Following a clean install, Windows Update remains at "Checking For Updates" forever...

Anonymous
2016-01-19T16:22:55+00:00

I've reloaded hundreds of Windows computers over the years and I like to think that I am reasonably proficient at that process.  I have just encountered an issue that required a lot of time and effort to resolve and I am posting this to try and save someone else the same ordeal.

My customer had a late model, name-brand Windows 7/64 SP1 computer with a disk drive that was failing.  I changed out the disk drive with a replacement and went through the recovery process, using the manufacturer-provided Recovery Media.  That media is supposed to be identical to the image loaded on the drive from the factory - Windows 7/64 with SP1.

Following the reload, I followed my normal procedure and launched Windows Update.  Windows Update remained at "Checking for Updates" for hours, without ever displaying any updates to install.  I restarted the PC and tried again, with exactly the same result.  The Software Distribution folder would get built and there were plenty of entries in WindowsUpdate.log, but eventually disk activity would cease but CPU activity would remain over 50%.  And Windows Update just showed "Checking for Updates" forever.

I decided the reload must have been bad and so I repeated it from scratch again with exactly the same result.  At that point I decided the image on the manufacturer's Recovery Media must be defective and so I reloaded from my MS Partner Program Windows 7/64 SP1 DVD.  I had the same exact symptoms and result again.  I thought that maybe I was not waiting long enough, so I left it running overnight.  The next morning, it was still at "Checking for Updates".

I tried additional reloads using SURT and that also remained at "Checking for Updates" without accomplishing anything.  I tried using the Windows Update Troubleshooter - with no luck.  Ditto for manually resetting Windows Update and various combinations of these techniques.  I verified that Windows was activated and that date/time were correctly set.  Nothing made any difference.

I then started meticulously documenting everything as I went along and I think I've found a solution:

After the reload, I checked the Windows Update components in C:\Windows\System32. The components are wuapi.dll, wuapp.exe, wuaclt.exe and wuaeng.dll and all are version 7.5.7601.17514 dated 11/20/2010.  Once you launched Windows update or run SURT, these are all updated directly to version 7.6.7600.320.  At that point, I get the symptoms described above and there doesn't appear to be any way to recover.

When Windows Update is launched, it first updates itself automatically and without the user having any option.  It appears that upgrading the WU components from7.5.7601.17514 directly to 7.6.7600.320 causes the issue.  I suspect that it works fine for computers that are updated incrementally.

Once WU version 7.6.7600.320 is loaded, there is no easy recovery that I could find.

CURRENT PROCEDURE:

  1. Download https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3020369 and https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3172605 in advance.
  2. Disconnect the computer from the Internet so Windows Update cannot automatically update itself to 7.6.7600.320.
  3. Perform a fresh reload from Recovery Media or Windows 7/64 with SP1 RTM.
  4. When the installation prompts for updates, choose "Ask Me Later".
  5. Apply KB3020369 and then KB3172605 in that order.
  6. Restore the Internet connection, configure update settings to your preference and launch Windows Update as normal.

Credit to Canadian Tech, Volume Z and other contributors for developing this current procedure.

ORIGINAL PROCEDURE FROM JANUARY 19 2016 HAS BEEN DEPRECATED BY THE NEW PROCEDURE ABOVE:

  1. Download KB3083710 and KB3102810 in advance.
  2. Disconnect the computer from the Internet so Windows Update cannot automatically update itself to 7.6.7600.320.
  3. Perform a fresh reload from Recovery Media or Windows 7/64 with SP1 RTM.
  4. Manually install KB3083710 and restart - WU components will now be version 7.6.7601.19016 dated 9/25/2015.
  5. Manually install KB3102810 and restart - WU components will now be version 7.6.7601.19046 dated 10/20/2015.
  6. Restore the Internet connection and launch Windows Update as normal.
  7. After a few minutes, you should have plenty of updates to download and install.

Ken Morley

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-09-03T02:07:52+00:00

    Ken -- this worked great on a friend's computer. I will keep it in my files should I ever need to reinstall Windows 7 on my own computer. Too bad that this oversight by Microsoft has not been corrected by them. Thanks!

