Windows Update Hangs

Before you start Windows Update (WU), if your computer has not been up and running for a few days or more, start it and let it run without using it for some hours.  Turn off the sleep functions if they are set.  If yours is a laptop, make sure it is powered with the power cord.  Start Task Manager (right-click on the task bar) and look at the CPU % in use at the bottom of that window.  If it is more than 10%, you have to wait until what ever the computer is doing finishes before starting Windows Update.

Functions like Antivirus update and  scans, scheduled defragmentation, updates to Java, Flash Player, Adobe Reader and others must be completed BEFORE you start Windows Update.

I just did this on a laptop that had not been used for about 70 days.  It took the best part of a day to finally settle down and be ready.

Windows Update is dramatically slower than it was in the Spring of 2015, before Windows 10 began downloading.  There may be nothing wrong with your computer!  The problem is a hopelessly inadequate Windows Update service.  Likely it is overwhelmed sending millions of unrequested 5 gigabyte Win10 files to Win7 computers, using the same equipment and network that normally services you and I.

From Microsoft’s perspective, the updates you want are an extremely low priority.  They do not want you updating Windows 7.  They want you replacing it with Windows 10.

There is no reason to do this upgrade unless you are a real adventurer.  Windows 7 will be supported through January 2020.

Excellent read   http://www.infoworld.com/article/2953655/microsoft-windows/windows-10-review-hold-off-if-you-use-windows-7.html#tk.ifw-infsb

I have seen cases where the green bar in Windows Update continued overnight and finally found the updates, then spent many more hours downloading those updates.

Turn off sleep and hibernate functions.  Leave WU running at least overnight, maybe longer

As of today 12 April 2016 Window 7 SP1 hangs in searching for updates.  Unlike other postings in 2015, their is no Orchestrator service in services.msc.  Prior to today Windows update was working fine.  Why is this happening?  Is there any other way to get these updates.  I have restarted the OS to no benefit.

Same problem. Hanging here now for hours "checking" and very high CPU. Never had this before.

It is going to take many hours.

How is that even remotely acceptable?

I never had to wait that long before so why should today be any different? The most I ever had it stall at "checking for updates" is about 15 minutes. It also never made my CPU go as high as today is. What is the reason for this "patience" when we never had to wait that long before. Hours? What is the reason for this happening?

PATIENCE, is likely to yield the result you expect.  In this case patience means up to 12hours.