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
    2016-04-14T20:08:18+00:00

    Gordon:

    To be clear, you are describing the exact same symptoms, but not necessarily the exact same problem.   I'll do my level best to answer your questions directly:

    Q: Doesn't a reinstall of the OS from scratch also mean that ALL of the applications loaded on a computer will also have to be reinstalled?

    A: Of course.  The PC will be reverted to it's as-shipped configuration.

    Q: Won't re-installation take days or weeks?

    A: It depends on how much there is to backup, install and restore and also on the proficiency of the technician. I do this all the time and it usually takes me a few hours for a simple PC and all day for something complex.

    Q: Do I follow your seven steps or do I just delete the prior updates?

    A: I suggest uninstalling the prior updates simply because that is so easily done and might possibly be successful.  If that doesn't work, then you should follow the seven step process.  With the issue that I have worked on, no amount of uninstalling has been successful.  Of course, your versions are different because you haven't reloaded the PC yet and so I would not be shocked if your results are also different.

    Q: Do I attempt to manually load certain updates?

    A: I have no way of knowing whether that is feasible or advisable.

    Q: Which ones, where and how?

    A: I  have no way of knowing that either.

    Best Regards,

    Ken Morley

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-04-14T19:27:19+00:00

    Ken -

    I am describing the exact same problem. "Checking for updates churns indefinitely".

    I did not suggest that the update showed up on the list of updates. I only included the list of updates that I was supposed to hide that came from your very long thread.

    What problem did you think I was describing?

    Please review my questions and answer as best as you can.

    This article specifically regards an issue where Windows is reloaded on a computer and thereafter, Windows Update remains at "Checking for Updates" indefinitely.  I have not encountered the problem you describe and so I don't have any experience with that issue.  Regrettably, I don't think anything in this article will help you much.

    With the issue that I've described, the Windows Update that causes the problem does not show up in the list of installed updates.  It is an update that gets installed automatically - without user action or notice - and there is nothing you can uninstall to put it back.  The two KBs I refer to are to get Windows Update beyond the point where it automatically and silently upgrades itself with the problem software..

    You can certainly try uninstalling the updates you listed and then restarting.  But my experiences with the issue I've worked on so far indicate that once Windows Update is hosed, there is no easy way to fix it - hence the reinstallation from scratch.

    Good luck and sorry that I can't help more...

    Ken Morley

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-04-14T19:06:27+00:00

    This article specifically regards an issue where Windows is reloaded on a computer and thereafter, Windows Update remains at "Checking for Updates" indefinitely.  I have not encountered the problem you describe and so I don't have any experience with that issue.  Regrettably, I don't think anything in this article will help you much.

    With the issue that I've described, the Windows Update that causes the problem does not show up in the list of installed updates.  It is an update that gets installed automatically - without user action or notice - and there is nothing you can uninstall to put it back.  The two KBs I refer to are to get Windows Update beyond the point where it automatically and silently upgrades itself with the problem software..

    You can certainly try uninstalling the updates you listed and then restarting.  But my experiences with the issue I've worked on so far indicate that once Windows Update is hosed, there is no easy way to fix it - hence the reinstallation from scratch.

    Good luck and sorry that I can't help more...

    Ken Morley

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-04-14T18:46:10+00:00

    Ken -

    This thread has become rather lengthy and unwieldy. I am not a computer OS genius and I have a great deal of difficulty in following your basic instructions.

    I appreciate that there is a solution to the Update issue being described, but doesn't a reinstall of the OS from scratch also mean that ALL of the applications loaded on a computer will also have to be reinstalled? After all, the registry entries will be deleted.

    You are then writing not about days of installation, but rather weeks.

    The Version of WU*.* on my Win 7 Ultimate 64 bit and 32 bit pcs are all  7.6.7601.19161. I do not have 7.6.7600.320, but I do show that KB3139852 is installed and I have had the Update problem on all of my computers since the end of March.

    Also, I never messed with Windows 10 and I hid KB3035583 as soon as I learned about it and had deleted it.

    So, in the absence of 7.6.7600.320, do I follow your seven steps? Or do I just delete the following list of prior Updates?

    KB3035583

    KB2952664

    KB2977759

    KB3021917

    KB3075249

    KB3080149

    KB3083710

    KB3083324

    KB3090045

    KB3112343

    KB3022345

    KB3068708

    KB3123862

    Do I attempt to manually load certain updates?

    Which ones and where are they found and where are the instructions to follow to install them?

    I would love to see a comprehensive step-by-step outline of how to resolve this problem and would be happy to assist in creating one.

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  5. Anonymous
    2016-04-11T13:17:54+00:00

    I can say for sure it does indeed affect 32 bit system installs

    And yes your hard work is very much appreciated sir :)

    I try to remind people to post a direct link to this thread with their modified instruction you provided so people can not only Me Too your thread but to say Thank you properly

    It is difficult for some to understand unfortunately a Source link is required with the instructions

    Cheers.

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