Windows 7 checking for updates stalling

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I have just done a full install of Windows 7 sp1 64bit and have noticed that I cannot get the updates to work. When I click on check for updates, the loader just sits there for hrs doing nothing. Whilst it is supposedly searching for updates, the whole system grinds to snail speed. This is the reason I did the re-install as it was happening on the computer prior. So I thought I would re-format and do a fresh install. Problem still not solved.
When I get the computer to try and shut down. It seems to take forever to close. Obviously something is causing the system to hang, I have no idea…

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It takes a long time to install W7 patches from scratch, I’d leave it running for a day.

cheers, Paul

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Are there any errors in the Event Logs?

As far as I can tell there are no event logs, it just sat there with the green line going backward and forward for 3 hrs. it is as though the whole update process is non existant!!

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Finally after 4 hrs of doing little, there now are 199 updates to download and install, no wonder the system was so slow. At least, at this time, it appears as it is doing what it is supposed to. Thanks for the feedback..:)

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Are you using a wireless or wired connection as it could be a driver/connection problem with a new install, although that may not answer why you had the same problem before the new install – but using wired may help.

Edit – A case of slow fingers again as I see you are already there.

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Hard wired is my setup..

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I have had the same problem of stuck on checking updates for the last 2 weeks with 3 fresh installs using Windows 7 SP1 Enterprise DVD. More from luck, two 64bit installs are now installing Windows Updates. A Win 7 32bit install on a laptop still does not work after 2 wipes and try again.
What I have found is whether automatic updates or “check for updates” is set, as soon as the Windows Update Agent 7.6.7600.320 update is installed the problem starts.

As a fresh install and hard wired, the suggestions of ‘turn off anti virus’ and ‘connect via cable’ don’t apply.
I have tried:
the Windows Update troubleshooter (Control Panel -> Troubleshooting -> System and Security -> Fix Problems with Windows Update
running Disk Cleanup in Safe Mode
various “reset Windows Update” bat files (look for Reset_Windows_Update_Full )
FIX WU Utility

The only hope I got was trying Heise WSUSOffline, but got a bit lost on what updates to apply. I will probably try this path again for the problem laptop.
After a while of trying repairs I seemed to mangle Windows and no matter what I did the Trouble Shooter had things it couldn’t fix.

A short while ago I got the 2nd Win 7 SP1 64bit install to work – here was the path:
– clean install with SP1
– manual install of some updates like IE 11 and .Net 3.51
– soon as Windows Update pulled down the update agent update, run a Full Reset of Windows Update bat file which renames softwaredistribution folder, renames catroot2 folder and reregisters all the update DLLs
– ran the Windows Update Troubleshooter and after a long time it was ready to install the updates (which come to about 180 – 195 all up depending on what you do manually)

Hope that helps someone, but Microsoft really need to fix that Windows Update Agent.

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This seems to relate to a problem I have.

Long story short, my sis in law allowed W10 to install over W7 on her laptop, then her HP printer wouldn’t work, so she Googled the problem and telephoned what she thought was HP support. She allowed them to remotely access her laptop for 30 mins when they told her she had been hacked etc etc, and demanded money to “clean” her system.

Realising that she was being scammed she hung up, but contacted me for help as I know a little bit more than she does about computers and, to be on the safe side, in case they had installed a key logger or similar, I rolled her system back to W7 and restored it to factory settings. I recovered her emails and started Windows update. Windows asked me to download a piece of software in order to run Update which I did, however, after downloading and installing several updates including a major W7 service pack, Update seemed to freeze on “searching for updates” for hours.

I searched the Microsoft help pages and, as mentioned above, I tried the fix it tool that was recommended, after stopping the “searching” in task manager but, though it fixed some files, it told me that it could not fix Windows Update. IE is still version 8 so she is using an up to date Google Chrome as her browser but is it worth trying the Fix it again? Should I update IE to 11 without waiting for Windows Update to offer it? I’m not clever enough to edit the registry so any advice would be welcome. Thank you!

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WSUSOffline. Takes a while, but a lot faster (especially from a flash drive) than doing multiple rounds of Windows Update on a clean install.

