Deleted Software Distribution Folder, now having problems

Since deleting the software distribution folder, which 99% of people said would be safe, I am now unable to use windows update running Windows Vista 32bit. I was trying to solve a problem that would not let the Windows Malicious Software tool download. I should have just DL'd from MS but i did this and now I am stuck. Any advice? I get ERROR CODE: 80070490 which has a microsoft hotfix but I tried it and it didn't work

 

Is this what you have tried? http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947821
If not it may be worth a try.

 

Yes that is exactly what I tried.

Read the post in this forum by JeffryPaul and tell me what you think.

http://forums.techarena.in/windows-update/787485.htm

 

I'm beginning to realize that using the OS disc to do a repair using the "Upgrade" feature is probably the best fix based on: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows-vista/Windows-Update-error-80070490

The only problem is that I have a Vista Home BASIC disc and the client I am helping has Vista Home PREMIUM. Will the repair option reinstall the OS or just repair the files needed?

 

I'm not sure about those instructions. They look like they come from MS so they should be safe.

Two things:
Do you have a restore point? I'm not sure that folder would be part of system restore but it might.
Is there currently a Software Distribution folder in \windows? Maybe creating an empty folder to see if any change.

 

did you stop the windows update service before deleting this folder?

you're supposed to stop it first, i use cmd line to do it..

net stop wuauserv

then you delete the entier softwaredistribution folder

then, start the windows update service again:

net start wuauserv

once you start this service again, the software distribution folder should recreate itself in the %windir%

 

also, did you try the FixIt tool from here?

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058

 

I don't know about the Basic disc. It might be a problem.

Take a look at thisisu's fixit. That looks like it checks things out fairly thoroughly.

 

I actually already tried the fixit but thank you. The software distribution file did recreate itself. And thank you again THISISU but I did stop the service, however I did it from the services window because I did not know the cmd off the top of my head. Thinking I might try that option the other forum recommended and I will definitely keep you guys posted on the results. Also the system restore did not work. I have installed Vista Basic over Vista Premium before, actually on the computer I'm using now. Not a good thing haha I just didn't feel like paying $15 for compaq to ship me the disc, it works fine just can't change the background lol (office comp)

 

Code:

net stop wuauserv 
rmdir %windir%\softwaredistribution /s /q 
rmdir %windir%\system32\softwaredistribution /s /q 
regsvr32 /s wuaueng.dll 
regsvr32 /s wuaueng1.dll 
regsvr32 /s atl.dll 
regsvr32 /s wups.dll 
regsvr32 /s wups2.dll 
regsvr32 /s wuweb.dll 
regsvr32 /s wucltui.dll 
net start wuauserv

put into a .bat file and run it

reboot pc afterwards for changes to take affect

 

THISISU: I just ran that as a .BAT file and then restarted PC. Tried to perform Windows update and I still get Error: 80070490...

 

im out of ideas then keep us posted

 

After that whole process the very last step gives you an error I have no idea what to do besides asking the client for the windows Vista Premium disk (doubt they have it)

 

Does Windows update start at all?

I'm trying to figure out what could have gone wrong. That fixit renames datastore and download so deleting those folders can't be the problem. Of the other folders I have in Win7 Software Distribution really only SelfUpdate and wuredir has anything in them.

Did you try getting a new update client http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949104 or did the fixit try to download that automatically?

***
I'm tending to agree that you may have to get a Vista Premium disk to eventually get this repaired.