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
    2016-12-06T13:25:37+00:00

    Finally after hours of searching, this finally worked for me and it was so easy in the end.

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3200747

    The first hotfix/patch (KB3020369) was already installed, so there was no action to take.  The second hotfix/patch installed without much effort and requested a restart.  Once the computer restarted, Windows Update worked perfectly.

    Landoix, many, many thanks for posting the answer

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-12-01T14:16:57+00:00

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-11-29T21:44:35+00:00

    Yesssssss!  I tried many fixes from the boards as well but this is the one that worked for my Win 7 re-install from CD without SP1.  I "upgraded" to Win 10 but was unimpressed so I thought to go back to my nice stable Win 7 Pro.  Then got hung up for days trying to get updates.  Thank you very much!

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-11-24T04:45:20+00:00

    Very helpful ... :-)  It is resolved my RSAT installation issue in windows 7.  I am started to face this issue when i have planned to update my window 7 to win 10 and then aborted it . I have not stopped only at this i forcibly Shutdown my laptop with power button  while it was cleaning up the aborted win 10 update.  Thank you very much !!!

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