My computer could not open the Microsoft Windows update site. 

Googled the error message, and there were all sorts of "solutions".  Click on start, then run, type in whatever and click OK.  Look for this or that, then go to part A.  Make sure the ?switch is turned on.  Delete all cookies and delete all temporary files.  On and on it went.

I hadn't run diskcheck in a while to clean up the registry, so I figured I'd try that.  Voila, problem gone.

It can take a couple of hours to run diskcheck, but it's simple.  Here's how to do it.

Open "My Computer".  Right click on the "C" hard drive, then click on properties.  In the next window, click on tools. 

On the next window you will see "Error checking". 

This option will check the volume for errors.

Click on the "Check Now" button.

Another window will open. with "Check Disk Options"

Put checkmarks in both boxes for

Automatically fix file system errors

Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors.

Click on "Check Now"

The next message may be that you cannot run Diskcheck because the system is currently running something or other.

It will ask if you want to run it at next start up.

Click on "yes". 

You can restart the computer at your convenience.  Do it when you won't need it for a couple of hours.  It will take that long on a reasonably fast computer.  Longer on slower ones.

Try this instead:

www.ccleaner.com

It clears temporary files, old cookies and so on, plus has a registry cleaner to help fix all kinds of things.

If you use this, does it clear out any passwords, etc. that are saved for sites like this one or online banking, etc.?  I don't want to have to go through the hassles of re-entering all that stuff.