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

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
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

Was this answer helpful?

700+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

237 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. 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

  2. Anonymous
    2016-07-16T00:52:12+00:00

    This was already outlined further above in the thread. No need to repeat it. It either works or it doesn't. For some of us, it doesn't.  This was a 'refurb' laptop with a fresh install of Windows 7 Pro.  It has hung on checking for updates for almost 12 hours now.  Isn't there a manual download we can do for a full service pack update so we can get around what appears to be hundreds of updates that will never finish downloading?

    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
    2016-07-07T13:33:09+00:00

    Gday! If you leave it checking for updates - it WILL eventually start updating... it just takes a long time. My record is just over ONE WEEK.

    In a round-about way, the cause is some buggy updates will all "fight" over the one file.

     Instead you will need to update them manually.

    1/ download+ install Windows 7 service pack 1 as you probably aren't on that yet

     [start] "winver" [enter]  <-  do this to check your version first

    2/ update to the latest version of windows update (after getting SP1!!!).

    Now we bust the mail culprits who fight over Win32k.sys : KB3020369 and 3161647.

    3/ Directly-download last year's buggy update king: KB3020369 - and follow below:

     On reboot your computer WILL lockup at "installing updates 3/3"

     - Microsoft considers this normal - 

     Yes, you read right my dear victim, just ignore the meltdown and press:

      [CTRL] + [ALT] + [DELETE] ... and then log-in like normal, then continue to step 4:

    4/ Unfortunately you also can't get KB3161647 by itself, so you will need to shovel-pack your PC with KB3161608 which includes it. Isn't this fun :-)

     Go ahead and install that, and you are done. It's worth noting that there are a couple other files that cause delays, but these will solve 80% of the rediculous "my computer is doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING" searches.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments