Windows 8.1 - Windows Update stuck at "checking for updates"

Anonymous

Hi. I see this issue has been brought up by many people. I've tried applying as many suggested methods to fix the issue as I could find on the Microsoft.com site, but so far nothing has worked. I bought the Windows 8.1 Pro full disk, formatted my old hard drive, installed it on there, and the updates were working fine. However, that hard drive had an issue that I couldn't seem to fix, so I purchased a new hard drive. I installed Windows 8.1 on the new hard drive without any problems. The very first thing I tried to do on here is apply Windows Updates, but it just keeps "checking for updates" even when I leave it on overnight. My internet is working, of course, since I am using it to post here. I thought maybe there was an issue with the Windows 8.1 installation on the new hard drive, so I formatted it and reinstalled Win8.1 again. The same problem is still happening with Windows Update. I ran the Update troubleshooter, and it detects problems and claims to have fixed them, but it still keeps "Checking for Updates."

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

To resolve the issue, please follow the suggested methods below:

Method 1. Run the scan again.

If the scan freezes and doesn't complete when Windows Update is scanning for updates, try to run the scan again.

Method 2. Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter.

You can download the troubleshooter from this link: Windows Update Troubleshooter.

Method 3. Perform a System Restore.

Turn off your computer manually by pressing the power button.
Start your computer by pressing the power button.
At the logon screen, tap or click the power icon in the lower-right corner.
Press the Shift key, and then tap or click Restart.
On the Choose an option page, tap or click Troubleshoot, and then tap or click Advanced options.
Tap or click System Restore. The computer will restart to System Restore. Select your account to continue.
On the System Restore page, tap or click Next.
When the restoration process is complete, tap or click Restart.

These steps are also available on this link: Windows Update freezes when you install updates in Windows 8, Windows 7, or Windows Vista.

Keep us posted.

0 comments

Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

I formatted my new hard drive again, and reinstalled Windows. It took a few hours of testing to figure out what the problem was. Long story short, the Windows installation would get stuck at one point every time. It only happened on my new hard drive. If I tried a force restart, Windows would start up fine but Windows Update would not work. I was trying to split the hard drive into two partitions. After trying to install on a halved partition, I figured I'd just try not making a partition. I don't know what the heck the problem could be with partitions (other than the hard drive is faulty), but the installation FINALLY went through completely normally. Windows Update works just as it should.

Thanks for all your help!

0 comments

Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

I recently bought new laptop and windows 8.1 came with it. I have same problem that windows keep checking on updates for very long time without finding anything to download.

Method 2 worked for me :)

Had the same problem with fresh install of W8.1 pro with the 2014 April update 1 rollout installed. Tried everything and only 1 thing worked. Solved

open command prompt using "run as administrator"
type in "net stop wuauserv" (without inverted commas) (this stops windows update)

download KB3102812 for W8.1 (I had 64bit) from Microsoft catalog

click on downloaded file and install update
Restart computer
open command prompt using "run as administrator"
type in "net start wuauserv" (without inverted commas) (this starts windows update again)
then run windows update again

Should only be about 10-15 mins before windows update finds about 1 gig of updates

All credit goes to this link where I found the answer

http://superuser.com/a/1120656

0 comments

79 additional answers

Anonymous

2016-11-25T22:57:41+00:00

MELERIX: I finally got my update working. You were half correct. The files you said to install did fix it but you do not need to be disconnected from the internet. Instead, you just need to set Windows Update to not automatically install things. When I turn off the auto install, it lets me install the 2 files.

yes, I already said that previously...

"...disabling Windows Update temporally could also helps, because it stop Windows Update service..."
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2016-12-02T04:36:51+00:00

Edit December 14, 2016:

ln the time since I first posted my reply on December 1, 2016, the content at the link below has also been removed.

"These steps are also available on this link: Windows Update freezes when you install updates in Windows 8, Windows 7, or Windows Vista."

End Edit.

Further, December 14, 2016

What I have found useful are searched on how to Update Win 8.1 via the PowerShell. Sorry, I can't provide the link here, but find the one that has downloads of four (or so) files that are used by PowerShell. The PowerShell is run from the Command window. The four Update files take 30-45 minutes. After that the regular Windows Update works again. The first time it found about 257 new updates, and seemed to install fairly fast. Each subsequent found less, until none.

Because I am retired, and can now spend time to investigate, I chose to try the same proccess repeatedly. 3 more times. Wipe C: drive, install clean Win 8.1, install clean Office 2003, update first with PowerShell updates, then finish with repeated updates via the regular Windows Updates. I had no more hang ups with the regular Windows update, nor for that matter any errors. The only thing necessary was to hide updates that wouldn't install because they were not applicable. The hiding is only necessary so that the not-applicable update doesn't try to install again on the next repeat.

I am now investigating the possibility I saw mentioned of saving all the updates on a USB drive, so that PowerShell can install all of them "ofline". I will be interested to see how successful I am with that venture. That would removed my dependence on Microsoft, especially in light of their apparent withdrawal of this "online" material.
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments