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

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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.

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50 additional answers

Anonymous

2016-05-12T18:40:17+00:00

Option Two worked! I've been trying for weeks to fix this issue, and your solution worked!

Many thanks!
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Anonymous

2016-05-18T02:41:40+00:00

As a person who has worked as a computer tech for a number of years, I can confirm that fixing windows update issues is a common occurrence and not always easy to do. I would recommend, though, that the very first thing you try is to check the computer for infections. I know that sounds cliche, but it's also often times the cause of the problem. There are not many programs out there that will fix windows update, but I have found the combination of combofix and adw is often times a potent cure (if you choose to use them, though, make sure you get them from a reliable source. cnet, bleepingcomputer). Now mind you, both of these programs are free and there is no guarantee or safety net if you choose to use them. There is no customer service. There is no one to call if things go south. It's format reload time on your own dime. Nonetheless, these two programs fix things that no other programs out there will fix. If you aren't computer savvy, find a friend that is and ask them for help with using these programs. Make sure you back up your valuable data before using them. As a matter of fact, make sure you ALWAYS have your data backed up.
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Anonymous

2016-07-02T09:01:01+00:00

Hello,

Thank you for your response.

I appreciate your time.

You may delete "catroot2.old" folder.

If issue still persists, I would suggest you to follow these steps and check.

a. Click Start, type cmd in start search box, right click cmd in search results and click run as administrator.

b. In the command prompt, copy and paste the commands (all at once) –

net stop wuauserv

net stop cryptSvc

net stop bits

net stop msiserver

ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old

ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old

net start wuauserv

net start cryptSvc

net start bits

net start msiserver

pause

c. Wait for the process to complete.

d. Close command prompt, go to Windows update and check.

I hope this helps.

Thank you
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Anonymous

2016-07-25T20:03:01+00:00

Tried all these remedies Sharief, to no avail. By the way, I am running Windows Vista Home Premium 32 bit with Service Pack 2 on a Toshiba Satellite laptop. You said: " A required system file is registered incorrectly"; how does one remedy this? I even did a system restore as far back as the system would let me, but this didn't work either. Microsoft "Fix-Its" never worked even when it fixed all of the category errors. I ran the Fix-It routines until it found nothing! I even ran the chkdsk for faulty or damaged sectors - no sectors showed up as bad. I have been grappling with this problem for many months: Windows just keeps checking for updates infinitely without ever reporting 1 file available for download. The green bar just keeps panning from left to right as if frozen or maybe missing some command to execute to move forward. Why doesn't Microsoft have a website dedicated to probing the operating system to detect and fix the problem speedily? Instead, we are left in the lurch! Maybe Microsoft update servers have, for the most part, been dedicated to updating the new Windows 10 O/S? Could this be a ploy to sell 10 to the public? Strange, the problem seemed to coincide with the Microsoft campaign to market its Windows 10? If I am wrong, I apologize. Updates are very important, correct? Then why doesn't Microsoft support us so that we can fully enjoy our VISTA product!
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