I am not SURE that I am really downloading Microsoft updates when I click the yellow shield in the system tray (with the exclamation mark). When I click the button, it disappears for three seconds and then returns. I have set my computer to automatic updates. I am using Firefox, not Internet Explorer. I am also using a legal registered version of Microsoft. Here are the last entries from the update.log file:

08-01-0310:04:15:1253420e34Misc=========== Logging initialized (build: 7.0.6000.381, tz: -0500) ===========
2008-01-0310:04:15:1253420e34Misc = Process: C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
2008-01-0310:04:15:1253420e34Misc = Module: C:\WINDOWS\system32\wucltui.dll
2008-01-0310:04:15:1253420e34CltUIAU client GOT new directive = 'Install APPROVAL', serviceId = {9482F4B4-E343-43B6-B170-9A65BC822C77}, return = 0x00000000
2008-01-0310:04:15:1253420e34CltUIAU client creating default WU/WSUS UI plugin
2008-01-0310:04:17:125 892e30AUWARNING: GetUpdateMetadata FAILED, error = 0x80070005
2008-01-0310:04:17:1253420e34CltUIFATAL: GetUpdateMetadata failed. hr=80070005, numUpdates=3, lcid=00000407
2008-01-0310:04:17:1253420e34CltUIFATAL: _GetUpdates failed with hr 80070005
2008-01-0310:04:17:1253420e34AUClntFATAL: Failed to create dialog class. hr = 80070005
2008-01-0310:04:17:1253420e34AUClntFATAL: CAUClientUITrayIconBase encountered a fatal error. hr = 80070005
2008-01-0310:04:17:1253420e34CltUIFATAL: AU client initiating shutdown encountered fatal error. hr = 0x80070005
2008-01-0310:04:17:1253420e34CltUIWARNING: m_pCurrentPluginUI is non-null!!!
2008-01-0310:04:17:140 8926dcAUAU received handle event
2008-01-0310:04:17:140 8926dcAUAU setting pending client directive to 'Install Approval'
2008-01-0310:04:32:375 8926dcAULaunched new AU client for directive 'Install Approval', session id = 0x0
2008-01-0310:04:32:4682976a20Misc=========== Logging initialized (build: 7.0.6000.381, tz: -0500) ===========
2008-01-0310:04:32:4682976a20Misc = Process: C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
2008-01-0310:04:32:4682976a20AUClntLaunched Client UI process
2008-01-0310:04:32:5152976a20Misc=========== Logging initialized (build: 7.0.6000.381, tz: -0500) ===========
2008-01-0310:04:32:5152976a20Misc = Process: C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
2008-01-0310:04:32:5152976a20Misc = Module: C:\WINDOWS\system32\wucltui.dll
2008-01-0310:04:32:5152976a20CltUIAU client got new directive = 'Install Approval', serviceId = {9482F4B4-E343-43B6-B170-9A65BC822C77}, return = 0x00000000
2008-01-0310:04:32:5152976a20CltUIAU client creating default WU/WSUS UI plugin
2008-01-0310:04:36:062 892e30AUWARNING: GetUpdateMetadata failed, error = 0x80070005
2008-01-0310:04:36:0622976a20CltUIFATAL: GetUpdateMetadata failed. hr=80070005, numUpdates=3, lcid=00000407
2008-01-0310:04:36:0622976a20CltUIFATAL: _GetUpdates failed with hr 80070005
2008-01-0310:04:36:0622976a20AUClntFATAL: Failed to create dialog class. hr = 80070005
2008-01-0310:04:36:0622976a20AUClntFATAL: CAUClientUITrayIconBase encountered a fatal error. hr = 80070005
2008-01-0310:04:36:0622976a20CltUIFATAL: AU client initiating shutdown encountered fatal error. hr = 0x80070005
2008-01-0310:04:36:0622976a20CltUIWARNING: m_pCurrentPluginUI is non-null!!!
2008-01-0310:04:36:078 8926dcAUAU received handle event
2008-01-0310:04:36:078 8926dcAUAU setting pending client directive to 'Install Approval'

Very GRATEFUL for your advice. Any ideas or suggestions what I should do?Hello Evelyn.

Perhaps slightly more info on your machine would allow us to help you further.

What OS are you using? (i can guess it's windows xp judging by your description of the windows update tray icon, but what service pack? etc.)

If you're having doubts about whether windows automatic update is actually downloading anything, you can always access the microsoft support website and download your updates from there. Thanks for the tip! I will do as you suggested.