Windows Update hangs on "checking for updates". Haven't been able to install updates since Oct. 2011

In Reply to JamesKRM's reply, March 3, 2012 to Vinod Archak's post February 12, 2012:

Over the last , say 10 or more years, I've sort have become an self-taught computer repairman (uncertified). It has been a continuous learning experience. I've taken numerous courses at various colleges in order to obtain the most basic credential from CompTIA and beyond. Unfortunately, I have backed out  due to logistical, financial, or other reason. In the last few years, this problem of a fresh install and updating Windows 7 on a re-furbished computer, has become a drudgery not looked forward to. As JamesKRM says: "does not leave a good impression" (on Microsoft). It seems Microsoft has sabotaged Windows 7, in order to force people to purchase Windows 10. It would be nice to see Microsoft make good and stop playing games and bring forth a solid solution to all these problems once and for all. I've tried Window 10, and did not like it. But now, Windows 7 seems  to be going the way of XP, being phased out. Very Unfortunate.

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

i couldn't get past the first method because for all 3 net stop commands i got access denied... my machine is windows 8 and the windows update doesn't update. it says last run update was never and when i try running it, the bar is just stuck at the same place for hours

FariaKhandaker, that sequence of "net" commands is unnecessary. Its only purpose is to aid in deleting the Software Download cache of previous and current Windows updates on your PC. Since your last update is reported as "never" this indicates the cache was already deleted. No harm done (the cache gets rebuilt automatically) but rarely helps the problem.

The solution that helped most of us (for Win 7 in this topic, though you have Win 8) was to identify which KB # update is missing, and then to manually download that one (or 2 or 3 maybe). In earlier posts here, poster Volume Z identified the important KB update numbers.

Also in some cases earlier Win 7 users found that giving the stuck Win Update many hours or even a day to complete finally worked, though not for me.

Thank you