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
    2015-04-01T15:17:51+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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  2. Anonymous
    2015-04-01T10:03:05+00:00

    Brian,

    Did you ever get a solution to this? Im having the exact same issue on a new 2012 r2 virtual dc.

    -Greg

    I am facing this issue on a virtual Server 2012 R2 domain controller.  

    These are the symptoms:

      - after clicking Check for updates, the system goes to "Checking for updates" and stays there forever

      - in Task Manager, there are no applications running

      - performance monitor shows only 3% CPU utilization

      - if I try to stop the Windows Update service, it shows "stopping" forever

      - there is no anti-virus or anti-malware utility installed

    What I've tried:

      - all the stuff in this article including renaming the Catroot2 folder and erasing the SoftwareDistribution Folder

      - re-registered all DLL's associated with Windows Update

      - turned off Windows Firewall and disabled the service

      - uninstalled all Windows updates after 6/23/14

      - performed DISM.exe /online /Cleanup-image /ScanHealth which found no corruption  (normally, this thing will not even work when WU is broken)

      - executed WindowsUpdateDiagnostic.diagcab

    Nothing has helped.  Both of my Hyper-V 2012 servers are experiencing this same problem.

    Also, I am unable to uninstall update KB2975061.  When I highlight it, the "uninstall" button does not appear.  Probably not related.

    Does anybody have a suggestion that I have not already tried?  My tank is running empty.

    Ok, I just fixed the exact issue you were having on 2012R2 Server.   It appears to be a bug in the customer experience program code.    To verify if you have the same issue, download both Process Explorer and Process Monitor.    Run windows update to the point it hangs looking for updates forever with its progress bar constantly going.

    Using Process Explorer's targeting tool, find the PID of the explorer.exe instance that is doing the update.   Then run process monitor and filter to that PID.

    You will see repeated attempts to access a registry key that does not exist, over and over forever.   That key is at: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\SQMClient\Windows

    It is suppose to be a RegWord called CEIPEnable.   I just created mine and set it to 1, and boom.....suddenly no more hang.   I can install updates now.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-12-19T20:42:35+00:00

    Brian,

    Did you ever get a solution to this? Im having the exact same issue on a new 2012 r2 virtual dc.

    -Greg

    I am facing this issue on a virtual Server 2012 R2 domain controller.  

    These are the symptoms:

      - after clicking Check for updates, the system goes to "Checking for updates" and stays there forever

      - in Task Manager, there are no applications running

      - performance monitor shows only 3% CPU utilization

      - if I try to stop the Windows Update service, it shows "stopping" forever

      - there is no anti-virus or anti-malware utility installed

    What I've tried:

      - all the stuff in this article including renaming the Catroot2 folder and erasing the SoftwareDistribution Folder

      - re-registered all DLL's associated with Windows Update

      - turned off Windows Firewall and disabled the service

      - uninstalled all Windows updates after 6/23/14

      - performed DISM.exe /online /Cleanup-image /ScanHealth which found no corruption  (normally, this thing will not even work when WU is broken)

      - executed WindowsUpdateDiagnostic.diagcab

    Nothing has helped.  Both of my Hyper-V 2012 servers are experiencing this same problem.

    Also, I am unable to uninstall update KB2975061.  When I highlight it, the "uninstall" button does not appear.  Probably not related.

    Does anybody have a suggestion that I have not already tried?  My tank is running empty.

    Was this answer helpful?

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-11-12T19:22:42+00:00

    I am facing this issue on a virtual Server 2012 R2 domain controller.  

    These are the symptoms:

      - after clicking Check for updates, the system goes to "Checking for updates" and stays there forever

      - in Task Manager, there are no applications running

      - performance monitor shows only 3% CPU utilization

      - if I try to stop the Windows Update service, it shows "stopping" forever

      - there is no anti-virus or anti-malware utility installed

    What I've tried:

      - all the stuff in this article including renaming the Catroot2 folder and erasing the SoftwareDistribution Folder

      - re-registered all DLL's associated with Windows Update

      - turned off Windows Firewall and disabled the service

      - uninstalled all Windows updates after 6/23/14

      - performed DISM.exe /online /Cleanup-image /ScanHealth which found no corruption  (normally, this thing will not even work when WU is broken)

      - executed WindowsUpdateDiagnostic.diagcab

    Nothing has helped.  Both of my Hyper-V 2012 servers are experiencing this same problem.

    Also, I am unable to uninstall update KB2975061.  When I highlight it, the "uninstall" button does not appear.  Probably not related.

    Does anybody have a suggestion that I have not already tried?  My tank is running empty.

    Was this answer helpful?

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