Cannot enable "Windows Automatic Update"

[trb92]

Today my computer told me that windows had an update for me, so I clicked the tray icon to update. Upon attempting I got this message from the Windows Update webpage

The site cannot continue because one or more of these Windows services is not running:

Automatic Updates (allows the site to find, download and install high-priority updates for your computer)
Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) (helps updates download more quickly and without problems if the download process is interrupted)
Event Log (keeps a record of updating activities to help with troubleshooting, if needed)
To make sure these services are running:
1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. Type services.msc and then click OK.
3. In the list of services, double-click on Automatic Updates and then click Properties.
4. In the Startup type list, select Automatic and click Apply.
5. Verify that the Service status is started, if the Service Status is Stopped click on the Start Button.
6. In the list of services, double-click on Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) and then click Properties.
7. In the Startup type list, select Manual and click Apply.
8. Verify that the Service status is started, If the Service Status is Stopped click on the Start Button.
9. In the list of services, double-click on Event Log and then click Properties.
10. In the Startup type list, select Automatic and click Apply.
11. Verify that the Service status is started, If the Service Status is Stopped click on the Start Button.

I did as it said, and found that only Automatic Updatd was disabled. I tried to enable it, but I got this message.

Could not start the Automatic Updates service on Local Computer.

Error 1058: The service cannot be started, either because it is disabled or because it has no enabled devices associated with it.

I found this article, which was supposed to solve the problem, but windows update was already enabled for my hardware profile. I don't know what to do now, so I ask for your help here.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Logical_1]

Run a scan for viruses using http://onecare.live.com Safety Scanner. Use Full Scan option.

 

[trb92]

Run a scan for viruses using http://onecare.live.com Safety Scanner. Use Full Scan option.

Erm... Downloaded the program, partly installed, then was told that to continue it had to remove AVG. I'm sure this program is fine, but I am not going to install a program that forces me to uninstall my antivirus software. Thanks for trying, though.

Any other ideas?

 

[Logical_1]

Can you post a screenshot of the message saying that? I have yet to ever see that page request you remove anything for it to work.

 

[trb92]

The page? It wasn't the page that said that, it was the program from the "Free Trial" link.

Perhaps I don't understand what to do at that page. I opened it, clicked 'Free Trial', downloaded the program, tried to install it. Three or four screens into the installation progress, it gave me the screen. I don't currently have a screenshot of the message, but I found this in the FAQ.

I have another antivirus or firewall program. Can I also install Windows Live OneCare?
No. Before installing Windows Live OneCare, we highly recommend that you uninstall any other antivirus or firewall programs currently on your computer. OneCare might not run, or it might slow the performance of your computer, if you install it when other antivirus or firewall programs are also installed on your computer. During setup, OneCare checks for common antivirus and firewall programs that are known to conflict and provides means for you to uninstall them.

By "highly recommend that you uninstall any other antivirus or firewall programs", they seem to mean "Will not let you install unless you allow us to remove the other antivirus or firewall programs"..

 

[Logical_1]

I'm not talking about using the free trial of the program, but using the online scanner. It'll work without having to remove any existing software.

 

[trb92]

Found the online scanner, but it doesn't seem to do anything.
I click the 'Full Service' button, and then it takes about 20 minutes to do it's 'installation'. It then opens another webpage, which seems to be where the scan should take place, but that page just sits there. I've tried it three times, the last attempt being almost two hours ago. The webpage still hasn't done anything, I have it open and am waiting.

 

[Logical_1]

Sounds like you've got a virus or something then. It shouldn't take that long at all.