Windows Update Doesn't Work even with the SOLUTION

Anonymous

FIRST. If Windows Update is not working or taking far too long (more than 15 to 30 minutes) try the Solution described in the thread at

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-update/windows-7-update-solution/f39a65fa-9d10-42e7-9bc0-7f5096b36d0c

If after trying this the problem persists, then follow these directions to first reset Windows Update.

This is a bit technical, but if you can follow it, I think it will work for you. I work on a lot of computers and this works for me.

I emphasize that for this to work, you must follow exactlyas this describes.

There are two main types of Windows 7 installations: 32 bit or 64 bit. You need to know what is installed in your computer. Click the Start globe, type system in the box. Choose System information in the list. The techie shorthand for 32 bit is x86 and for 64 bit is x64

Start Windows Update and change the Setting to Never check for updates. Restart. When you do leave the setting at NEVER, Windows Update will no longer be automatic. From this point onwards, you are responsible for starting and installing updates. We recommend you do that a few days following the 2nd Tuesday each month.
The process starts by ensuring that there is nothing running that will prevent the update from working properly. Click on the Start globe and type services into the text box. Click on Services in the list that pops up. In the window that then pops up (its alphabetic), find Windows Update. Right-click on it (left-click if your mouse is set for left-handers) and choose Stop.

Now, you are going to reset Windows Update components:

Start, All Programs, Accessories, Right-click on Command prompt, Choose Run as administrator, OK. Type the following in the black box:

net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver
ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old
net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver
Exit

Tip: Instead of typing each line, you can select the text in each line in the list by high-lighting it, right-click, choose Copy from the pop-up menu. In the black window, Right-click anywhere, choose Paste from the pop-up menu, Enter.

If steps 5 or 6 do not allow the operation, go back and click on the Start globe and type services into the text box. Click on Services in the list that pops up. In the window that then pops up (its alphabetic), find Windows Update. Right-click on it (left-click if your mouse is set for left-handers) and choose Stop. It may have re-started itself.

If steps 5 and 6 report that the file already exists, then substitute SoftwareDistribution.old2 for SoftwareDistribution.old, and catroot2 catroot2.old2 for catroot2 catroot2.old

This procedure will erase the list you would see in "View Update history" that you access in the Windows Update window. It will NOT erase the "View Installed Updates" you access through the Control Panel.

You are now going to download and install either one or two updates manually. In most cases only the first (KB3172605) of these is needed. If that produces a result that says the update is not appropriate for you computer, you need to first install the 2nd of these (KB3020369), then install the first (KB3172605). Choose the one that is for your machine — 32 bit (X86) or 64 bit (X64).

KB3138612 :

32 bit

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=51208

64 bit

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=51212

KB3020369:

32 bit

https://download.microsoft.com/download/C/0/8/C0823F43-BFE9-4147-9B0A-35769CBBE6B0/Windows6.1-KB3020369-x86.msu

64 bit

https://download.microsoft.com/download/5/D/0/5D0821EB-A92D-4CA2-9020-EC41D56B074F/Windows6.1-KB3020369-x64.msu

After restarting your computer, wait about 10 minutes until Windows Update completes its tasks. Do not use the computer for any other purpose during this wait period.

Start Windows Update. It will take only a few minutes to come up with a list and download the updates you select. The process is quite normal as it always was from this point onward.

If your computer has not been updated for a long time, it may take longer.

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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160 answers

Anonymous

2017-01-06T10:20:16+00:00

So Ive tried both your solution's, I feel its worked for everyone besides me lol. I know win updates are off restarted and so on and checked service, its stopped. did the command line try, I have gotten updates working before just, they take like days for the checking then days for the downloading and installing but I noticed back in the day going through my updates KB3172605 failed long ago, I have win 7 home, 64 bit, I have SP1 and ive tried both your solutions. I already have the KB3020369 installed as it says, but when I go to install the KB3172605 it initializes, loads but then at the end says failed. I've been trying for days. like I have a nice gaming rig I built myself im doing this on and my old laptop runs updates 40x faster then this.. I really don't know what else to do... besides do a fresh reinstall which is unfeasible at the moment. I guess this isn't very important due to the fact nothing great has came out since 2014 in regards to updates but I wish I could get my updates to work like my other machines/builds. I do have something else to mention though the basic reason I want this to work is because, I went from win 7 to 10 then back to 7 and also have the task scheduler errors where I get a million pop ups of errors when I open it and have tried fixing that also but that's another story which I was hoping to fix with windows updates... I just feel so frustrated and feeling like my last option is to just reinstall windows and start over... but would hafta transfer my files and a lot of school work and that seems like it'd be more trouble then worth it.... as I mentioned since I have the task scheduler errors from going to win 10 then back to win7 , I cannot perform a system image or backup. any help would be so appreciated.
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Anonymous

2017-01-06T10:42:16+00:00

Task Scheduler errors after upgrading to Windows 10 and reverting back to Windows 7 is a known problem.

The first time folks seem to notice that problem is when they attempt to run Windows Backup and Restore and see something like this:

In this topic locate the rely about in the middle of page 2 from ElderN:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-performance/backup-problems-after-installinguninstalling/f2969a14-e746-455c-bb8a-07895cc41483?page=2

If you don't want to waste your time skip all the other ideas and advice. I can assure you with 100% certainty that none of the advice from the Microsoft engaged alleged "experts" will help with that problem.

If you need to please start a new topic/question/thread about the Task Scheduler issue since it has nothing to do with Windows Update problems.
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Anonymous

2017-01-06T11:06:12+00:00

yeah I tried djjin codeplex downloads/repair program and it fixed like 20/100 errors but still no backup or system image working. and posted somewhere there and I was suggested to try windows update lol, thus why I'm giving this forum a try. but its looking bleek to say the least :P, not to mention how many tries it took me to finally get my two 7970s to work in crossfire, would prefer to not have to resintall windows/transfer files and re-go through that process/ordeal with video cards as I've finally got them working in crossfire well with older Radeon drivers.. such bad luck with this build.
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Anonymous

2017-01-06T11:47:24+00:00

When you understand the problem and what has happened then you can understand why so many of the other suggestions for things to try will not work - and Windows Update will not fix that problem.

Whomever suggested Windows Update as a solution to the Task Scheduler issue doesn't understand the problem.

In my other reply I hint that in addition to the Task Scheduler problem there might be other fall out from the 7 to 10 back to 7 transition and there might be other problems with your system that you don't know about yet and a clean install is really the only way to be sure that your system is straightened out. Some of the afflicted Windows 7 tasks might be pretty important if you want your system to be healthy.

Every time a new and often goofy issue comes up you will always be wondering if it has something to do with that conversion process. Hmmm...
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Anonymous

2017-01-06T15:27:00+00:00

ElderN, what do your recommend to solve this problem 7 to 10 to 7? I have seen numerous complex issues pop up. My conclusions have been that something goes wrong with the "reversion" process, and that the best sure way to solve them is to do a clean re-install. Am I on the right track?
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