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
    2015-11-25T20:31:07+00:00

    Hi Jan,

    Yes, in both cases the first thing I did was to upgrade the IE, then reboot, then the two KBs and reboot... and then just wait... for nearly 3 hours!! Then they started updating, but only on a reboot - the "Check for updates" routine never completed.

    Both PCs were clean builds on new hard drives, both Windows 7 x64 with SP1 installed from genuine Microsoft Disks, one Home version and one Pro version.

    The Pro installation installed 197 updates, and the Home version is currently on 141 of 174 (it's a slower machine)

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-11-25T20:48:19+00:00

    Windows 7 x64 with SP1 - Pro on one PC and Home on the other - both using genuine Microsoft disks onto new hard drives.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-11-25T20:51:06+00:00

    Yes, eventually that happened - nearly 3 hours later - and there were 197 updates on the Pro installation, but just 2 on the Home, then 9 after the reboot, then 174 after that reboot.

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-11-25T21:10:41+00:00

    Do you (or any other reader) agree with me that this problem occurs since the introduction of windows 10? Call me stupid; but maybe this problem has to do with a decreased availability of the microsoft update servers for windows 7 ? Maybe they use a part of the update server availability exclusive for windows 10 now ? The other reason i think this, because in some cases changing to another internet connection (read: ip) does the trick. Now it looks more as a good luck if win update gets a "connection" to the update servers of microsoft. The more i think about it, the more i think it's not a local problem at all. The IE 11 install "solution" i suggested, with its FORCED AND SUCCESFULL INSTALL OF SOME UPDATES seems to level up the chance to windows update function again. From zero to something. Sorry that it does not provide THE solution for you. But IF it is a availability problem of the MS update servers, there wil not be any local solution. 

    (Is anybody from Microsoft reading this?)

    Succes!

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