Windows Update service DOES depend on other services?

[LeveL]

Trying to disable as many services as possible, I kept "Windows Update" enabled, I checked the dependencies for this service and it doesn't have any listed. Wierd, because in Windows XP you need the Background Intelligent Transfer service started. So since Windows Update was not working in Vista (the window does not even open) I enabled the Background Intelligent Transfer service and it still won't work.

I also have the network services enabled and have a working connection.

I am at a loss really as to what other service(s) Windows Update needs to work!

Windows dependencies tab is wrong! Does anyone know what needs enabling to make it work again?

EDIT: Its OK I worked it out, it was the Software Licensing service!

Edited May 23, 2007 by LeveL

[cluberti]

The dependencies tab can be misleading, because it only shows what is necessary to be running in order to send a start command to start a service - it doesn't speak specifically to service functionality or whether or not the service will start succesfully. Technically, this is above and beyond the scope of what the Service Control Manager can determine anyway, as the SCM only cares about what is needed to physically send a start command to the service, not what is needed to allow the binary the service starts to work - that is supposed to be handled by the binary itself.

The Software Licensing service is part of the WGA components, and as such it is needed for the Windows Update binary to verify the validity of your OS and thus go to the update servers and check/download/install updates. Don't entirely depend on what the SCM tells you, because it's only half of the story. Hopefully this all makes sense to you.