Windows Update stopped checking for patches

My Control Panel / Windows Update panel says that the last time WU checked for updates was 10/03/2010. HOWEVER, it also says that updates were installed on 1/14/2011. Selecting "View Update History" shows what appears to be a current list of updates as being sucessfully installed.

If I go to Control Panel / Programs & Features and select "View Installed Updates" I get the message "NO UPDATES ARE INSTALLED ON THIS COMPUTER".

SO, my questions are (1) why does WU say it hasn't checked for updates since 10/3/2010? (2) why the discrepancey between the History log and the Installed Updates list? Bottom line question is: am I current on updates?

Have you made a system restore during those dates?.
I find if I make a system restore, the history shows as installed, when it was actually removed.
If that is the case, you will get new updates in a day or two.

No, I have not made a system restore. Just to be clear, update HISTORY appears to be correct. My question really concerns the update log off the Control Panel / Programs & Features / Installed Updates panel. If the updates do not show up here, there is no way I know of to remove a defective patch.

Lets start with turning it off
boot computer
turn back on reboot. Hopefully, it will reset.
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/120695-windows-update-windows-automatic-updating.html

Although the intent of reset was for an entierly different purpose lets see if it works. Can be used for both Vista and Seven
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91738-windows-update-reset.html


If still no success go to search type event viewer and look for errors (from the administrative panel on the left) that may indicate a problem.