Windows Update just spins and spins, seemingly without end

I installed KB3197655, but Windows Update still won't complete.

Hi. Using Dalai's workarounds for the past few months, I was able to get Windows Updates working again, and it was fine until last month. Now it just spins and spins again. It hasn't been able to finish searching for updates for a week, nor has it been able to download updates since Oct. 19. I've installed the most recent files listed for Vista 32-bit on Dalai's page -- KB3198234, KB3194371, KB3203859 -- but it hasn't helped. Have Windows updates for Vista users been discontinued?

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