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-09-03T02:17:55+00:00

    Major problem at Microsoft.  It never will be corrected.  If you want to learn more about what is soon going to be coming from Microsoft, read Woody Leonhard's InfoWorld article

    http://www.infoworld.com/article/3115766/microsoft-windows/blame-microsoft-not-users-for-fragmented-patching-in-windows-7-and-81.html

    Then hop over and read his blog at:

    https://www.askwoody.com/2016/the-fallacy-of-fragmented-patching-in-win7-and-8-1/

    The future of Windows 7 has some very big questions in front of it.

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-09-05T00:09:07+00:00

    "

    The future of Windows 7 has some very big questions in front of it."

    Hey CT,, Is there a dedicated thread(s) for the issues of keeping W10 at bay and/or how to keep W7 updated without the W10 Malware and/or the enhanced MS telemetry snooping?

    After reading the links I am now thinking I may have screwed up by working so hard to get the June Roll-up on my machine..

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-09-05T00:15:00+00:00

    This is the advice I give my clients....   It works!

    If you do not want Windows 10 and wish to prevent it from being installed on your computer…..

    Once you have followed the procedure below, and set Windows update to NEVER, once a month, start Windows Update (WU) manually, check for updates.  When you get the list of “important” updates, right-click and choose hide on EVERY update in the Windows grouping that does not describe itself as Security.  Allow the Malicious software removal tool or any C++ updates.  Do not use ANY optional updates or place a checkmark in any unchecked updates.  Proceed to update.

    Microsoft has committed to support Windows 7 until at least January 14, 2020.

    A lot of people have tried Windows 10 and decided they want their Windows 7 back.  If you are one of those, once you have Windows 7 back, you will need to take steps to keep it that way.

    http://www.infoworld.com/article/3043656/microsoft-windows/first-aid-for-forced-windows-10-upgrades.html

    Change the Windows Update Setting to Never check for updates.  Once a month, about 2 days after the 2nd Tuesday, start WU and then hide every update except for ones specifically labeled Security.  In other words, only security updates should be applied.  In all of 2015 and since, there was not a single update that  improved Windows 7 other than fixing security issues.

    Some may feel uncomfortable with the setting — NEVER.  Well you needn’t be.  Never means you are never giving Microsoft a chance to decide what you download and install.  It should NOT mean you will never update.  The difference is that now you take control and the responsibility of updating of Windows and Office.

    Read Woody Leonhard (one of the most respected writers in the trade)  http://www.infoworld.com/article/2983777/microsoft-windows/how-to-clean-the-windows-10-crapware-off-your-windows-7-or-81-pc.html?nsdr=true   Woody’s advice is that if you have Windows 7, keep it, you are better off by far.

    First download and run GWX Control panel.  http://ultimateoutsider.com/downloads/  It will allow you to prevent any future operating system upgrades and delete downloaded Win10 files, but it will not remove all of Microsoft’s spyware that is already installed on your computer.

    The following process will remove those features which you do not need.

    1. Take Windows Update off automatic — Never check for updates
    2. Windows Update, Installed updates, WAIT a long time till you see the green bar complete its long trip to the right
    3. Now, search for each of the listed (below) updates, uninstall them.  You must wait until the list is re-created each time. You need to wait till you see the number at the bottom of the search window exceed a few hundred.
    4. You do not need to restart after each uninstall, click later, until you are done.
    5. Then, clear the search box and after the list is again displayed (the number at the bottom again exceeds several hundred), enter another KB number.
    6. Restart the PC.  It may take a long time to process this.

    If you choose “check for updates, but let me choose whether to download and install them”, Microsoft will download “important” updates like KB3035583 to your computer.  It will be pre-checked — selected.  Unless you check Windows Update (WU) and discover this BEFORE you shut down, it will install it during the shut-down process.

    List of updates that if already installed should be removed:

    KB3035583

    KB2952664

    KB2977759

    KB3021917

    KB3075249

    KB3080149

    KB3173040

    KB3163589

    KB3090045

    KB3081954

    KB3123862

    KB3150513

    KB3022345

    KB3081954

    KB3068708

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  5. Anonymous
    2016-09-05T00:46:45+00:00

    That is where I am currently at. 

    But, based on the articles you linked to, this will fail when MS changes to ONLY ROLL-UPs in October.. 

    At that point we will not be able to pick and choose the individual "kb's". 

    Other stuff on the web seems to make it clear that MS IS NOT giving up on trying to plant the W10 malware on what it considers to be "upgradeable" computers and that is why MS has stepped up the "technical telemetry collection" that was being avoided by people like you and me only taking the "security" updates.

    Like the June Roll-up it will be all or nothing.

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