Solution to ‘Windows Update cannot currently check for updates, because the service is not running. You may need to restart your computer’. Dec 2017

Hi Rob

Glad you got a fix for your problem.  The problem I had was obviously different to yours – i.e my update options were not greyed out , just unable to update - but while I was experimenting I found something very interesting.  I have my operating system and programs on a solid state drive (C:) and all my data on a separate conventional drive and keep a clone of the C drive so that if there are big problems I can drop in the clone and it’s not too out of date regarding updates.  I found I had a clone dated April 2017 so tried that today and it had exactly the same problem I had recently regarding not updating.  I thought that rather strange because I hadn’t experienced this problem until Nov 2017, in other words, it doesn't appear to be a particular update that caused the problem.  That leaves me very puzzled!!  It’s as though the problem was created as soon as it booted. I was connected to the internet at the time but when I checked the updates installed, the last one was in April.  Can’t get my head around this one!! I was able to put this problem right by following my earlier procedure of changing the update option to ‘Never check for updates’.  So, I’m none the wiser as to what is creating this problem in the first instance. Whether Microsoft can throw any light on this I don’t know, but would be interested to hear!   For people who have their update settings as ‘Install updates automatically’, they will not be aware updates are not working, as you get no indication of this problem until you come to update manually!

As I mentioned to Silver Rob, no word from Microsoft as yet.  As you say, people need to know about this update problem because you have no indication that your Windows update is not functioning until you try to manually update!

I still am unable to change settings of day and time although all other check (tick) boxes are changeable. The Run script options given to me by Shawn 'Cmdr' Keene did solve my update problem (note; it did wipe clean all update history though).

Because this problem cannot be cured by further updates the script solution should be made available to more people by statement and access to script by Microsoft.  As stated previously I am no techy but combined with help from youself and the community I have cured the major concern of my problem. I can only wait for further developments or at least an update to correct settings problem.

Regards Rob

I think the only way you can adjust Date/Time is to have Windows Update set to Install Updates Automatically:

Otherwise you will not be able to change the Date/Time since those options do not make sense for the other settings.  It could be something else though.

What are the observations on your system?

And Install updates automatically is (arguably) the worst possible setting for Windows Update and is one reason there are so many topics that begin with "Windows Update broke my computer".

If you computer is behaving and you want it to continue to behave the preferred setting would be to Never check for updates and that puts you in charge of what updates get installed on your system instead of Microsoft.

See this fine discussion for more information

There are several consequences to using those suggestions to reset Windows Update and one of them is that it will wipe out your Update History (but not the list of installed updates).  Most of the time when somebody suggests that they will not mention the consequences.

I would not count on anything changing or coming from Microsoft about this Windows Update problem since the MS developers are probably not looking at this community oriented forum, the allged problem is only afflicting some systems some of the time (they are insulated isodents) the problem occurs only under certain conditions - it is not a global problem with Windows 7.

If the issues was inherent to Windows 7 then millions of systems all over the world would be afflicted and they're not.

And the reason some systems become afflicted is (or could be) becasue the Windows Updates are set to download and install updates automatically which is inviting problems and malfuctions.

Hi ElderN, my computer is set to 'Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install' as administrator I should have function to change.

Prior to this I had been on holiday and returned to find the update problem.

I did highlight the fact that update history was cleared when I used the link provide by Shawn'Cmdr'Keene. I also highlighted problem on link where first link at top of page was paid for solution that could have been invasive.

I also think that although possibly not global problem there are enough people with this problem to raise at least awareness and either provide means or the information to rectify. Not being able to update is quite a concerning problem in todays environment. I run Win 10 on my other PC and my wife's Laptop.

Regards Rob