Windows Update just spins and spins, seemingly without end

Anonymous
2016-07-18T01:20:12+00:00

A week ago, Windows Update seemed to stop working on my laptop. It never seems to finish looking for updates for my Window Vista, but just spins and spins and spins. Before this, it always took 6 minutes or less to check for updates and let me know if there were any. If it was downloading an update, it would let me know its size and how long it would take. Anyone know what's going on?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

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  1. lmacri 2,505 Reputation points
    2016-08-07T12:45:45+00:00

    Yep, still a problem. Neither does Windows Update Standalone Installer work.

    Hi slipfoot:

    Read through the step-by-step instructions posted 16-Jun-2016 in m#l's thread *Updates not working, it has been searching for updates for hours* before trying to install the standalone update package (.msu file). These instructions are based on Dalai's workaround at http://wu.krelay.de/en/ but include additional hints to avoid problems like the one you've described. Make sure you try the following:

    • Disable automatic Windows Updates [Windows Update | Change settings | Important updates | Never check for updates (not recommended)] and re-boot to terminate any Windows Update sessions currently running in the background on your system. (Step # 1)
    • Search your installed updates to ensure the July 2016 Windows kernel-mode driver (Win32K.sys) update KB3168965 (MS16-090: Description of the security update for Windows kernel-mode drivers: July 12, 2016) recommended by Volume Z is the only Win32K.sys update listed on Dalai's webpage that is missing from your system (Step # 3)
    • Temporarily disconnect from the internet before running the .msu installer (hint for Step # 5)

    Also be aware that this coming Tuesday (09-Aug-2016) is the second Tuesday of the month (i.e., Patch Tuesday for August 2016).  Dalai usually updates his list of required Win32K.sys updates that must be pre-installed to speed up Windows Update on the same evening that Microsoft releases their Patch Tuesday updates.  If you try this workaround after 08-Aug-2016 you might find that July's KB3168965 has been dropped from Dalai's list and replaced with a newer Win32K.sys update.

    32-bit Vista Home Premium SP2 * Firefox v48.0 * NIS v22.7.0.76 * MBAM Premium v2.2.1

    HP Pavilion dv6835ca, Intel Core2Duo T5550 @ 1.83 GHz, 3 GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-08-06T22:48:26+00:00

    If you (a) uninstall the Norton application & reboot, (b) download/run the Norton Removal Tool & reboot again, (c) download/install Microsoft Security Essentials (free) & reboot again, (d) reset Windows Update manually per KB971058 & reboot one final time, does the behavior persist when you run a manual check for updates?

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-08-06T00:45:50+00:00

    Yep, still a problem. Neither does Windows Update Standalone Installer work.

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-08-05T22:18:50+00:00

    Okie-dokie.

    We've been at this for a while - does the "Windows Update just spins and spins, seemingly without end" behavior persist today or...?

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  5. Anonymous
    2016-08-05T04:28:32+00:00

    After running http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/validate/ I got this message:

    Welcome to Windows!

    Because Windows installed on your PC is genuine, enjoy the security, reliability and protection it provides.

    Microsoft Security Essentials

    Genuine Windows customers get a complimentary subscription to Microsoft Security Essentials, the award-

    winning, antivirus software that helps you protect your PC.

    Get it now

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