Problems with Windows Update

I have a system with Windows Vista Home Premium. I keep getting an error message that tells me there is an error when trying to update Windows Defender. It suggests the SoftwareDistribution folder is corrupt. I am forwarded to this page for the fix ...
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/934562

I have done this 3 times now. Each time I do, I lose the "history" of all previous updates done thorugh Windows Update on the Windows Update page.

I ran a Belarc Advisor scan on my computer to be sure my system is up to date with Windows Update. It gave me a long list of updates that have been installed. However, most of them are unmarked which means "Unmarked hotfixes lack the data to allow verification."

I was able to go into Programs & Features in my system and get a list of all updates installed on my computer. However, this list of updates does NOT match the list of updates on the Belarc Advisor scan read-out.

What does anyone make of this? I know little about computers, so please have mercy & don't get too techinical on me.

Do you think because I have renamed the SoftwareDistribution Folder 3 times now, some of this update information has been lost?

With this type of problem I'd be thinking of using system restore to a time before this problem. As for windows defender, I've disabled mine (don't think it's very good) and am using Spyware Terminator, an excellent live scanning antispyware program. http://tinyurl.com/2mlulp
If you are going to try ST then remember to disable the antivirus part of it if you already have an AV program.

Please follow Fabler's advice.
Try Automatic Updates for a day or two.
( I have XP Pro Sp2 and hope Vista has the same program).
I am suggesting only safe procedures/ for a beginner.
Some of the updates are not necessary. For instance Windows Media Player 11.
Updates will suggest , but you skip it, if you don't use it.

Hey formerYooper,
If this problem happens more than once, you might want to have a read here - it has a solution which has appeared to help some people - it's an active-x problem:

http://www.microsoft.com/communities...c4dd3d4c79&p=1

Here's the solution from the site:

1. Rename the Update temporary folders.
===================================
1. Click Start, Run, type: cmd and press Enter. Please run the following
command in the opened window.

Net stop WuAuServ

2. Click Start, Run, type: %windir% and press Enter.
3. In the opened folder, rename the folder SoftwareDistribution to Sdold.
4. Click Start, Run, type: cmd and press Enter. Please run the following
command in the opened window.

Net start WuAuServ

2. Remove the corrupted Active X control
=====================================
1. Open Interent Options
2. On the General Tab choose Settings under Temporary Internet Files
3. Then click on View Objects.
4. Right Click WuWebControl Class and choose remove
5. Right Click MuWebControl Class and choose remove
6. Delete the file c:\windows\system32\wuweb.dll
7. Delete the file c:\windows\system32\muweb.dll

The above steps will help us remove the ActiveX controls for Windows Update
and Microsoft Update. Then will download a new one to instead of the
corrupted one.

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Good luck!