According to Dave in this thread on a Microsoft forum the fix below solved the issue

Find the update KB842773.
Remove it (in Add/Remove Programs)
Then do a Windows Update
It will then force you to re-update the KB842773 before you can update
anything else.
After re-installing this update, run Windows Update again and it will
download SP2.

Good luck with that, I am concerned however that the firewall has been turned off. What other safety programs are on that computer and are they active or also turned off?

I briefly searched for help last night, but it was too late to go further than I mentioned above. The info I found last night was that the error code, the shutdown of the internet monitor, and the lost connectivity were a set of events which occurred while updating Windows.

I can try Dave's suggestion, but not for an hour or so.

I am also concerned about the firewall. AVG is installed but I didn't think to check to see if it's active; I'll do so before anything else.

What if I uninstall ZoneAlarm, use my computer to download an updated version to a thumb drive, take that upstairs & install ZA?

I could physically disconnect the access point while doing so. But since it's not currently functional, it seems to make little difference. (But if the update is damaged, the same error would likely re-occur, right?)

I'll look at AVG first, try Dave's fix next, then let you know what happened.

I checked the list for updates installed yesterday -- only SP1 is there, not the other 11 I thought had installed.

So it appears that SP1 caused the problem.

I can uninstall & re-install SP1. But before I do, I'll first look for further info. Most likely, I'll still need your help.

Thanks for your efforts so far.

Okay, here's what I found at Microsoft
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Windows-Update-error-80246005

I'm assuming it's safe. Right? (Please hold my hand.)

Here is a link that might be useful: what microsoft says

I don't understand what you mean by safe? If those are the directions for the given error code from Microsoft then try them. Or you can try these below (Less to do) first and see what happens.

To fix this error, try:

Click start-run type services.msc then press enter

Look for the Automatic Updates Service, right click it and choose to stop

Click start->run type %windir%\SoftwareDistribution then press enter

Open the DataStorage folder and delete its contents.

Click start->run type services.msc

right click the Automatic Update Service and choose to start

Now try running the Updates again.

Well, it's like this.

I followed zep's instructions. Still unable to go online.

But because the error message that persisted was about the Internet Monitor (in Zone Alarm), I uninstalled Zone Alarm, the installed the current version.

So I figure we unnecesarily complicated the issues by concentrating on the MS error message & ignoring that for the Internet Monitor. In any event, all is well, and I am continuing to update the computer.

Something I didn't mention is that the machine is very slow. So I used Disk Clean, disabled AVG's link scanner, and just now ran a Maleware bytes scan which came up clean.

The machine is still slow, but the good news is that it's functioning & goes online.

Oops. I neglected to add my thanks for your input. I sincerely appreciate the help you folks freely offer to others.

Hi jean001,

If your machine is still slow, when you get time post a Hijackthis log and I will look at it for you. It could prove to be very beneficial here are instructions,

Click Here to download HJTInstall.exe Download the one on the left Version 2.0.3 (Beta)
Save HJTInstall.exe to your desktop.
Doubleclick on the HJTInstall.exe icon on your desktop.
By default it will install to C:\Program Files\Trend Click on Install.
It will create a HijackThis icon on the desktop.
Click on the Do a system scan and save a logfile button. It will scan and the log should open in notepad.
Click on "Edit > Select All" then click on "Edit > Copy" and Paste the entire contents of the log into your next post.
DO NOT use the AnalyzeThis button, its findings are dangerous if misinterpreted.
DO NOT have Hijackthis fix anything yet. Most of what HJT lists will be harmless or even required by your Operating System.

zep,

I can do that, but not certain just when. Things are very busy right now, specially since I was delayed by the need to fix husband's computer.

Thanks.

jean001,

Thank-you for replying back.

Don't worry when ever you get time, I want to see the start up programs them may be slowing things down.

dear zep, I tried following your instructions exactly: To fix this error, try:

Click start-run type services.msc then press enter

Look for the Automatic Updates Service, right click it and choose to stop

Click start->run type %windir%\SoftwareDistribution then press enter

Open the DataStorage folder and delete its contents.

Click start->run type services.msc

right click the Automatic Update Service and choose to start

Now try running the Updates again.

Now When i go and click update I get error code 8024001F, now I can't update nor can I get online at my real computer. Help me please!

Read the link below to see if that helps you.

Here is a link that might be useful: Check this link