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.

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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
    2015-08-02T17:37:00+00:00

    THIS IS *FALSE* INFORMATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! EVEN IF YOU RUN AS ADMINISTRATOR, IT *ALWAYS* GIVES AN 'ACCESS IS DENIED' ERROR MESSAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND QUIT POSTING THE SAME FALSE REPLIES TWICE!!!!!!!!! I SEE A **** TON OF THESE GENERIC FALSE INFORMATION POSTS AND *MOST* ARE POSTED *TWICE*!!!!!!!!!!! *DOES NOT* WORK EVEN ON A BRAND NEW INSTALL OF WINDOWS 7!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-06-09T16:27:56+00:00

    Ian

    Yes it can be if you have a windows installation disk. The point, however, is that users who have a branded computer usually do not have a disk. To know how to advise you need to know  the computer make and model. This why I asked my question.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-06-09T14:31:47+00:00

    I've found the easiest way is to use the windows installation disk and click on repair got to the advanced settings and choose repair, logoff and then back on again, problem resolved. might even work if you don't use the repair option in the advanced option

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-04-01T15:17:51+00:00

    Any solutions found for this issue?  My Server 2012 R2 DC seems to have had Windows Update corrupted at some point after updates installed on 2/19/15 and 2/24/15.  I have completed all steps found in all of these suggestions, but when I go to check for updates again, it checks them and never stops.  Then when I try to stop it, it gets hung on Stopping.

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