August 2015 Windows Update for Vista Requires One Hour to Run to Completion

...although I already had the first 4 downloads and to execute the 5th (also with 12 important updates) took about 6 hours, it worked!

Hi RALF'E:

That's what I observed from August 2015 to May 2016 as well.  If I left Windows Update running for several hours "Checking for updates..." would eventually run to completion and install my Patch Tuesday updates.

The workaround I used this month to speed up my June 2016 Patch Tuesday updates is quite different.  I followed the step-by-step instructions I posted on 16-Jun-2016 in m#l's thread *Updates not working, it has been searching for updates for hours* and manually pre-installed this month's Windows kernel-mode driver (Win32K.sys) update KB3161664.  I have 32-bit Vista OS so I used the Vista x86 download link for KB3161664 from Dalia's webpage at http://wu.krelay.de/en/, downloaded the standalone installer (.msu file) to my desktop, and double-clicked the installer to manually install the update.  Once KB3161664 was pre-installed, Windows Update ran normally - "Checking for updates..." finished in 20 min (compared with five or six hours in previous months) and my remaining dozen or so June 2016 Patch Tuesday updates all downloaded and installed quickly.

If you want to try this workaround next month to see if it speeds up your July 2016 Patch Tuesday updates, completely disable automatic Windows Updates [Windows Update | Change settings | Important updates | Never check for updates (not recommended)], wait for a day or so after the July 2016 Patch Tuesday updates are released on 12-Jul-2016 (the second Tuesday of the month) and then check Dalai's webpage at http://wu.krelay.de/en/ to see if Microsoft has released a new Win32K.sys update for July 2016.  If there is a new update you can following the instructions in m#l's thread *Updates not working, it has been searching for updates for hours* to pre-install that update and this should fix your "Checking for updates..." hang.

32-bit Vista Home Premium SP2 * Firefox v47.0 * IE9 * NIS v21.7.0.11

HP Pavilion dv6835ca, Intel Core2Duo T5550 @ 1.83 GHz, 3 GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS

Thanks Great White North.

I tried as you said and although I already had the first 4 downloads and to execute the 5th (also with 12 important updates) took about 6 hours, it worked!  Windows Update is now up to date and showed the correct time and date of the most recent check.  I tried a check again the following day and that too registered the real time and date check, although there wasn't any further updates to be had.

I was also told that when Windows Update hangs for too long, try shutting down via the start button, leave for a few minutes then restart the machine.  DON'T use the restart option - shut down and then start again after a moment. This action apparently allows the download to proceed, so I'm told. Not tried it myself as yet but hopefully if all works as it should next month I shouldn't need to try it.

Further to my post of 16-May-2016, I can now confirm that the workaround posted on Dalai's webpage Search for Windows Updates takes forever? - A possible solution at http://wu.krelay.de/en/ solved my "Checking for updates..." hang.  I pre-installed the Win32K.sys update KB3161664 (MS16-073: Description of the security update for kernel mode drivers: June 14, 2016) before running a manual Windows update to install my June 2016 Patch Tuesday updates today, and "Checking for updates..." ran to completion in 20 min (compared with 5 - 6 hours for my Apr 2016 and May 2016 Patch Tuesday updates).  My entire Windows Update session finished in about 40 min.  Here's what the CPU consumption looked like for my June 2016 Patch Tuesday Windows Update with KB3161664 pre-installed, with:

• "Checking for updates..." running for 20 min between the 60 and 40 min marks
• Download and installation of 10 important updates between the 40 and 20 min marks (this month's Malicious Software Removal Tool scan ran for the last 8 mins of the installation phase)
• Re-boot to finish installation (dark grey band) around the 15 min mark

KB3161664 was the only Windows kernel-mode driver (Win32k.sys) update missing on my system from Dalai's list of recommended updates since my Vista SP2 system was fully patched as of May 2016.  If you have a Win 7 SP1 or Vista SP2 OS that has not been updated for several months or have difficulty following Dalai's instructions at http://wu.krelay.de/en/ I've posted step-by-step instructions in m#l's thread Updates not working, it has been searching for updates for hours that should be easier to follow.  As of June 2016 there are currently five Win32k.sys updates listed on Dalai's webpage [KB3078601 (18-Aug-2015); KB3087039 (08-Sep-2015); KB3109094 (07-Dec-2015); KB3145739 (12-Apr-2016); KB3161664 (14-Jun-2016)] that must be pre-installed before you run Windows Update if any are missing on your system.

These "Checking for updates..." hangs on Patch Tuesdays are clearly a widespread problem for many Win 7 SP1 and Vista SP2, and the hangs on my system started in Aug 2015, the month after Windows 10 was officially released on 29-Jul-2015.  Microsoft has shown no interest in fixing the problem [e.g., releasing an update for Vista's Windows Update Agent v7.6.7600.256 (wuaueng.dll) that was last updated in June 2012] so I'll continue monitoring Dalai's webpage each month to see if a new Win32K.sys update is added to his list of recommended updates before I run any future Patch Tuesday updates.

As OP of this thread I apparently can't mark one of my own posts as the possible solution, but I now consider this thread as Solved.  

32-bit Vista Home Premium SP2 * Firefox v47.0 * IE9 * NIS v21.7.0.11

HP Pavilion dv6835ca, Intel Core2Duo T5550 @ 1.83 GHz, 3 GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS

I really appreciate everyone's input on this matter and I will get back to more of my own substantive input about the Vista problem, but I have an issue with Microsoft that arose from something that took place in this thread and then spread to a few others and also some activity by me that made some people angry -- and that "issue" has taken center stage at this work station and with those that help me.

But I didn't do anything wrong and can prove that and during all of the back-and-forth with Microsoft mamangement last week I finally figured out what needs to be done for not only this Microsoft Community, but many others where one particular issue is a very serious problem for the community members.

I have decided to move a very important issue into the political arena, but I am afraid to post details here because I think there are some folks that would not like me to go any further.

I have only explained what I have so far so that it is clear why my time cannot be fully devoted to this trouble with Vista for a couple of weeks.  If anyone wants to know more about that issue from last week and what is going to be happening, I think it isn't too hard for you to make contact with me.

And once again, I really do appreciate all the input from everyone!  I suspect the OP concurs.

Some folk say this is indirectly squeezing people in the direction of a Windows 10 system update. I say, don't bother. Windows 10 brings with it many other problems. Just go elsewhere (Linux, Chrome or whatever). I've never been a Google fan but I bought a lower-end Chromebook to try out as an extra system (in a sale for £150) and hey, what speed! Granted there isn't the same versatility with programs etc but that all depends on your personal usage and preferences. It starts up and shuts down with ease and updates are a breeze. If you need a DVD/CD burner, some free or hooky programs then it's not for you, but it is well worth a try as a back-up machine for instant, free access to many things.

I've just about had enough with M/S and its lack of response to problem solving, slow loading/shut down and update problems - that's with both Vista Desktop and a W10 Laptop (of which I appear to have very little personal control). I just wish M/S could be big enough to admit to their mistakes and were able to rekindle lost customer satisfaction. When asked to simplify things for the end user their statute answer is to over-automate everything, taking away personal control. Too much automation (W10) takes away user choice - give it back to those who pay for the privilege!