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
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

237 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2016-08-05T19:43:09+00:00

    Nope, I already had prerequisite KB3020369 installed.

    Here is a list of KB updates I installed today or previously from MS Download Center. Note that most of them failed or hung during "Searching for updates" but on 3rd or 4th try succeeded, only with disappointing results "already installed" or "not applicable".

    KB 3020369: “already installed”, after several failed attempts to install

    KB 3102810: “already installed”, after several failed attempts to install

    KB 3138612: “not applicable to this computer” [=hp pavilion, Win 7, x64]

    KB 3145739: “already installed”, after several failed attempts to install. Note download failed in Chrome, succeeds only in IE

    KB 3161608: apparently deprecated as “buggy”, download page no longer exists, replaced by 3172605 and 3172614

    And I noticed on another thread from June 2016 that this KB3161608 magically fixed problems that are identical to mine.

    KB 3161664: not tried

    KB 3172605: “not applicable to this computer” [=hp pavilion, Win 7, x64]

    KB 3172614: apparently only for Win 8, didn't try

    Considering that some of those updates may have "taken" I've relaunched "Check for updates", where it is currently hung at "Checking.." as usual, but I will let it run some hours or maybe a day. Because I'm totally stumped for now.

    The expected services are running: Windows Update, BITS, Computer Browser

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2016-08-05T18:45:14+00:00

    KB3172605 requires KB3020369 installed. :)

    https://support.microsoft.com/kb/3020369

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2016-08-05T15:59:41+00:00

    I know how to fix this. Set automatic updates to "Never check for updates", restart Windows, then try installing again. :)

    This also fails. It does at least get past "Searching for updates.." but fails with error "The update is not applicable to your computer". I had tried this previously.

    I had tried setting Updates to "Never check for updates" and rebooting, at least 4 times before this, forgot to mention this attempt along with my others.

    However, Volume Z's tip gives me hope that some KB update may be installable to fix this, if I only knew which one.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2016-08-05T15:06:51+00:00

    I know how to fix this. Set automatic updates to "Never check for updates", restart Windows, then try installing again. :)

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments