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.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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!!

Was this answer helpful?

200+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

261 additional answers

Sort by: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2016-11-01T23:44:38+00:00

    Hi,

    Thank you for this. It was a perfect solution for me. The key was item (1).  I had to switch off updates to "Never Update" in order to install (2). With any other setting, even (2) got stuck on "Checking for Installed Updates" and never completed. Once I switched to "Never Update", 2, 3 and 4 installed perfectly. Rebooted after doing everything, and I soon found 240 updates and about 50 optional ones.

    Thank you so much !!

    ....forgot to say..... You said you'd only tried 64 bit. My problem was with an ancient laptop, with x86 Win7 + SP1 so your solution would seem to work across the board

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2016-11-05T14:42:03+00:00

    I had this exact same problem since July 2015.

    Finally managed to solve it.

    1. Run disk cleanup in safe boot mode.
    2. Make sure Windows update cleanup is checked.
    3. Run the cleanup.
    4. Reboot into normal mode.
    5. Try running Windows Update ( It still took around 15 - 20 mins to find updates so be patient but it did eventually work)
    6. Install the essential updates as instructed.
    7. Reboot as instructed.
    8. Run Windows Update again and this time it should only take maybe 5 mins to find updates. (only optional updates will be found if all essential updates have been installed at step 5.)

    Hope this works for you.

    Cheers.

    EDIT - This solution is for Windows 7 but may be applicable to Vista and Windows 8. This solution worked for me on 2 different PC's.

    Thank you, hamiltonaccie.  This worked beautifully!!!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Deleted

    This answer has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The answer was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.

    Comments have been turned off. Learn more

  4. Anonymous
    2016-11-08T04:18:24+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...........

    [Solved] Windows 7 SP1 Windows Update stuck checking for updates

    Manually install the following updates in order. First download appropriate version of update for your windows (x86 or x64), Reboot the system and immediate start installing after reboot otherwise it may again stuck on checking updates during installation. If stuck for more than 2-3 minutes, cancel the installation, reboot the system and try again.  

    KB3020369 - Reboot

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3020369

    KB3172605- Reboot

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3172605

    Check for update now, your problem must be gone.  If you are installing fresh windows 7 with SP1, it will be better to disable internet connection first and install these two update manually, restart the system and then try to check for updates.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments