Windows 7 Checking For Updates stuck forever

Anonymous
2011-05-31T17:23:58+00:00

original title: Windows 7 Checking For Updates stuck forever - I know this is answered, but the solutions don't work for me. Please see details!

I have installed a legit Windows 7 OS on my laptop. Its not an upgrade, it was a blank hard drive. WIndows 7 installed flawlessly, picked up all my drivers. The only problem is I am having problems with Windows 7 updates. When I choose Windows 7 update, it says "Checking for updates" and stays like that - forever. Even the next day. I did heavy heavy research, found out others are having the same problem. I tried all the fixes I could find, which are listed below:

  1. No Anti-virus programs installed yet - brand new Windows 7 ultimate installation
  2. There is no spyware - its a brand new clean install
  3. Firewall shut off
  4. Temp files, cookies, history cleared
  5. background intelligent transfer service set to automatic in services.msc
  6. software distribution folder renamed
  7. tried shutting off automatic updates and doing it manually
  8. Added windowsupdate to trust zone
  9. ran MicrosoftFixit50202 in normal and advanced mode

Even with my internet SHUT OFF (turned off modem) it still checks for updates and doesn't fail with "No internet connection available".

Please, please help. Anyone.

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
2011-06-08T21:01:42+00:00

Problem solved.

It was my internet connection!! I logged onto my neighbors via wireless unsecured (ssh... don't tell lol), and within 30 seconds, 77 updates came through!

It has to be something in my network.

Thanks for helping though!!

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261 additional answers

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-05-05T13:54:53+00:00

    simplix updates 

    reboot 

    Windows updates normal again

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-04-25T15:21:19+00:00

    Though your explanation is very clear, I already tried the KB articles.

    Nothing worked.

    For me, this was not a work around but a fix.  

    My problem had nothing to do with the Windows Update Agent from a clean installation of Windows 7 Prem 64 bit with SP1.

    Currently I am running my Windows 7 64-bit with no problems, and fully updated.  All due to turning off IPv6 on the NIC due to getting a new AC1900 router with IPv6 on as a standard.   

    As for people who "do not care about computers", they are not going to reinstall Windows.  They are most likely going to buy a Windows 10 machine rather than futz with Windows 7, no matter how much they liked it.

    Your trying to blame Microsoft for the Windows Update, stating the real fix is not to distribute the 7.6 version.  I am trying to let people know that it may not solely be their Windows software, as it was in my case.

    Thanks for your response.

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-04-24T18:59:11+00:00

    As someone already wrote before:

    Here is the solution (I posted this on another topic: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-update/new-windows-update-agent-767600320-causing-error/46b72f85-1fec-4445-877f-fc530510cba1?page=12 ):

    "yes, a newer Update Agent version helps. However this is only a nice workaround not a solution for people who don't care about computers and just want to reinstall Windows 7 as they did years before (...without having to do a research on the internet).

    The problematic Windows Update Agent 7.6.7600.320 gets installed automatically as you connect your computer to the internet for the first time or open Windows update for the first time. The only real fix would be if Microsoft wouldn't distribute Windows Update Agent 7.6.7600.320 anymore but a newer release (which isn't buggy).

    A colleague of mine had the same issue with his notebook. He did a clean Windows 7 SP1 DVD media installation and afterwards he tried to search for updates. Emphasizing "tried". He had the luck that I was sitting next to him and could help him quickly (by manually downloading March 2016 update client and installing it). Otherwise he probably would have dropped the Windows 7 installation and would have installed Windows 10.......... and in my eyes this is the situation Microsoft aims at!"

    Hiere is the KB article for March 2016 update client. Download the right version and copy it via a flash drive to the new installed PC:

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3138612

    Good luck!

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-04-24T11:57:32+00:00

    Windows 7 64 bit

    Nothing worked until....

    I was banging my head trying to figure out why none of the solutions actually solved my problem.  no matter what I did, I still got nothing when trying to do Windows updates.

    Then it hit me.  

    I had recently bought a new wireless router.  AC1900 to be exact.   It automatically includes IPv6 as an enabled standard.  Windows 7 also enables IPv6 as a standard.  Windows updates tries to use IPv6 when going out to get updates.  IPv6 is NOT used significantly enough yet.

    Solution:

    I went into the network card settings and unchecked IPv6.  Rebooted my clean installation of Windows 7, then went to Windows Updates.   It took about 45 minutes to search for the 221 updates, but it finally showed up, rather than sitting at "checking for Updates" for hours on end. 

    So, disable the IPv6 on your NIC, reboot, and give a sigh of relief that your not actually crazy.

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