Windows update service not running

Anonymous
2010-01-26T07:06:52+00:00

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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2012-06-25T13:42:20+00:00

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.

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Anonymous
2010-01-27T04:59:11+00:00

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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  1. Anonymous
    2014-12-06T19:24:27+00:00

    Thank you, annecurrier.  This worked perfectly!  Windows 7, SP1, 64 bit.  Thanks again!

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-08-27T19:55:29+00:00

    Fact: Norton (and McAfee) applications are notorious for not unpgrading (or uninstalling) cleanly. The "leftovers" may be your troublemaker here.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-08-27T18:35:14+00:00

    mwadams9, you're brilliant!!! Thank you!! I had this problem, and it was also preventing me from downloading an updated browser. So, I followed your suggestion, and IT WORKED! I'm now updated and getting the updates from Windows. And it was not very difficult to do

    I wish I could agree but I can't. I tried emptying the SoftwareDistribution folder. It took numerous attempts but I was finally able to delete the .txt while in Safe Mode. But I'm now unable to even check for updates. In the past, I woud receive the error message but now it won't even check.

    Here's my scenario: Vista SP2, x64, Norton 360 v21.5.0.19. I haven't been able to update since 12/21/2013.

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