[MiKTeX] Package Manager can't find packages

[bandcx]

Hello,
I am having problems after installing MikTex 2.8 to run under WIndows 7 on a new machine. I have used MIkTex 2.7 on different machines under XP and WIndows Vista for several years.

The problem is that the package installer can't find packages. For example I get the message:
MikTex Error: FIle `footmisc.sty' not found. (It is the same for other packages such as eepic.)
This happens under WinEdt 6.0 and under TexWorks (insstalled by MikTex).

I tried running the "Update Wizard" from Packages Manager. This gives the message "Unexpected condition" with the details:
MiKTeX Problem Report
Message: The update helper could not be found.
Data:
Source: Programs\MiKTeX\PackageManager\MFC\MpmView.cpp
Line: 1193
MiKTeX: 2.8
OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Edition, 64-bit (build 7600)
SystemAdmin: no
PowerUser: no
Root0: C:\Users\Bruce\AppData\Roaming\MiKTeX\2.8
Root1: C:\Users\Bruce\AppData\Local\MiKTeX\2.8
Root2: C:\Program Files (x86)\MikTex 2.8
Root3: C:\ProgramData\MiKTeX\2.8
UserInstall: C:\Program Files (x86)\MikTex 2.8
UserConfig: C:\Users\Bruce\AppData\Roaming\MiKTeX\2.8
UserData: C:\Users\Bruce\AppData\Local\MiKTeX\2.8
CommonInstall: C:\Program Files (x86)\MikTex 2.8
CommonConfig: C:\ProgramData\MiKTeX\2.8
CommonData: C:\ProgramData\MiKTeX\2.8

I have tried uninstalling and installing MikTex a couple of times but this doesn't help.

Can anyone help? I having been trying to get this working for 2 days and I really need a functioning version of Tex for my work.

Thanks.
Bruce Allison