If you get the error message that the update service is not running, the first thing to check is that the service is on automatic. If it is, then go to your automatic updates settings, and turn them completely off. It's the "not recommended" setting, never check for updates. After you have set updates to this, go to the control panel and manually check for updates. It worked well for me; it checked for the updates, installed them, and afterwards I could set it to automatic updates and it worked. This was on a Windows 7 system.
Windows update service not running
Today I tried running windows update and ran into a problem saying that windows update service might not be running and i need to restart my computer but after many restart its still not running.
edit: sorry I forgot to include that info my first post
windows 7 64 bit upgrade from vista 64
Mcafee security center 1 year subcription
I dont shutdown my computer its 24/7 my last windows update install was 01/13/2010. The automatic update service is not in the services.msc
Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update
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Thanks all for the support! But I think its a corruption problem and as I am looking into windows 7 programs some of them are not working anymore. so i decided to put in the win 7 dvd and did another upgrade from win 7 itself and it worked now after 4 hours of reinstallation
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Anonymous
2012-09-09T16:31:31+00:00 mwadams9,
You are a star! It contravenes my usage of windows to turn off automatic updating, so I did not turn it off whilst trying to perform manual updates, especially when they were refusing to work. My PC refused to update stating that the service was not running, even though it was running in Task Manager. My PC had not had Windows updates for four months, and that made me very concerned as to its level of security and system reliability. I followed your simple instructions and the updates installed first time and the automatic updates now work perfectly. Thank you very very much for your philanthropy. Sir or Madam, I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to help others with no reward other than their genuine heart-felt appreciation.
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Anonymous
2012-08-22T17:58:58+00:00 @jerrygp & anyone else with a similar problem: To avoid confusion, please begin your own, new thread in the appropriate forum (if you need additional assistance). State your current IE version and full Windows version (e.g., WinXP SP3; WinXP 64-bit SP2; Vista SP2; Vista 64-bit SP2; Win7 32-bit; Win7 32-bit SP1; Win7 64-bit; Win7 64-bit SP1) in your first post. Thank you.
See...
HOW TO begin your own, new thread about your computer & your problem
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/Page/faq#faqGettingAnswers5
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Anonymous
2012-08-22T14:21:36+00:00 Microsoft was unable to come up with answers on why I couldn't update on Windows so we had to purchase their monthly plan for a year. It was unfortunate as we could afford it but had to get it if we wanted those updates. It's working with that now.