Can someone help as up until about couple of weeks ago I have not been able to use windows update I used Windows fix it and it still is not working, I ran Malware program and none was found . I also scanned with avast to look for viruses or corrupt files and nothing was found. I have also found that the laptop is working slow - wondering if trojan or worm attached.

Try scanning your PC with ESET Online Scanner

then

Download Tweaking.Com - Windows Repair Portable to your Desktop and extract the folder from the zip archive.
Open the folder and run Repair_Windows.exe. Select the Repairs tab and then click on the 'Open Repairs' button.
Select the following Repairs:

  • 03 - Reset Service Permissions
  • 04 - Register System Files
  • 05 - Repair WMI
  • 10 - Remove Policies Set by Infections
  • 17 - Repair Windows Update
  • 26 - Restore Important Windows Services
  • 27 - Set Windows Services to Default Startup

Press the 'Start Repairs' button. When all repairs have completed, you'll receive a prompt to reboot.
Reboot the PC and see if Windows Update will work.

Done both scans and it appears the window updates started but it never finished.

Here is copy of log from tweaking.com

Forgot to attach log .Here it is

Starting Repairs...
Started at (23/01/2016 16:07:48)

The current repair has failed to start for over 30 sec.
Trying Again....

The current repair has failed to start for over 30 sec.
Trying Again....

03 - Reset Service Permissions
Start (23/01/2016 16:09:01)

Running Repair Under Current User Account
Running Repair Under System Account
Done (23/01/2016 16:09:30)

04 - Register System Files
Start (23/01/2016 16:09:30)
Running Repair Under Current User Account
Running Repair Under System Account
Done (23/01/2016 16:11:37)

05 - Repair WMI
Start (23/01/2016 16:11:37)

Starting Security Center So We Can Export The Security Info.

Exporting Antivirus Info...
avast! Antivirus Exported.

Exporting AntiSpyware Info...
Windows Defender Exported.
avast! Antivirus Exported.

Exporting 3rd Party Firewall Info...
No Firewall Products Reported.

Running Repair Under Current User Account
Done (23/01/2016 16:19:30)

10 - Remove Policies Set By Infections
Start (23/01/2016 16:19:30)
Running Repair Under Current User Account
Running Repair Under System Account
Done (23/01/2016 16:19:49)

17 - Repair Windows Updates
Start (23/01/2016 16:19:49)

Decompressing & Updating Windows Permission File C:\Users\C660-2EG\Desktop\Tweaking.com - Windows Repair\files\permissions\7\services.7z
Done, 1.28 seconds.

Running Repair Under Current User Account
Running Repair Under System Account
Setting Windows Updates Files That Are In Use To Be Removed At Next Boot.
Done (23/01/2016 16:20:44)

26 - Restore Important Windows Services
Start (23/01/2016 16:20:44)

Decompressing & Updating Windows Permission File C:\Users\C660-2EG\Desktop\Tweaking.com - Windows Repair\files\permissions\7\services.7z
Done, 0.31 seconds.

Running Repair Under Current User Account
Running Repair Under System Account
Done (23/01/2016 16:20:59)

27 - Set Windows Services To Default Startup
Start (23/01/2016 16:20:59)
Running Repair Under Current User Account
Running Repair Under System Account
Done (23/01/2016 16:21:06)

Cleaning up empty logs...

All Selected Repairs Done.
Done at (23/01/2016 16:21:06)
Total Repair Time: 00:13:27

What operating system are you running and what make/model of laptop?
Does windows update get as far as showing how many updates are available?
If so, does it start downloading or installing any updates?

Windows Home Premium 2009 SP1 and laptop is Toshiba 660-2EG. When I go onto windows update it just keeps running and advises that it never has been updated. It does not get to showing me what updates are needed to be uploaded.

Do you get any error code when searching for updates?
Try temporarily suspending Avast's Shields and see if you get any further with windows update.

The updates are still having issues but error codes that have came up is 80073712 and 80070490 - updates have failed several. Turned off Avast temporarily

I see you supply the error codes but the KBnnnnnn numbers are missing. Here's a thing. Microsoft does have failing patches. They fail, the reports accumulate and Microsoft re-issues a patch.

Without the KB numbers it's hard to see if this is expected or not.

KB3061518, KB3071756, KB 3068708 Recommended ,KB3080079,KB3069762,KB3060716,KB3109094,KB3097966,KB3042058,KB3078601,
KB3080149 Recommended,KB3124000,KB3121212,KB3087039,3033929,KB3033929 the rest say important and they all have the same error code 80073712. Hope this can clarify more

thanks for so much I need advice

I checked but updates are still not updating. It just stalls and does not continue. Still believe something corrupted.

Some do fail. Until we focus on an absolutely needed update you have 16 updates to research. I know folk want others to do that much research but sometimes I have to do my own work.

The patch I did look at, looked like we can ignore it.

--> That said I am running into folk that didn't know these updates fail. They freak about it and well, sometimes you have to send them to Microsoft support to pay for the answer. That answer may be "we are aware of the issue and working on it." (sort of like the Flint story today.)

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