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

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.

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-07-17T22:50:43+00:00

    Thank you so much that was a tremendous help.

    I spend hours trying to fix this and your solution is so simple.

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-07-17T22:58:25+00:00

    Very happy to hear that.  I have used it on many computers today and it worked well for me also. Please click Helpful button on my post.

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-07-18T03:13:59+00:00

    Hi PA Bear, I am a consumer as well as owning a computer repair business. I am willing to work with Microsoft in order to help fix the failed Windows 7 update process. I have no doubt is is broken. I will be happy to share whatever background information you would like. Here are my observations:

    Windows Updates appears to work, meaning the bar under "Checking for updates..." continues to indicate that update are working with every fresh load of Windows 7 I have attempted. The initial "View update history" shows two updates. I have let updates run for over 24 hours, and not a single new update happens.

    1. I have done this with a laptop attempting a Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit disk.
    2. I followed the above with another attempt with a brand new (I broke the seal) Windows 7 Professional 64 bit disk (OEM).
    3. I attempted a Windows 7 Home load on a desktop.

    Load 3 is strictly to confirm that the problem is not the computer, nor the disk.

    On this attempt, I have a clean load (with drivers). I have attempted no fix, to keep the load "pristine". I will stand by, taking no further action other than letting Windows Updates continue checking for updates. I will update this post if anything changes. A final check before sending this reply, at 13 hours of updates, history now shows only 1 update, and the other 2 are no longer displayed in the View Windows Updates list. They are displayed in the View installed updates list via Control Panel/ Programs and Features. The new update is"Windows Update Agent 7.6.7600.320, Successful two days ago in the System events log. Two hours ago Review your update history via Windows Update", still showed only  the original two. This machine is available for a few more days.

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-07-18T03:52:18+00:00

    Hi PA Bear, I am a consumer as well as owning a computer repair business. I am willing to work with Microsoft in order to help fix the failed Windows 7 update process. I have no doubt is is broken. I will be happy to share whatever background information you would like. Here are my observations:

    Windows Updates appears to work, meaning the bar under "Checking for updates..." continues to indicate that update are working with every fresh load of Windows 7 I have attempted. The initial "View update history" shows two updates. I have let updates run for over 24 hours, and not a single new update happens.

    1. I have done this with a laptop attempting a Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit disk.
    2. I followed the above with another attempt with a brand new (I broke the seal) Windows 7 Professional 64 bit disk (OEM).
    3. I attempted a Windows 7 Home load on a desktop.

    Load 3 is strictly to confirm that the problem is not the computer, nor the disk.

    On this attempt, I have a clean load (with drivers). I have attempted no fix, to keep the load "pristine". I will stand by, taking no further action other than letting Windows Updates continue checking for updates. I will update this post if anything changes. A final check before sending this reply, at 13 hours of updates, history now shows only 1 update, and the other 2 are no longer displayed in the View Windows Updates list. They are displayed in the View installed updates list via Control Panel/ Programs and Features. The new update is"Windows Update Agent 7.6.7600.320, Successful two days ago in the System events log. Two hours ago Review your update history via Windows Update", still showed only  the original two. This machine is available for a few more days.

    Hi @barryfulwiler,

    Once you have Windows Update Agent 7.6.7600.320 installed, the operating system is toast. You need to follow the instructions in the first post of this thread.

    And I posted how to do it, in a separate thread:

    http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-update/thanks-kenmorley-how-to-install-windows-7-from/27cf2ca4-ccbd-4ffb-bd5c-a7c8e50abc68

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  5. Anonymous
    2016-07-18T06:59:12+00:00

    Hi PA Bear,

    Thank you for the response. To be clear, I have no need to fix this computer. I want to fix Windows 7 update. The only reason I have taken the time to post is to offer Microsoft an opportunity to fix this problem. I have done many Windows 7 installs. This software used to work. Now it doesn't and nothing has changed on this end. If Windows Update Agent 7.6.7600.320 "toasts" a system with Microsoft's knowledge, why is it still out there as a Windows Update? What is being done about it?

    There are hundreds of people with this problem, probably thousands. Microsoft alone has a considerable number of pages devoted to fixing this problem. Is there an interest on Microsoft's part in figuring out what the Windows 7 update problem is and getting it fixed?

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