Windows Update hangs on "checking for updates". Haven't been able to install updates since Oct. 2011

Anonymous

Hey there everyone,

I'm having an issue with Windows Update on my Windows 7 64-bit computer. My last most recent update check was on 10/3/2011 and my last actual update was on 9/29/2011. What is basically happening is that Windows is telling me that I need to check for updates. I click on Check for updates, and it basically acts like it is checking for updates, but never moves beyond that. I can leave it checking for hours, and nothing will happen. It won't get me to the screen where I can actually select updates, nor does Windows even acknowledge that I checked for updates.

I've already tried using the Windows Update Fix tool, but there was no success with that at all. I thought that maybe it was my firewall or internet settings, and it's not that either. Does anyone have any suggestions. Thanks!

Peter

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

Hi,

Try the following methods

Method 1:

1. Click Start

2. Type ‘cmd’ in the search bar.

3. Right click Command prompt and choose “Run as Administrator”

4. At the command prompt, type the following, commands and then press ENTER after each command:

a. net stop wuauserv

b. net stop bits

c. net stop cryptsvc

Please do not close the Command Prompt window.

Method 2: ****Rename folders pertaining to Windows Update.

At the command prompt, type the following commands, and then press Enter after each command:

a) ren %systemroot%\System32\Catroot2 Catroot2.old

b) ren %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old

At the command prompt, type the following, commands and then press ENTER after each command:

a) net start wuauserv

b) net start bits

c) net start cryptsvc

Close the Command Prompt window and check the issue if issue reoccurs

0 comments

237 additional answers

Anonymous

2016-05-14T20:20:06+00:00

@JMarshall only! =>

Windows 7 SP1 and above hangs on checking for updates...

Not on any of my computers or my clients' computers.

PS: Please don't feed the trolls.
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2016-05-14T00:20:40+00:00

What are you taking about??????? This thread is for Windows 7 update problems. Windows 7 SP1 and above hangs on checking for updates. No errors. Just keeps checking for updates and never does. I appreciate your help but this has nothing to do with IE9 or ie11. As to overhead I mean excess programs. Sometimes its just quicker to do a clean install then to try and uninstall programs when trying to speed your system up.

Thanks

Jess
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2016-05-13T18:44:44+00:00

You've had problems getting IE9 installed in the past. Is IE11 currently installed or...?

Get rid of what overhead?
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2016-05-13T02:34:07+00:00

I don't need any help with the problem. I resolved my issues with the help of the community. Not Microsoft.

I was just pointing out that this is a wide spread problem that Microsoft doesn't appear to be fixing. It appears that others have found ways to work around the issue. I mentioned sp1 as the break point. It doesn't matter if

you install it from SP-1 as a clean install or upgrade it to sp1. I have done both. Several times on several different computers. The updater breaks as soon as SP1 is installed. No I don't have a Dell or HP or any brand name computer although I did test it on a Toshiba laptop with the same results. As to problems I had that lead to my reloading SP1 there were none. Peroidically I reload my system to get rid of overhead. Windows 10 had nothing to do with the computers I was testing Windows 7 on and IE11 is currently installed on my windows 7 Home Theater PC. I know from experience that this problem was not always there as I had reloaded Windows 7 before without any issues.

Thanks for your assistance

Jess
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments