Windows Update just spins and spins, seemingly without end

Thanks, a manual download of your 32-bit (x86) link enabled the 22 remaining updates, including the September Malicious Software Removal Tool,  be downloaded normally with Microsoft Update, however my Vista system seems to hang on searching for the October 2016 updates.

Hi Mike Barlow:

Unfortunately, Dalai's workaround at http://wu.krelay.de/en/ is only a temporary solution.  You need to pre-install a new Windows kernel-mode driver (Win32K.sys) update each month to speed up your Patch Tuesday updates.

Dalai's updated webpage at http://wu.krelay.de/en/ includes links for two standalone update packages (.msu files) - KB3183431 and KB3191203.  I was fully patched as of September 2016, and after doing a bit of research I decided that KB3191203 was probably the only "speed-up" patch for October 2016 needed for my system - see my **post # 375** in ScousaJAY's thread *windows update just seems to hang while checking*under the username lmacri for further information on these two patches.

I tested yesterday on my 32-bit Vista machine and after pre-installing KB3191203 (but not KB3183431) my Windows Update ran to completion in about 1 hour 15 min and installed 11 important updates.  Further details are posted in **post # 379** of ScousayJAY's thread, and there are quite a few users posting in that thread that Dalai's recommended updates for Vista SP2 are still working for the October 2016 Patch Tuesday updates.

Before starting I'd suggest you terminate any Windows Update session running in the background by disabling automatic Windows Updates [Windows Update | Change settings | Important updates | Never check for updates (not recommended)] and re-booting (the re-boot is critical). Download and save the .msu installer for KB3191203 to your desktop using the link on Dalai's webpage at http://wu.krelay.de/en/ (Vista x86 for 32-bit Vista; Vista x64 for 64 bit Vista).  Close your browser and then double-click the .msu file to run the installer. At the end of the installation you should be prompted to re-boot your computer, so be sure to do so.  After the re-boot, run a manual Windows Update (Windows Update | Check for updates) and see if Windows Update can detect and install your remaining 10 or so October 2016 Patch Tuesday Updates.

Just a word of warning to all Vista SP2 users - be very patient if you're using Dalai's workaround for the October 2016 Patch Tuesday updates because the "Checking for updates..." and installation phases of Windows Update are going require some extra time this month.

32-bit Vista Home Premium SP2 * Firefox v49.0.1 * NIS v22.8.0.50 * MBAM Premium v2.2.1

Thanks, a manual download of your 32-bit (x86) link enabled the 22 remaining updates, including the September Malicious Software Removal Tool,  be downloaded normally with Microsoft Update, however my Vista system seems to hang on searching for the October 2016 updates.  The Windows Task Manager seems to show about 25-30% base CPU usage (GRN) and about 12% Kernel usage (RED.)  Memory usage is around half scale, 1.67 GB constant.

MLB

:-) You have to read the sentence literally.  It may have updated faster but I don't know because I started the update and walked away.  I came back 10 minutes later and it was done.

I'm doing everything that you suggested in your post.  That will be my new update procedure for my Vista machine.

The .msu file finished in less than 10 minutes.

Ten minutes still sounds a bit excessive.   I typically see the .msu installer finish in about a minute - the system restart to finish the installation is usually the slowest part of the process.  If your .msu installer appears to hang on "Checking for updates..." that usually means that you have a Windows Update session trying to run to completion in the background that needs to be stopped. 

You can usually avoid this problem by following STEP # 1 of the instructions posted 16-Jun-2016 in m#1's thread Updates not working, it has been searching for updates for hours before running your .msu installer.  If you disable your automatic Windows Updates [Windows Update | Change settings | Important updates | Never check for updates (not recommended)] and re-boot (the re-boot is important) this should terminate any background Windows Update sessions, but if your .msu installer still gets stuck at "Checking for updates..."  there are a few additional hints in post # 3 of E-Chen's thread *Vista Updates just keeps "Checking"* in the bleepingcomputer forum.

I've gone one step further and have permanently disabled automatic Windows Updates [(Never check for updates (not recommended)] on my Vista machine.  I wait a day or two after each Patch Tuesday (the second Tuesday of the month), check Dalai's webpage at http://wu.krelay.de/en/, and download and install the standalone update package (.msu file) for the latest Win32K.sys update added to his list of required updates.  Once the new Win32K.sys update is installed my manual Windows Updates always run "normally" (i.e., "Checking for updates..." finishes in about 20 min and not several hours) and my remaining Patch Tuesday updates install successfully.

32-bit Vista Home Premium SP2 * Firefox v49.0 * NIS v22.7.1.32 * MBAM Premium v2.2.1

Thanks for the tip. Yes, I was using IE9.  Downloading with Firefox worked.  Whenever I browse Microsoft websites, I try to use Microsoft browsers since I would expect the combination would give me the best experience.  Silly me.

The .msu file finished in less than 10 minutes.