You still need to run Windows Update afterwards and there will be quite a few optional updates present as well.

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WSUSOffline. Takes a while, but a lot faster (especially from a flash drive) than doing multiple rounds of Windows Update on a clean install.

You still need to run Windows Update afterwards and there will be quite a few optional updates present as well.

+1

One major advantage, in my opinion, is that WSUSOffline installs the updates to Windows Update itself… thus avoiding some of the problems that Microsoft have brought about itself by changing WU to accommodate a smoother transition to Windows 10.

Another major advantage is that you can use an ‘exclude’ file to avoid the ‘problem’ updates like the installs of telemetry and diagnostics masquerading as ‘necessary’.

For example:
KB2952664 – Win10 upgrade update
KB2976978 – Diagnostics for upgrade
KB2977759 – Win10 upgrade update
KB2990214 – Win10 upgrade update
KB3021917 – Win10 upgrade update
KB3022345 – Diagnostics & Telemetry track svc
KB3035583 – Get Windows 10 app
KB3050265 – Win10 upgrade update
KB3065987 – WU Win10 upgrade update
KB3068708 – Diagnostics & Telemetry track svc
KB3075249 – Telemetry to consent.exe
KB3075851 – WU Win10 upgrade update
KB3080149 – Diagnostics & Telemetry track svc
KB3083324 – WU Win10 upgrade update

Hope this helps…

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There’s a known issue with the Windows 7 update cache, where it gets corrupted and updating just hangs. I’ve come across it a few times, and the following seems to help:

1. Stop the update service. Open a command prompt and use the command net stop wuauserv.
2. Open file explorer and hit View, Folder Options and enable the display of hidden files and folders.
3. Navigate to C:WindowsSoftwareDistributionDownload and delete the entire contents.
4. Back at the command prompt, use net start wuauserv to restart the service.
5. For good practice, re-hide hidden files and folders.

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There’s a known issue with the Windows 7 update cache, where it gets corrupted and updating just hangs. I’ve come across it a few times, and the following seems to help:

1. Stop the update service. Open a command prompt and use the command net stop wuauserv.
2. Open file explorer and hit View, Folder Options and enable the display of hidden files and folders.
3. Navigate to C:WindowsSoftwareDistributionDownload and delete the entire contents.
4. Back at the command prompt, use net start wuauserv to restart the service.
5. For good practice, re-hide hidden files and folders.

I tried following this procedure on a laptop running Win 7 Home Premium 64-bit, running CMD as an administrator, and failed on the first step. When I issued the net stop wuauserv command, I got a response “The Windows Update service could not be stopped.” Now what?

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In between the net stop and start wuauserv cmds, adding ren C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old will also remove the update history without having to display hidden files to manually remove the contents, but the cmd prompt needs to be run as an administrator.

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I found this thread searching for other Loungers who had the same Windows Updater issue.

I would like to follow the advice of tonyl (#11) and sudo15 (#12), but want to confirm I understand exactly what to do!

Tonyl said:

1. Stop the update service. Open a command prompt and use the command net stop wuauserv.
2. Open file explorer and hit View, Folder Options and enable the display of hidden files and folders.
3. Navigate to C:WindowsSoftwareDistributionDownload and delete the entire contents.
4. Back at the command prompt, use net start wuauserv to restart the service.
5. For good practice, re-hide hidden files and folders.

Sudo15 added:

In between the net stop and start wuauserv cmds, adding ren C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old will also remove the update history without having to display hidden files to manually remove the contents, but the cmd prompt needs to be run as an administrator.

Do I follow this combination of 3 steps from both posts:
1.Open a command prompt and use the command net stop wuauserv.
2. Type ren C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old Command prompt window.
3. Back at the command prompt, use net start wuauserv to restart the service.

If so, I’ll go ahead now and let you know if this corrects the issue.

Thanks for your help…don’t want to play with this until I know exactly how to proceed.

Linda

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I’m not sure that I’m technically competent enough to try any of these but I’ll download WSUSOFFLINE on to my flash drive and see if I can work out what to use on that first before I try anything else. Thanks for the advice

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That’s fantastic, thank you so much!:D

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I recently installed Win7 and had several hundred updates to go through, some of which had to be installed sequentially. Service Packs help to reduce such experiences, but not by much. Plan on a full day to get caught up with Win7 in its full splendor.

