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
    2016-08-14T15:25:25+00:00

    Hi,

    Those updates installed and I have restarted my computer.

    What should I do next/which updates should I install?

    Thank you for your help so far!

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-08-14T15:24:10+00:00

    Hi,

    ...downloading the updates from Microsoft.com,

    I select the language and click on Download, and it goes to the next page stating 'thank you for downloading' but doesn't actually download the file for me to run?....

    Some of my KB downloads from Microsoft failed in the same way, until I figured out some of them fail in Chrome and only succeed with Internet Explorer.

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-08-14T15:14:23+00:00

    Thanks! Just done that and it is now 'initialising installation'

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-08-14T15:10:18+00:00

    If installation of KB3172605 doesn't complete, stop the Windows Update service and try again. :)

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