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
    2011-06-05T05:40:20+00:00
    1. Yes, I installed [Win7 SP1] 2) manually...on 6/2/2011.
    2. Today [the computer] was shut down incorrectly once (by accident, my son). And I was never ever prompted to install an update.
    3. No updates are offered. It constantly says "Checking for updates" and never quits. I let it go an entire 24 hours and it still was "Checking for updates".
    4. I uninstalled MSE...So currently, no A/V programs running.

    I see.

    QUESTIONS:

    1. Repost: When (exact date/time, preferably) did you do the last "brand new clean install" of Win7?
    2. Repost: When (exact date/time, preferably) did you install MSE after doing the last "brand new clean install" of Win7? (Yes, I know MSE is no longer installed.)
    3. Are ANY of the following updates listed in View installed updates (not Update History)?

        • KB947821, KB976902, KB2534366, KB2454826, KB2533552, and/or KB2529073

    1. Who else uses this computer, besides your son & yourself?
    2. Does everyone have his/her own password-protected user profile and is yours the only one with Administrative privileges?

    ACTIONS:

    1. Open Internet Explorer (32-bit only) to http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058 [ignore any DOES NOT APPLY warnings] & run the Fix It in AGGRESSIVE mode again.
    2. Reboot one last time & test.

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-06-08T21:50:40+00:00

    OK.....

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-08-21T16:42:59+00:00

    Yeah, MSE kinda sucks. A LOT. Won't block any malware.

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-09-04T16:03:17+00:00

    I just reinstalled my Dell Workstation from scratch (from DVD) with windows 7 Pro and had the same issue that the "checking for updates" window stucks forever (i didn't wait a week).

    I ran MS Fixit, same, stuck on "checking for updates" in this app.

    Thought by myself, how am i going to give WinUpdate a kick-for-the-but ? Well, i rembered that while installing a newer version of Internet Explorer in the past automatically initiated the install of some updates. The install of Windows 7 Pro results to a Internet explorer version 8 if i remember well, so i searched on the MS website to manually install the latest version of Internet Exporer: 11. (Sept 2015). This install initiated the forced install of some updates within the IE installer. After succesfull install of IE 11, a reboot, windows is checking for updates again! (i am curious 150 updates or so after a clean install ?)

    Anyway, system running again. Next step: upgrade to windows 10...

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