windows xp updates

Hello all. My wifes computer has recently developed a issue regarding updates. When prompted I install the updates and the laptop restarts. When it reboots, the progression percentage gets to 30% then it says 'failed to configure updates'. It continues to reboot and the laptop functions normally.
I say normally, but along with this, the laptop doesnt recognice any device. When a usb or ipod/phone is plugged in, starts to install the drive, but then a message appears saying that it was unable to install the driver. Could these issues be relate?
Many thanks in advice.

 

did you reinstall xp is that why you are updating??

there will be no more updates for xp as it is at the end of life

which are the specific updates that you are having problems with??

you can go to microsoft updates and look at your update log and see if any are red which means failed install.

 

Thanks for replying. I remember hearing that Microsoft no longer offer support to xp. I realised yesterday after looking properly at the laptop that runs on Windows 7. The updates im talking about are the automatic updates the computer installs.
I have checked the update log to find quite alot of important updates that have failed to install. Should I make a note of these and download them manually?
Cheers

 

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...Before=&threadType=Questions&tm=1400080163805

please go to the above website for windows 7 questions,, thanks.

and yes I would go to the microsoft download center and look up each and download and install

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/search.aspx?q=security update

 

If you really know what you're doing:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=41929

If you need to ask what to do then don't use this method. Sorry, don't mean to sound over bearing.