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
    2016-08-25T18:24:14+00:00

    Greetings from the Great Country of TEXAS,

    I followed the instructions exactly as posted and below is my results:

    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

    "Access is denied"

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

    a) net start wuauserv

    "The required service has already been started."

    b) net start bits

    c) net start cryptsvc

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

    The BOLD entries within "quotes" was the system response.  Even when working as ADMIN for my system.  Checked WUD and it had crashed so did the "Retry" and it is running again without any results, yet!  Maybe time will tell the tale or tail?

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-08-19T19:49:07+00:00

    How long should we wait after doing all this?  Been waiting for half an hour and still no updates shown, just searching for updates.

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-08-19T06:34:01+00:00

    Select 'Never check for updates' and Restart

    1. Does your newly reinstalled Windows 7 have sp1? If not, see how to install sp1
    2. In Control Panel > Windows Update > Change Settings, have you checked "Never check for updates" and Restarted your system?

    As "ElderN" explained on 29 Jul 2016 when starting his Read this first thread, this "Never check for updates" setting « will immediately stop any kind of background update activity that might be stuck ». This is apparently the main cause of all the numerous cases of Windows Update stalling on Update Search.

    If that step doesn't suffice, please try the rest of the instructions from ElderN, Volume Z, relayed by DODougInAmbler etc that I tried to synthetize in How to unstick Windows 7 Update from infinite "Searching for updates..." on bottom of previous page (#19) of this thread.

    Versailles, Fri 19 Aug 2016 08:34:00 +0200

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-08-19T04:50:53+00:00

    I am having issues after getting a new hard drive and starting over in Windows 7. I am trying to reinstall all of my programs that I used previously, and it stalls in getting Windows Updates.

    In your Method 1 you tell me to right click on the command prompt and "Run as Administrator" which I have tried to do but cannot seem to get an option to do so. 

    I have a 64 bit Windows 7.

    PLEASE HELP!

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