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During the past couple of months whenever I have had to do a clean install of Vista or Win7 Windows Updates has taken at least an hour to return results on the first run. W/ Win7 there are usually around 200 updates to be installed. I tend to install about 100 the first time, then the remaining updates. The second check for updates usually completes in much less time than the first

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Updates have downloaded but they won’t install. The laptop is back with the owner but will be returned to me early next week when I will try the WSUS offline updater. Hopefully this will solve the problem.

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Well I have the laptop and updates appear to be downloading and installing OK at the moment. I will have to double check if the ones that failed to install before have now done so, as I may now not have to use WSUS. One thing …there was an offered optional update that failed to install “Elan-Other hardware-Elan Input Device” and now, when the laptop boots up it shows a box stating ElanTPCfg failed to start. I know that this is related to the ASUS touchpad, which isn’t used, but I don’t know how to get rid of this error message. Maybe I should start another thread?

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I have successfully used WSUS and this laptop is now up to date with Windows udates. I even managed to download the optional Elan update, so the driver should be up to date but I am still getting the error message box that appears every time it boots up…ElanTPCfg has stopped working. I think this relates to the ATK package that was preloaded with this ASUS laptop and I am tempted to uninstall it. Do you think this would work?

Since posting the above, I rolled back the Elan device driver and the error message has gone!!!

The laptop is back to normal. Many thanks for all the advice!

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Great news sylviesinc
BTW – the laptop I had trouble with suddenly decided to download and apply updates after I installed a virus scanner to scan a USB drive. Go figure. Love the WSUS Offline video in an earlier post

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I am SO grateful for the WSUS Offline software and the video was a terrific walkthrough. 😀

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Thanks for the WSUS information, I reckon that is gold!

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I had to restore an Acronis image file from 2012 for my laptop. I kept getting an error that Windows Update could not start because the Windows Update Service was not running. But I did some Googling and determined that it was set up properly.

As a result of my searching, I found this 2012 forum post with the solution:
http://windowssecrets.com/forums/showthread//146996-Windows-Updates-Service-not-running?p=856825&viewfull=1#post856825

I had not seen any warning messages from Windows Defender, which was unusual. I opened it, updated its database and did a scan. After that, Windows Update started, and alerted me to install an Update so that Windows Update could check for more Windows Updates . Now it is running as expected – based on prior posts, this will take a few hours …

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The Windows Update service is started manually and stops when it’s finished. That message may indicate the service is not running. Check in Service (Start > Run, services.msc) that the service is actually running. If it is you could try disabling the service and rebooting, run the other commands, re-enable and reboot – you need to run Services as Admin.

cheers, Paul

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The Windows Update service is started manually and stops when it’s finished. That message may indicate the service is not running. Check in Service (Start > Run, services.msc) that the service is actually running. If it is you could try disabling the service and rebooting, run the other commands, re-enable and reboot – you need to run Services as Admin.

cheers, Paul

When I looked in Services, Windows Update status is shown as Stopping. Its Startup Type is Automatic (Delayed Start).

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Stopping means it has stalled, methinks. Disable and reboot. Note: it should be manual start.

cheers, Paul

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Stopping means it has stalled, methinks. Disable and reboot. Note: it should be manual start.

cheers, Paul

The only way I could disable it was to reboot FIRST. Next time I ran Windows Update it showed no updates ever applied (due to the renaming of the Software Distribution folder, I assume) but once again WU never got to the point of showing updates to install. I’m giving WSUSOffline a try, but it is taking forever.

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Rick (post #26),

Thanks for the helpful and worryingly long list !

Would I be correct in assuming that the diagnostics and telemetry stuff (I no longer trust MS after their misleading descriptions of updates to further their marketing needs) are all, in effect, disabled by non-participation on the Customer Experience Improvement Program ?

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Would I be correct in assuming that the diagnostics and telemetry stuff are all, in effect, disabled by non-participation on the Customer Experience Improvement Program ?

Unfortunately, no. You can probably test this yourself.

