For (2) Security Updates for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems, (KB978601) & (KB979309), both labeled important, installation failed. Both also note error code 80004004. I'm not really sure what to do now

Wyme, 80004004 means "operation aborted". So it is not verry informative :). This give us some more infomation can you upload somewhere your windowsupdate.log file? Dale has an excelent blog that explains how you can upload this file to windows skydrive. http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itproui/thread/4fc10639-02db-4665-993a-08d865088d65/#4fc10639-02db-4665-993a-08d865088d65 Kind Regards DFTIM me - TWiTTer: @DFTER

Error code 80004004 appears when a previous update has failed to install and thus preventing further installations of updates. It affects only in Windows updates. I got this issue since the new update of live messenger, I remembered playing with permissions because my windows wouldn't start and made the whole C:/ drive under my ownership and I solved it by getting a full control permission for the Local Services 1. Go to Start 2. Right click on C: drive (or whatever drive window's installed on) 3. Properties <<Security tab>> 4. click (for special permissions or advanced settings click advanced) 5. Look for LOCAL SERVICE and press change Permissions 6. click on LOCAL SERVICE and click edit 7. check the full control box. click OK 8. Check the box at the bottom Replace all Child object. Select Ok and click continue on all prompts 6. Click on Add in that window there's another advanced, press it 7. In the popup window on the right side of common queries press <Find Now> 8. In the search results at the bottom, there should be LOCAL SERVICE press it and then OK on top of the search results 9. Click the first checkbox and select OK 10. Check the box at the bottom click ok and click continue on all prompts Hopefully, it will help you.