This may restore the ability for Vista to start updating again. You should read the article, but there is a program there to download. ... Thinkpads_User
I also found the Feruary 2011 version of the System Update Readiness Tool (the link provided by Thinkpads_user is to an August 2008 version). The tool reports that it does not apply to my Version of Windows. I have Vista SP2 on that machine.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=2889489c-ee87-4607-8aa5-812e8078ab27&displaylang=en
This may restore the ability for Vista to start updating again. You should read the article, but there is a program there to download. ... Thinkpads_User