1. Open Services (Start > Run > services.msc or Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services).
2. Scroll down to Diagnostics Tracking Service. If it’s there, the Status is probably Started and its Startup Type set to Automatic. Make a note of the settings then close Services.
3. Open the CEIP participation dialog (Control Panel > Action Center > Change Action Center settings > Customer Experience Improvement Program settings).
4. Choose No, I don’t want to participate in the program then click on the Save changes button to dismiss the dialog then click on the OK button to dismiss the Change Action Center settings dialog and, finally, close the Action Center.
5. Restart your PC/laptop.

If your PC is like mine, after restarting, another check of Services will show you that the Diagnostics Tracking Service is stll there, and started and still set to Automatic.

Note also that other sources recommend uninstalling a lot more updates than the few I mentioned in post #26 (and removing several scheduled tasks, deleting certain registry keys and blocking remote endpoints using the route command).

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Thank you Rick.

Apparently this “service” came with KB3022345 in 2015:

Helping the overall application experience

The Diagnostic and Telemetry service collects diagnostics information about functional issues on Windows systems that participate in the Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP). CEIP reports don’t contain contact information, such as your name, address, or telephone number. This means CEIP won’t ask you to participate in surveys or to read junk email, and you won’t be contacted in any other way. Windows users can make changes to their Windows CEIP participation in the Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program settings page by opening Control Panel and selecting Action Center > Change Action Center settings > Customer Experience Improvement Program settings.

I am deeply suspicious of the words “Helping the overall application experience” (sounds like the build-up to W10 to me !) and will turn off this service. If there are no ill effects I’ll uninstall the KB.

PS In W10 it is re-badged as the “Connected User Experiences and Telemetry” service. This is the best article I found on the subject:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2978239/windows/microsoft-slips-user-tracking-tools-into-windows-7-8-amidst-windows-10-privacy-storm.html

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Apparently this “service” came with KB3022345 in 2015:

And KB3068708 – Diagnostics & Telemetry track svc
And KB3080149 – Diagnostics & Telemetry track svc

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Spybot Anti-beacon claims to disable the telemetry.

cheers, Paul

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Correct, well interpreted – I had to read it 3 times. 🙂

If you do this expect online updates to be very slow – that’s a lot of updates. Use the offline one initially.

cheers, Paul

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I have since done a load of reading on this, found a fix that worked until the May updates and apparently they messed it up again. However another fix has done the job, probably until the next updates. The first fix involved downloading KB3145739 and saving it to the computer, next stop the update service with the cmd “net stop wuauserv” minus the exclaimation marks. Then I did a stand alone installation of the KB3145739, rebooted and the update process worked very well until a couple of days ago. Now I found out that one needs to download KB3153199 and proceed as for KB3145739. I did this and once again, my updates are coming in as they should.
Maybe Microsoft are sabotaging windows 7 machines in an effort to get people to upgrade to Windows 10, now that sound like a conspiracy!!:confused:

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Hi Paul,

This is in reply to your post #38. I finally got back to this update issue, but got stymied.

I first found a downloaded KB3153199 for 64 bit computers. I then typed the command to stop WU in the prompt window…but it failed to stop. It took several seconds of trying (indicated by a series of dots across the screen); then, told me it could not be stopped.

Any idea how to proceed?

UPDATE: maybe I’ve found the problem: noticed I had WU open from attempt to download earlier…cmd gives me “The service is starting or stopping. Please try again later” message. I’ve tried for about 5 minutes and keep getting this message. Should I just wait longer or is something else going on?

Thanks again,

Linda

P.S. And, yes, WU is still not updating…checked that first hoping some automatic magic fix had occurred in the meantime. Ha!

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Thanks to both of you for such quick responses. Hate to admit it, but now I’m somewhat confused…

Paul, you said

that’s a lot of updates. Use the offline one initially.

.

Does this mean I will be downloading ALL the updates from the beginning of time (or at least this install, now 5 years old)?

If so, hate to do it: I don’t always download all recommended; I usually go by what Susan Bradley says.

Exfso2: not sure I understand how to do what you suggest. Would your suggestion mean that you stop the update service while you install the one KB; then start it up again or…??

