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

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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

2016-08-05T22:43:40+00:00
Success!

Before I could launch the next KB update, the running Windows Update succeeded! After about 20 minutes it reported "16 important updates available". It started to download them and, wonder of wonders, the "Download" progress bar actually showed 48.7MB total and followed the progress from 0 to 100%. I have seen only "download stuck at 0%" for over a year until just now.

It is now installing the updates, may take another half hour. Then I will follow up to make sure I have the individual KB updates you mention.

Update, after about 40 minutes: 6 updates succeeded, 4 updates failed. A very good start. I will reboot and followup the failures, but at least Windows Update is working again.

Some thoughts:
1. How to summarize the onset and fix of this problem. I'm guessing I missed some critical updates and then they were installed in the wrong sequence when I caught up? Is the only fix to find and manually install the correct sequence of critical KB updates? I will try to summarize, if someone has not already done so.
2. Could this problem be relevant only to those who don't get automatic updates? I have my girlfriend's Win 7 PC set for auto updates, and there has never been a problem. I myself have always chosen "Check for updates but let me choose". The downside of this is that any notice of "updates available" seems to come and go in the night, and I only find out about updates when I manually check for them, about once/week.
3. Could not some MicroSoft highly paid employee or other MS guru have described this problem and fix on one page? I have spent this week on the problem, not to mention hours and days on previous failed Windows Updates over the last two years. I can't count the wasted hours of googling, where one MS expert after another demanded useless info and offered tedious and useless diagnostic tools.
I had almost given up hope on this excellent Win 7 machine, since it would be too risky to use if there was no way to get reliable Windows Updates.

VZ, again I am grateful for your persistent and patient help.
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Anonymous

2016-08-05T23:00:43+00:00

That's great to hear. It can be said with certainty you didn't do anything to cause this. Microsoft has started in August 2015 issuing updates the default update clients cannot handle properly. The most recent one of these is KB3168965, part of patch day July. Now having windows update available again, make sure to install KB3172605. Without it, the issue is likely to return with patch day August. It has continued returning each month since at least February. Update Client June 2016, included in KB3172605, is designed to address the underlying issue.

Regards, VZ
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Anonymous

2016-08-06T01:54:33+00:00
Total Success!

After procuring and installing the correct version of KB3172605, I relaunched Windows Update, and it succeeded in all Important and Optional updates.

I repeated Check for Updates and got the satisfying message "Windows is up to date".

Note again that I had previously tried manual install of that KB with apparently a wrong version for my Win 7 x64, and the resulting error was "Not applicable to this machine".

I add to my previous 3 thoughts:
1. If you get manual WU install error "Not applicable to this machine" it means you selected the wrong version for a given KB update. Go back to MS Support and find the right one.
2. The often-suggested remedy for stuck Windows Updates was to delete the contents of C:\Windows\Software Distribution. Though this apparently helped me in early 2016, I question whether it is necessary or advisable.
And once again I am so grateful to Volume Z.
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Anonymous

2016-08-07T06:17:58+00:00

Total Success!

After procuring and installing the correct version of KB3172605, I relaunched Windows Update, and it succeeded in all Important and Optional updates.

And once again I am so grateful to Volume Z.

Seriously Doug. Who writes like that: procuring in this context? Perhaps you 're a microsoft employee, learned a new word but don't know how to use it? Maybe your name is Doug William-Thorpe the third? The suggestions above didn't work for me btw. Looks like I'll need to do a fresh re-install of Win 7.
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