Zip_Zag_Drake

when i try to perform windows updates i can veiw what i need to upadate but when i click install and click 'continue' as administrator it stops downloading and states
error(s) found:
Code 8024402c Windows Update encountered an unknown error.

ive tried clicking 'get help with this error' and its useless to be honest. i also have the problem of whenever i click a link on google that it opens a new tab in IE7 and redirects me to a google search or some completely random website.
for example i tried http://update.microsoft.com/ and it takes me to http://www.google.com/
i downloaded a spyware program and it found loads of infections and deleted all of them but the problem still persists. so i then downloaded another one and i am currently installing it but am i doing the right thing or am i going about solving this problem all the wrong way?

If anyone could help me i would really appriciate it.

Mike