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
    2015-09-09T00:10:57+00:00

    I had this same problem with Windows 10 Windows Update. I tried all the proposed solutions from MS but nothing worked, as with most users comments I found regarding this issue. As I was getting more desperate, I even found a YouTube site that suggested a solution. And what happened, you wonder. Well that site gave me the solution and it was easy and simple to perform. There is the YouTube video, plus the four steps listed in the text that is on the site. Check it out here:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tn55RYEXzbs

    Here are the four steps from the site:

    Published on Sep 3, 2015

    Fix "Service Registration is missing or Corrupt" error in by these four steps

    Restart and Set to "Automatic" the following services

    1- Background Intelligent Transfery System

    2- Com+ Event System

    3- Remote Procedure Call

    4- Remote Procedure Call Locator

    Hope this works for you as it did for me.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-08-24T16:46:04+00:00

    I know this is a LONG time ago, but this does not work for me. Recently reinstalled windows 7 and this problem happens after SP1. 

    The main problem I have is that when I type in the first 2 commands from method 2, the cmd promt ouputs "Access Denied". 

    Any help?

    P.S. This on of many times I've installed win7, but only the first this problem has happened to me!!!

    I got this too, and in the end manually renamed the folder in question via windows explorer.

    I'm still having other problems but I got past that at least!

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-08-23T10:16:49+00:00

    I know this is a LONG time ago, but this does not work for me. Recently reinstalled windows 7 and this problem happens after SP1. 

    The main problem I have is that when I type in the first 2 commands from method 2, the cmd promt ouputs "Access Denied". 

    Any help?

    P.S. This on of many times I've installed win7, but only the first this problem has happened to me!!!

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-08-15T13:16:26+00:00

    Thank you very much. I just fresh installed windows 7 to upgrade for the free windows 10 key (and do a fresh install)

    My issue was windows update was hanging on checking for updates. While this was happening there was little to no data received when network activity was monitored using the network adaptor properties. I tried your solution (after various seemingly more involved solutions). It worked great; no errors and started working immediately upon completion.

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