Problem Windows update Problems

Hi guys
hope someone can help, every month when windows push through a batch of updates they seem to send me alot that are not Applicable to my operating system? I have been updating them manually every month to try and manage the problem but it takes a good few hours to do this every time. When I down load the update that are no good for my pc I always get the ''Failure Configuring Windows update'' loop on restart. Is there a setting somewhere that has to be altered to help stop these unnecessary updates being pushed through by windows every month? I know that they are not applicable because I have to go to Microsofts website to try and down load the failed update and are then told they are not applicable.
I use a windows 7 64bit home software.

Thanks for looking