Cannot Install Updates: Error 80070539

Question

When trying to install available updates for W 7,  I get a failure with the following error code:
results for "WindowsUpdate_80070539" "WindowsUpdate_dt000"
When I select  the "get help with this error" link.  the following appears
Suggestions:
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Other options to try:
Go online to get answers from other Windows users
Search the Windows Help website
Search IT Pro content on the Microsoft TechNet
website
I found no help in any of the above places 
Jim McColl 

Answer 1

80070539 doesn't appear anywhere in my searches for a Windows Update error by that name.
There is a Win32 error code with the same name that appears to relate to security settings.
Also, quite a few of the search results mention the VSS service being related to this error.
Do you have a 3rd party firewall installed?  Try updating with it turned off (don't forget to turn it back on!)
Do you have any 3rd party anti-spyware/anti-virus tools that may be blocking things?
Have you tried clearing your cache and then updating?
Have you tried turning off UAC (don't forget to turn it back on!)?
Have you tried clearing the Software Distribution folder? (this is just a shot in the dark)
To do this:
- open an elevated command prompt and type "net stop wuauserv" (without the quotes) and press Enter
- open an elevated instance of Windows Explorer, navigate to the Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder and delete everything inside of the folder (but not the folder itself).
- go back to the elevated command prompt window and type "net start wuauserv" (without the quotes) and press Enter to restart the service.
- then check for updates again.- John