It’s interesting given what Exfso2 said that this started just this week: last updates were May 10 and all went well. Must admit, being in a hurry, I did not check Susan’s column before those updates, just did them all. Maybe I downloaded an update that’s causing this issue??? Or maybe Exfso2 is right and Microsoft is pushing Windows 10 on me! 😉

Linda

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Windows should leave existing patches in place – not actually tested this – but any that aren’t installed will turn up. Overall it’s a lot of querying of the MS database and possible downloading, so I’d have a go with the offline version to get the database re-built.
1. Make an image backup before doing anything.
2. Let Windows install all patches to save you having to run through them all.

cheers, Paul

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Apparently there is an update coming out that some are calling SP2 for windows 7. It apparently replaces all updates since SP1 and fixes issues with slow updates etc. So we shall see.

http://www.infoworld.com/article/3071737/microsoft-windows/microsoft-overhauls-windows-7-and-81-updating-but-dont-call-it-a-service-pack.html?token=%23tk.IFWNLE_nlt_infoworld_tech_microsoft_2016-05-18&idg_eid=4d86636046009cf834b00a37129e55bf&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=InfoWorld%20Windows%20Report%202016-05-18&utm_term=infoworld_tech_microsoft#tk.IFW_nlt_infoworld_tech_microsoft_2016-05-18

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Linda, you have to stop the update service to do a stand alone installation otherwise it will not work. Once stopped, click on the KB3153199 and this update will be installed, or should be if you have stopped the update service! I then rebooted my computer which automatically starts the update service and voila I was offered updates….

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See also the Sticky in this (W7) area of the Lounge.

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Very interesting thread, especially now that we appear to have the rollup WU option as well.

So, if I was going to do a fresh re-install of Win7 Home Premium on my three year old laptop using the recovery CDs that came with the laptop, what would be the best approach?

Run the recovery CDs followed by the new WU rollup followed by an additional check for updates?

Run the recovery CDs followed by WSUSOffline followed by an additional check for updates?

Use another approach?

I gather that by following the first two methods I give up the option of filtering the updates based on Susan Bradley’s recommendations and must accept whatever those methods give me . . .

Thanks!

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@ggeinec

Do your recovery discs have SP1 already? If not, you must install SP1.

Read the KB article associated with the convenience rollup as there is a required update to install before the convenience rollup.

--Joe

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Also note: [This list of other potential problems with the convenience rollup should probably be reviewed before employing it: [url url=”https://www.askwoody.com/2016/windows-7-sp2-convenience-update-rollup-under-examination/”

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One thing I’ve found after factory resetting an older Win 7 laptop that didn’t come with SP1, was before I could get to https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/details.aspx?id=5842 to manually download SP1, I had to have the latest version of Silverlight as you will be prompted for it.

https://www.microsoft.com/silverlight/

You need SP1 installed to upgrade IE 8 to IE 11 which makes life easier to reinstall programs.

You can then direct download that – https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/Internet-Explorer-11-for-Windows-7-details.aspx

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Coochin has a fix that may work for you.
http://windowssecrets.com/forums/showthread//176316-Windows-Update-Service-Continually-Maxing-out-CPU?p=1059124&viewfull=1#post1059124

cheers, Paul

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Paul,

Tried to understand Coochin. Downloaded KB3161608 but it wouldn’t work. It’s a standalone installer apparently. Trying to use it resulted in “Installer encountered an error. #0x80080005”.

This whole WU thing has me totally confused. There seem to be so many suggested fixes and I am not able to sort through them to make something work for me…and I have a list of 83 important updates now, none of which will download.

My technical understanding is perhaps not good enough. At this point, I really don’t know what to do next.

Finding wuauserv in processes was fine, but it just says it’s “stopping” and won’t let me have access to stop it. Tried Coochin’s suggestion re Go to processes, but it wasn’t listed there to be stopped. Sigh.

Do you think I should just start a whole new thread of my own to keep things straighter?

Linda

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There’s also a new guide on Sysnative today: GUIDE: Windows 7- Very Slow Scan Times When Checking for Updates

In one instance, after installing the update, checking for updates finished in 19 seconds vs 18 hours that it used to.

