[Essexboy]

When you ran the fixit did you use the aggressive mode ?

Download Complete Internet Repair to your desktop

Unzip all the files to their own folder on the desktop
Within the folder double click CIntRep
The programme will then run
Select the items I have highlighted
Press go
Let me know if it is able to conduct the repair, there is a log at the bottom

[Aquabat64x]

I don't recall seeing an "aggressive mode" but that doesn't mean that it wasn't in that mode or anything

I ran that, and looked like it completed, and had me reboot

[Essexboy]

Ok the small programme will run in the aggressive mode as the initial start

Once it has run then try windows updates again

[Aquabat64x]

nope...now it can't even find updates
still get the error 80096001

[Essexboy]

The update history is deleted as part of the aggresive fix, it is not a problem.

This is leading me to suspect a trust issue with windows. Ms has a fixit to repair this here
About two thirds of the way down is the fixit please run that and then retry updates

[Aquabat64x]

nope...still can't update

[Aquabat64x]

ok, just to check that we aren't going on a goose chase right now
I've been seeing messages that the cmos battery is low, and with every restart I have to adjust the date and time in windows to the current date/time.

that wouldn't be causing any weirdness would it?

[Essexboy]

Not to this degree but it would be worth changing it

OK next area that could be causing this problem

Download and run the readiness tool from this page and try again

[Aquabat64x]

hhhmmm...still get error message

"Installer encountered an error: 0x80096001
A system-level error occurred while verifying trust"

[Essexboy]

Still checking this out, but while I do that can you ensure that the date, time and year are all correct when you try the update

[Aquabat64x]

yes, date, time, and year are all correct
and have been before every fix attempt as well as update attempt

is the first thing I do after a restart

[Essexboy]

OK this is not looking good as it appears that the certifcate store is damaged, hence windows cannot confirm the the files being downloaded are valid

You may well have to resort to a repair installation of the system

Note Performing a repair installation will not damage files and applications that are currently installed on your computer.

So do you have a windows CD ?

[Aquabat64x]

I'll have to look for the restore disc that came with my computer
but I don't own an actual Windows disc

[Aquabat64x]

or another thing I do have is a recovery drive on my computer
could I get what I need through that?

[Essexboy]

What is the computer make and model... As some do give the option to repair windows and leave the data intact