Windows Update fails with code 8024402C

Windows Update keeps failing with code 8024402C, on two separate Windows 7 Home Premium machines. I've looked through loads of similar questions here but none of the answers resolves the problem.If I try the Microsoft Fixit, that fails with a code of 80072EE7If I try any manual download of updates or tools from either machine, my browser tells me that it can't find download.microsoft.com.I've gone through the whole of kb2509997. In most cases the suggested methods didn't work. In the remainder, there was a problem following it:running checksur.exe didn't workrunning sfc /scannow didn't workResetting the contents of the catroot2 folder didn't workChecking for incorrect registry values didn't work (the subkey to search didn't exist!)Registering the Windows Update files didn't workMy antivirus software (Bullguard 10) doesn't scan the SoftwareDistribution folderRenaming the SoftwareDistribution folder didn't workClearing the BITS queue didn't workI couldn't find a KB958056 updateI couldn't find a pending.xml - the c:windowswinsxs folder that it's supposed to be in doesn't exist.Running chkdsk didn't workThe fact that it doesn't seem to be able to find download.microsoft.com suggests to me that it's a DNS problem. But another machine running XP Professional (luckily!) doesn't encounter the same problems. This is connecting through the same broadband router

and has the same firewall and antivirus software (Bullguard) so it can't be a firewall issue, either at the Bullguard level or at the router level.Thanks in advance for any advice.

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