the best route to maybe start all over again?

One other note. The owner of this computer had it set to automatically update and I stopped looking at 1500+ failed downloads. There may be a ton more, didn't check. I just wanted to start with a History list that showed all Green downloads, meaning they were downloaded and installed. 80% of them are all Red as failed downloads. No viruses, trojans or spyware detected on this computer. ?????

This is really for a fix to stop MS Update repeatedly going for the same file, but may also work for you here... Go to Start / Search / For File or Folders. Select "Local Hard Drive C: under "Look in". In the Search box type in: datastore.edb Make sure to place checks next to Advanced Options, Search system folders, Search hidden files and folders, and Search Subfolders, then click on "Search Now". When you find the "DataStore.edb" file, right-click on it and select "Rename" and rename it to: DataStore.old Reboot your computer, then visit the Windows Update site. Quote: Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity!

Thanks Wombat. I tried what you suggested and not only did the whole History disappeared, it wouldn't allow any downloads of Windows Update files. I just won't worry about this for now. I thought there was a way to only get rid of those particular files that failed to download, but leave the ones that did intact. I'll just have to do some more hunting. Thanks anyway.

http://www.computing.net/windowsxp/wwwboard/forum/155097.html posts 3, 5,6 have references to utils various that may help? trvlr