Software Update -- self conflicting messages

[ChrisA]

Software Update says

"New software is available for your computer" and then the list (in the blue and white striped box) is empty. Also the "install" button at the bottom s grayed out and only "quit" is clickable.

If I bring up the Software Update preferences panel and click "check Now" I get the warning box "Failed to check for updates Make sure you can connect to the Internet then try again"

I am connected to the Internet, if I were not you all couldn't be reading this

 

[mad jew]

Okay, try quitting Software Updater, finding a file named com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist and com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.XXX.plist in your Preferences folder (XXX represents a series of seemingly random numbers), dragging it to the Desktop and checking if things are now better.