Problem(s) with Miktex 2.9

I have been working several hours, over a period of 2 days, trying to use the 
update program (with admin privileges) in Miktex-2.9.5105 (windows Vista 32-bit 
platform).  I am never able to get access to a repository. I also tried to use 
mtm from the command prompt (running as administrator) in an attempt to register 
a new repository --- unsuccessful. I have attempted to handle this on a laptop 
with a Windows 8.1 (64-bit) installation of the same version of Miktex --- again 
unsuccessful. I also installed Miktex in different directories on the same 
computer -- again unsuccessful.

I have now come to the conclusion that there is some basic problem (handling 
repositories) with this latest update OR no repositories are available (over the 
past few days).

Does anyone have an explanation as to why it is impossible to change 
repositories? Is it possible to resort to an earlier release of Miktex? And 
finally, is there a workaround that "really does work" (none of those I found on 
the WWW worked for me) for changing to a repository that can be used for updates.

I have been using Miktex for sometime and this is the first instance of this 
type of problem (at least for me). Any help on this very frustrating problem 
would be greatly appreciated.





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