Windows Update Doesn't Work even with the SOLUTION

Anonymous
2016-10-23T00:11:52+00:00

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

  1. 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.
  2. 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:

  1. net stop wuauserv
  2. net stop cryptSvc
  3. net stop bits
  4. net stop msiserver
  5. ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
  6. ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old
  7. net start wuauserv
  8. net start cryptSvc
  9. net start bits
  10. net start msiserver
  11. 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.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-01-30T19:15:39+00:00

    That's not what SFC (System File Checker) is for.  Windows keeps a hidden folder that has a copy of all the critical Windows program elements.  SFC compares what is actively in use with the contents of that folder and if it finds a non-match, it attempts to replace the active one with one from the secure copy folder.

    So, if one of those programs becomes corrupted, SFC can usually correct the situation.

    As for Microsoft and  Windows 7....  Microsoft would really like to see Windows 7 die.  They can not make money from it.  It is the most reliable stable Windows ever built and will not easily die.  There are still at least half a billion Win7 systems in use and I don't know about you, but I intend to keep using it as long as my computer can be made to work.  After that my next computer will likely be an android hand held smart phone.

    Windows Update was, I emphasize was, a very dependable excellent service that looked after security needs and occasionally added functionality to Windows.  It operated for decades very well and was a respected tool.  It was regarded as a must do process every month.

    Back at the end of 2014, Microsoft fired all the Windows Update checkers and quality control people to save money.  The result has been an ever-worsening parade of defective software patches and patches on patches on patches.  Using Windows update now carries far more risk than not patching security issues that Microsoft finds.

    In addition, Microsoft started using Windows Update to change Win7 systems to fit its needs.  That became much more important to Microsoft.  The user/owner was in 2nd place at best.

    Defective Windows Updates affect Windows 10 as well.  Only the result is much worse because Win10 offers no opportunity to the owner of the computer to decide what or when to update.  Consequently Win10 owners are effectively beta testers in mass.  Just this month Windows Update bricked hundreds of thousands of Win10 systems that have non-Intel processor systems.  By bricked, I mean would not boot.

    I for one, and all of my clients stopped using Microsoft Update altogether last May, and have no intention of ever using it again.  Our systems are incredibly stable and reliable and we have not seen a single problem over that time on 150 PCs.  As such, Microsoft's threat to stop "supporting" Win7 as of January 2020 is now meaningless, because we have already arrived at that point.

    To Microsoft, Windows has become a strategic tool to meet its goals, instead of the powerful utility that served the needs of  masses of owners who invested big money in the hardware to run Windows and the many applications that worked on it.

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-01-27T01:32:13+00:00

    There is a problem with SFC under certain circumstances.  If you have applied either KB3022345 or KB3068708, it will result in SFC reporting unfixable errors.  If you have either of those installed, remove them and SFC will work again.

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-01-03T17:23:09+00:00

    Only two reasons I have ever seen for that message:

    • Service Pack 1 is not installed
    • You are using the wrong (32 or 64 bit) version.

    If neither of those is the case, the problem is likely much deeper than Windows Update.  If that is the case, you should consider a re-install of Windows.

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-12-22T14:01:10+00:00

    This procedure worked perfectly. I cannot thank you enough.

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  5. Anonymous
    2016-10-31T19:01:24+00:00

    Answer to 1...No

    Answer to 2...  Yes

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