Windows Update Never Stops Looking for Updates.

Anonymous

The other morning after I brought my computer out of hibernation, I noticed that it had not automatically Checked for Updates like it usually does. So I clicked Check for Updates on the Windows Update panel and it never stopped looking for updates. It just kept looking. So I just ignored it and did a disk defrag and a clean disk as usual. Late that night after I finished my usual computer stuff, it was still looking for updates. So I restarted the computer and found that that had stopped it Checking for Updates.

The next morning, it was the same situation all over aagain: No automatic Check for Updates when I brought it out of hibernation and then endless searching after I clicked on Check for Updates. How can I stop this endless searching without restarting the computer and go back to having my computer behave the way it used to do?

Greg

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

Hi Greg,

Do you get any error message?

This problem may occur if one or more of the following conditions are true:

a. The Windows Update database is corrupted.

b. A required system file is registered incorrectly.

c. The Component Based Servicing (CBS) manifest is corrupted.

Here are few troubleshooting methods you may try in order to fix the issue.

Method 1: Reset Windows update components from the following link and check.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058

Important: Back up the registry

Method 2: Restart the Windows Update services.

a. Click in Start and in Start search box type CMD.

b. In the list Right click on CMD and click Run as Administrator.

Type the following commands, and press Enter after each command:

o net stop cryptsvc

o md %systemroot%\system32\catroot2.old

o xcopy %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 %systemroot%\system32\catroot2.old /s

o Net stop wuauserv

o cd %systemroot%

o Ren SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old

o Net start wuauserv

Try to install the updates and check.

Method 3: Unable to install updates in Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2

**http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2509997**

Important: While performing chkdsk on the hard drive if any bad sectors are found on the hard drive when chkdsk tries to repair that sector if any data available on that might be lost.

For more information, refer to the articles.

**Troubleshoot problems with installing updates******

**"Windows Update Cannot Check For Updates" error message when you try to install updates**

Do let us know about the results. We will be happy to assist you further.

0 comments

50 additional answers

Anonymous

2016-01-28T15:55:51+00:00

You guys, I was struggling as well with the new installation of Windows 7 PC's not able to obtain updates. I came across another article detailing this issue and possible steps to resolve it and step 2 had the solution for me! https://blog.krissmilne.tech/windows/windows-7/windows-7-stuck-on-checking-for-updates Try downloading manually the latest version of Windows Update Client released this past December, 2015. After you install it, reboot your PC('s) and try getting the updates again. For me it started working right away as the little notification icon popped up in the task bar to the right and started downloading the updates fro me. Worked like a charm on both of my Windows PC's in question.

Hope this helps you all!
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2016-01-04T22:30:20+00:00

you need to do a net stop wuauserv because it is using the files in the SoftwareDistribution folder and it won't let you rename folders with files that are in use.

And I have the same problem as you, fresh install and not updating...
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Deleted

This answer has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The answer was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.

Comments have been turned off. Learn more
Anonymous

2015-09-16T03:01:41+00:00

see if you can enable admin account in CMD and the reboot in to admin account

This is the instruction for windows 7 & 8

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/enable-the-hidden-administrator-account-on-windows-vista/

In admin create a new account for yourself and then you can import the files there and see if you can update from the admin account. It sounds like you user profile may be damaged. If you can't enable admin account from your account, you might have bigger troubles.
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments