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.

0 comments No comments
Answer accepted by question author
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

Was this answer helpful?

700+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments No comments

237 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
  1. Anonymous
    2016-05-19T16:16:46+00:00

    I am in the same boat very frustrating for sure looking for a fix as well not sure i need them updates anyway after factory recovery working pretty good.Anyway good luck to you !!!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2016-05-17T19:58:51+00:00

    Cite:

    • Simplifying updates for Windows 7... [1]

    <QP>

    ...we’re making available a new convenience rollup for Windows 7 SP1 [which] contains all the security and non-security fixes released since the release of Windows 7 SP1 that are suitable for general distribution, up through April 2016.

    Install this one update, and then you only need new updates released after April 2016.

    </QP>https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/windowsitpro/2016/05/17/simplifying-updates-for-windows-7-and-8-1/

    • Convenience rollup update for Windows 7 SP1...

    <QP>

    This rollup package includes almost all the updates that were released after the release of SP1 for Windows 7...through April 2016.

    </QP>

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3125574

    ================================================

    [1] AKA "How to get a Win7 SP1 computer fully-patched after doing a

    post-Win10 upgrade recovery without putting additional strain on the update

    servers or your data limits"

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  3. Anonymous
    2016-05-16T22:04:07+00:00

    Try Linux

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  4. Anonymous
    2016-05-14T20:53:16+00:00

    Have  you been around this forum lately?

    https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-performance/desktop-running-windows-7-having-problem-finding/f3ff3372-a359-4d8a-83a4-90e16ca9ae1c

    https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-desktop/windows-update-agent-767600320/cd28d8d9-71b0-4e75-8527-474dd876b5e4

    https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-performance/windows-updates/c3712b8f-bd86-4eb2-a64c-04dedc48c6f9

    https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-winapps/windows-update-windows-7-ultimate-will-not/8bc80fd2-d21d-4972-bb26-b04c8ec9b304

    https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-update/windows-7-home-premium-refuses-to-update-after/8618a41e-4b33-4b51-904a-611bec914f45

    https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-update/windows-7-and-msse-update-take-a-long-time/8dfc047e-ea2c-4622-8402-e81db4af7fac

    https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-update/windows-update-doesnt-work/cb446e5b-52a4-4012-9301-0ef79c330595

    https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_install/why-isnt-windows-downloading-important-updates/9391e869-f015-461e-9217-a3ab62bcd600

    https://answers.microsoft.com/de-de/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_install/windows-7-64-bit-updates/3be09dc6-e487-4362-bb90-ebc3f1277713

    https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_install/why-microsoft-slowing-down-maliciously-windows/21912c39-2cbe-4ebe-8170-86672e5e437c

    https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-update/following-a-clean-install-windows-update-remains/ff3c442e-79a6-40d3-ac35-29e130cebef1

    https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-update/windows-7-updates-not-downloading/056473b4-af4b-429b-9d3a-ef797761b794

    https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-update/windows-7-sp1-windows-update-failed-to-check-for/bcf25ed9-c2ce-42da-8262-b31e54a4b1c3

    https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-update/win-7-update-downloads-running-weekly-now/4065f397-f8a5-4ef4-b7d8-630f3fb8fcd0

    https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-update/my-pc-was-running-100-cpu-uninstalled-and/af49a580-4f54-481c-8dec-b0536198bc5c

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments