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

Anonymous
2012-01-13T20:52:46+00:00

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

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

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Anonymous
2012-02-13T16:39:04+00:00

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

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-06-06T21:06:54+00:00

    This is the option I'm using to try and solve a Win7 64 bit Home Premium edition with issues on the Windows Update.

    Using the suggestion above I select a small update and that installs (eventually) but then selecting a second update to install seems to break the whole thing.

    At the moment, I have 150 updates waiting to be installed so I don't really want to go through the above process 150 times.

    I have a few questions.

    When I installed my one update, it then wanted to 'Checking for updates..." again and this takes a very long time.

    If my updates are already in the SoftwareDistribution downloads folder, it there a way to not check for new updates - just the install the ones that are there?

    I can see 163 items in the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download folder.

    Are these the updates ready to be installed?

    Any help appreciated.

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-06-06T18:27:45+00:00

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-06-06T17:11:12+00:00

    thanks.

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-06-06T17:10:37+00:00

    Well that's not very helpful. Guess what? It's going on for me and this is the only thread talking about it. So if you have some helpful information then share it. Otherwise, why are you reading threads that are 4 years old? And why do you care?

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