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

Anonymous
2017-12-11T20:19:37+00:00

I have seen many people experiencing the problem of ‘Windows Update cannot currently check for updates, because the service is not running. You may need to restart your computer’.

Today, 11th Dec 2017, I have had exactly the same problem with going in to Windows Update on Win 7 PC’s and getting this same scenario when I try to update windows.  I go in to Control Panel and Windows Update.  There is a red X in the box and when I click ‘Check for Updates’ I get the message

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

I restarted the PC and still had the same the same problem and I also checked the Update Service was running and it was.

I have One laptop and 4 PC’s at home all running Win 7 so I tried the same procedure of updating and all but one had the same issue as above.  I contacted a few friends whom I know have PC’s running Win 7 and when I asked them to try updating Windows they had the same problem I had.  The settings in Windows Update varied from ‘Download updates but let me choose when to install them’ ,  ‘Install updates automatically ( recommended)’, ‘Never check for updates ( not recommended)’ .  Ironically, the only PC I found I could check for updates was the one set to ‘Never check for updates ( not recommended)’. So we changed the settings on all the PC’s to‘Never check for updates ( not recommended)’ and then rebooted & then tried to check for updates and we could in all instances.**  We then changed the settings back to our preference of either *‘Install updates automatically ( recommended)’*or ‘Download updates but let me choose when to install them’ and all is well again. So, it looks as though there has been a common problem with a previous Windows 7 Update that caused this update problem recently.  

Can anyone from Microsoft please look in to this as there may be many people thinking their PC's are being updated and they aren't!

Since posting this a year ago it's obvious from the responses that the above fix doesn't work for everyone but it's certainly worth giving the above solution a shot as it's so simple, if it doesn't then follow one of the other solutions mentioned further on in the discussion.  Once you have the updates working again the problem does not reoccur so obviously Microsoft fixed the problem in a subsequent update. I also notice that one year on and some people are still only just discovering Windows has not been updating all this time, so guess it pays to check updates are being installed occasionally!

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-06-14T15:46:05+00:00

    I have seen many people experiencing the problem of ‘Windows Update cannot currently check for updates, because the service is not running. You may need to restart your computer’.

    Today, 11th Dec 2017, I have had exactly the same problem with going in to Windows Update on Win 7 PC’s and getting this same scenario when I try to update windows.  I go in to Control Panel and Windows Update.  There is a red X in the box and when I click ‘Check for Updates’ I get the message

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

    I restarted the PC and still had the same the same problem and I also checked the Update Service was running and it was.

    I have One laptop and 4 PC’s at home all running Win 7 so I tried the same procedure of updating and all but one had the same issue as above.  I contacted a few friends whom I know have PC’s running Win 7 and when I asked them to try updating Windows they had the same problem I had.  The settings in Windows Update varied from ‘Download updates but let me choose when to install them’ ,  ‘Install updates automatically ( recommended)’, ‘Never check for updates ( not recommended)’ .  Ironically, the only PC I found I could check for updates was the one set to ‘Never check for updates ( not recommended)’. So we changed the settings on all the PC’s to ‘Never check for updates ( not recommended)’ and then tried to check for updates and we could in all instances.  We then changed the settings back to our preference of either *‘Install updates automatically ( recommended)’*or ‘Download updates but let me choose when to install them’ and all is well again. So, it looks as though there has been a common problem with a previous Windows 7 Update that caused this update problem recently.  

    Can anyone form Microsoft please look in to this as there may be many people thinking their PC's are being updated and they aren't!

    I keep trying to put Dragon speech on my computer. Because I have problems and typing and speaking and Dragon speech helps me opinion is that for over 15 years.

    In the message keeps coming up( and I cannot find multimedia device) are quite the program completely off and started all over several times he keeps coming out the same I'm hoping you can help in that I really need that program on here and if you can't that's okay or find some way communicating. Thank you very much

    RayKurts1

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-01-08T07:20:27+00:00

    Hi Verylostincomputers

    Have you tried going to 'Windows update' and 'Change Settings' and then in the dropdown box choose 'Never Check for updates'.   Then click 'Check for updates' and it should start looking for updates. If it starts looking for updates, let it do it's thing and install the updates and then all should be well. Once finished, you can change the settings back to your preference.  I would mention, this doesn't work for everyone.

    Dan

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-12-16T15:09:23+00:00

    Hi dandm2015, I was given this link by Shawn'Cmdr' Keene.

    Normally the diagnostic will reset Windows Update -- but let's try this instead:  Windows Update - Reset

    This was my reply to him and I had assumed you would have seen it from the post (apologies for that). If you click the link you will see my concerns on downloading correct solution.

    Hi Shawn 'Cmdr' Keene, thank you for link 'Windows Update-Reset'.

    It has solved my problem. Only extra advice I can add is that anyone using this link (Seven Forums) ignore first link on page **"Windows 7: Windows Update Reset. Recommended"**and scroll down page to option 2. this worked for me. Read and follow instructions for solution. It might also be beneficial to read options 1 and option 3.

    Thank you Shawn 'Cmdr' again for this solution.

    Thank you dandm 2015 for your help. I trust that any others with this problem will now be able to rectify it. It took some time but in the end we got there.

    Regards Rob.

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-01-30T22:05:31+00:00

    This works for me.  All I had to do was as the OP says, set Windows Update to Never check for updates ( not recommended).:)

      I looked high and low before finding and trying this, and voila, that is all it took.  This post should be pinned.  It's highly curious to me why none of the posts I saw from Microsoft people suggested this simple and easy fix.  The only ones I saw suggested things that did nothing to help me.

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  5. Anonymous
    2017-12-15T12:31:48+00:00

    Hi Rob

    Yes, in view of those values in Registry not being there, wise move to leave as is.  Like you, when I had this problem the update history page was blank. I now have this list back since fixing the problem.  There have been many issues with Win 7 updates since the release of Win 10 and I spent many hours looking for solutions.  If it was me I would try the restore option, not a lot to lose on that one.  With regards to recent updates that could have caused this I have listed below the recent update history, including details, on my PC that had this problem.  The Windows updates previous to those listed below were installed on 15/11/2017 so I would presume the update that has caused this problem is one of the three installed on 29/11/2017 below: 

    "Security Update for Microsoft Office 2007 suites (KB4011604)

    Installation date: ‎29/‎11/‎2017 08:47

    Installation status: Successful

    Update type: Important

    A security vulnerability exists in Microsoft Office 2007 suites  that could allow arbitrary code to run when a maliciously modified file is opened. This update resolves that vulnerability.

    More information:

    https://support.microsoft.com/kb/4011604

    Help and Support:

    https://support.microsoft.com/?LN=en-us"

    "2017-11 Preview of Monthly Quality Rollup for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB4051034)

    Installation date: ‎29/‎11/‎2017 08:47

    Installation status: Successful

    Update type: Optional

    Install this update to resolve issues in Windows. For a complete listing of the issues that are included in this update, see the associated Microsoft Knowledge Base article for more information. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.

    More information:

    http://support.microsoft.com/help/4051034"

    Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB2952664)

    Installation date: ‎29/‎11/‎2017 08:47

    Installation status: Successful

    Update type: Recommended

    Install this update to resolve issues in Windows. For a complete listing of the issues that are included in this update, see the associated Microsoft Knowledge Base article for more information. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.

    More information:

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2952664

    So if you are going to do a restore I would choose a date before 29/11/2017.  I have requested on this forum that someone from Microsoft look in to this problem and work on a solution, but not seen any response as yet!

    Will be interested how you get on with the restore.

    Dan

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