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
    2018-03-29T19:57:36+00:00

    Update - even 32 bit versions are having the same problem, turning up the same error.

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-03-29T19:55:39+00:00

    I've been trying to repair a series of workstations on a domain that stopped updating in mid-February this year. 

    We are getting the usual error - Event 25, code 8024402F Windows Update encountered an unknown error. 

    I've tried many of the 'solutions' that I've found that include checking AV software to ensure it is not blocking access to the update server, to renaming folders and allow the history to rebuild in case corrupted, install latest update version, etc. 

    Machines are all Win 7 Pro 64bit workstations. My recollection was that our 32 bit workstation updated regularly and i am checking that now. Last successful updates were February 15 for all machines including the server. There was no change to our system that corresponds to Feb 15 that I know of, not the firewall, not the switches, etc. There were some changes to late last year, including adding a switch, but no management rules were added that could block site access. 

    On my workstation I can't use IE - won't find any websites and acts as if offline, though chrome and firefox both work. 

    I was able to stop services, rename catroot, software distrib. etc. as admin. to no avail. 

    I download both rollup packages from this thread - and the old version - KB's ending with 369-x64, 612-x64, and 605-x64 and the first two were already installed, the latter said it was not correct file for the machine. I confirmed x64 windows running, and it is, though I have office 32bit installed (should not be relevant). 

    We're running Windows server 2008 R2 Std and we are not running WSUS and the server is having the same issue.  

    Any suggestions are very welcome!  I've put hours and hours into trying anything that seemed legit. MS also provided me with files for latest W update version and clean booted to eliminate sofware issues - these are pretty basic machines and do not all have the same software - some have Office 2010, some 2013, some 2016. All are Win Pro 64bit and verified as authentic/activated. 

    Thanks!

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-02-06T17:39:46+00:00

    CT, I do have another question that I think is linked to CBS and Windows Update function. The question is about "Roaming user profile" and its associated folders (C:\Users\user account\AppData\ (Local, LocalLow, and Roaming) Please see:

    <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roaming_user_profile>

    My observed symptom is that after Win10 1703 update (and upgrade from Win7), the system boots sooo slow. I finally found a lot of old "stuff" in the Roaming folder which seems relating to the "past". My PC is a consumer system with no Group Policy support for its configuration and management. So, I deleted all the "stuff". The performance apparently restored. I did more research on Roaming, there is no "official" information as to how Roaming is supposed to work in consumer PCs without IT management structure. If Windows boot does involve the "stuff" in the Roaming folder, the system should slow down considerably as the "stuff" will misguide the system boot.

    I just wonder if you can do some research or write something for the general consumers.

    Thanks!

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-01-31T20:36:56+00:00

    Thank you Ken.

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  5. Anonymous
    2018-01-30T17:45:16+00:00

    You are quite welcome. CT's answer is the key to resetting the Windows Update downloads. Windows Updates via Internet is inherently unreliable at times, as downloads take place in the background and often people don't even know. SFC serves one very basic but important purpose - Verifying what Microsoft sent is the same as what consumers received in their PCs.

    I think Microsoft should compile a list of user friendly "how-to" in dealing with the these related issues. Microsoft shifted the strategy for Windows 10 as "service-over-the-Internet". But the most important piece of that  strategy completely missed the importance of dealing with this not-so-reliable Internet reality. The CBS.log file is another consequential issue, if the applied downloads are not what Microsoft had intended. See

    https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows\_7-update/solved-component-based-servicing-cbslog-causes-all/0b91bea0-31b5-42a1-8293-e9040c4eedfa?auth=1

    This problem seems not limited to Win7. Someone at Microsoft should take an "architectural view" for how to ensure a reliable Windows Updates for the masses. User forums cannot not fix these problems for the Windows-as-a-service strategy.

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