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.

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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

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237 additional answers

Anonymous

2016-07-22T22:41:43+00:00

Vista????? Who is talking about Vista. My statement was in reference to windows 7. I made a mistake and said sp2. will correct that.

Jess

...it can be readily duplicated after an upgrade to service pack 2 or from a fresh install of service pack 2. It happens shortly after SP2. I still say its microsofts way of forcing users into Windows 10...

This four-plus year old thread concerned Windows 7. You will find support for Windows Vista in these forums => http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_vista

Vista???????
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Anonymous

2016-07-22T21:34:57+00:00

...it can be readily duplicated after an upgrade to service pack 2 or from a fresh install of service pack 2. It happens shortly after SP2. I still say its microsofts way of forcing users into Windows 10...

This four-plus year old thread concerned Windows 7. You will find support for Windows Vista in these forums => http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_vista
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Anonymous

2016-07-22T20:51:56+00:00

Most of the users have tried to get Microsoft to fix it. NO LUCK. Microsoft is the one that broke it as is evident by the number of users who have this problem and the fact that it can be readily duplicated after an upgrade to service pack 1 or from a fresh install of service pack 1. It happens shortly after SP1. I still say its microsofts way of forcing users into Windows 10. Most of the fixes posted have come from other users and not from Microsoft.

Jess
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Anonymous

2016-07-22T19:03:28+00:00

let microsoft tech fix it could be alot of things like a windows update agent needs to be updated or a variety of things
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