I am posting here in the belief that changing DNS settings implies that the ISP involved (Orcon in this case) has deficient default DNSs.

I have, over the last few weeks, being experiencing continual failures with Windows (7 Home Premium 64 bit) Update returning an unknown error code 8024402F.  A search on Google gives a huge number of hits.  Even a search on the MS support website gives many hits.

The short story is that the solution for me is to change the DNS settings (Network Connection Properties, IP version 4 properties, change 'Obtain DNS Server automatically' to 'Use the following DNS Server addresses' and enter 4.2.2.1 (Preferred) and 4.2.2.2 (alternate).

The long story is that I have spent the best part of 3 weeks trying to solve this problem - including stopping BITS and Windows Update services and renaming the softwaredistribution directory, and uninstalling .NET Framework 4 Client Profile.  I have run countless MS fix programs from various associated KB articles and none worked.  Its very frustrating that in Win 7 you cant use IE as an alternative access to Windows Update.

If 'Obtain DNS Server automatically' causes the use of DNS servers nominated by the iSP then I am sure that this indicates that Orcon has a DNS server issue that needs fixing - and that there may be other Orcon users similarly affected.

Disclaimer: My knolwedge of Domain Name Servers is as follows: they translate domain names to ip addresses.  I know no more 8-)