Windows 7 - unable to update or open firewall settings - HELP PLS!!

Hi,
recently bought a computer off a friend, which im told is only a few weeks old. It is working great, but I've discovered that I can not open the Windows Firewall page and alos I can not update windows.
When I click on Windows Firewall I get the mouse click sound from the computer, but nothing opens, and when I try to update Windows I get this message:
"Windows Update can not currently check for updates, because the service is not running. You may need to restart your computer."

Restarting the computer doesn't change anything and I would really like to fix this so I know my computer is up to date!

Help appreciated,
Chris

Hello and Welcome !

Go to Start | Under search type in Services.msc the look for Windows Update in that list and double click on it make sure the Startuptype is automatic and the serivce is started. if not start it. Same for Wndows Firewall.

Hope this helps !

Capt.Jack Sparrow wrote:

Hello and Welcome !

Go to Start | Under search type in Services.msc the look for Windows Update in that list and double click on it make sure the Startuptype is automatic and the serivce is started. if not start it. Same for Wndows Firewall.

Hope this helps !

Hi, thanks for helping.
Have checked both settings as you said and they are both set to Automatic. I've also stopped and started them from there and both run????

Have also looked in "installed updates" in Windows Update and it shows the last update being 30/9/2010 so it must still be receiving its updates???????????????
Very confused and would like to try and figure this out!

Firewall still doing nothing when clicked on either.

Any more suggestions,
Chris

Hello,

Try this article and see if that works http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91738-windows-update-reset.html

Ok, tried that ^^^^
Still the same :sad:

I guess the only option left is to do a Repair on OS since those are main OS components. Before that try thi article http://support.microsoft.com/kb/906602