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That’s the second time I’ve clicked on a Sysnative link where all of the text is bunched up in a single wrap around column down the left side of the page.

Not sure if it was another one of yours, Andy.

I’m sure I’ve seen someone else on the forum complaining of similar on other websites, but can’t remember if they found the cause.

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Could you be seeing the effect of a partial ad removal?

44916-SysnativeAds

I use HostsMan (MVPs, hpHosts +partial +Ad & tracking, Malware domain, FB, YT) plus uBlock Original (all except Experimental. + Adblock Warning Removal, Anti-Adblock Killer, Peter Lowe’s Ad server and Basic Tracking and Malvertising filters by Disconnect), so I had to make a few clicks to see it that way 😉

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Could you be seeing the effect of a partial ad removal?

I use HostsMan (MVPs, hpHosts +partial +Ad & tracking, Malware domain, FB, YT) plus uBlock Original (all except Experimental. + Adblock Warning Removal, Anti-Adblock Killer, Peter Lowe’s Ad server and Basic Tracking and Malvertising filters by Disconnect), so I had to make a few clicks to see it that way 😉

Not sure how an ad could be in the process of being removed – I used to have AdblockPlus but found it was the cause of IE has stopped working so I’ve dumped it.

It’s unfortunate there isn’t a version of µBlock for IE as without an ad blocker I have to wait for all of the ads to load on a page before it’s usable.

Haven’t been able to find a replacement yet.

This is what I get –

44918-TmSys

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Linda, you can prevent the service starting, then re-boot and run KB3161608 manually, then re-enable WU and re-boot.
1. Run Services from your admin Command Prompt by typing: services.msc
2. Scroll down to “Windows Update” and double click on it.
3. Change the Startup Type to “disabled” and re-boot.
4. Run KB3161608.
5. Go to WU and change the Startup Type to “enabled”. Check the logon is still set to “Local System account”.
6. Re-boot.

Let us know how it goes.

cheers, Paul

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Linda, you can prevent the service starting, then re-boot and run KB3161608 manually, then re-enable WU and re-boot.
1. Run Services from your admin Command Prompt by typing: services.msc
2. Scroll down to “Windows Update” and double click on it.
3. Change the Startup Type to “disabled” and re-boot.
4. Run KB3161608.
5. Go to WU and change the Startup Type to “enabled”. Check the logon is still set to “Local System account”.
6. Re-boot.

I just got hit by this problem yesterday on one of my laptops. I restored my Acronis image file from July 3, and then the system was busy “checking for updates”, and never would download the updates to install. The CPU activity was constantly between 25% and 50%.

I downloaded the KB3161608 update and manually ran the install. It installed fairly quickly, then I rebooted and checked for updates. This time it had no problems downloading and installing. Next step – update my Acronis image file!

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Paul, these are lovely, tech-deficient-person-clear instructions. Will try now and post back (and thank you SO much for your help and patience!!)

Linda

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Results in Red:

1. Run Services from your admin Command Prompt by typing: services.msc Worked
2. Scroll down to “Windows Update” and double click on it. Done
3. Change the Startup Type to “disabled” and re-boot. Did that
4. Run KB3161608.Stopped here: couldn’t run. Should I have done #5 before running KB?
5. Go to WU and change the Startup Type to “enabled”. Check the logon is still set to “Local System account”.
6. Re-boot.

Linda

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@ Linda –

As you are having problems with KB3161608 then try KB3161664 but you’ll need to see if it is already installed by going to Installed Updates and enter that into the top right search box.

KB3161664 is May’s Windows Update Agent.

If you already have it installed then give ‘608 another go but first go to Windows Update and change the setting to Never… and then go to services.msc.

Right click on Windows Update service – select Properties and use the dropdown to change it to Disabled – Apply – Stop – OK – File/Exit

This is the direct download link for ‘664 – https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=52794

If either successfully install then go to servces.msc and change the Windows Update service from Disabled to Automatic (Delayed) – Apply – Start – OK etc. then change the Windows Update settings to auto install which should invoke the Check for updates.

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Thanks for all the additional suggestions, Sudo15. Will give them a go then post back on results.

Sure appreciate the help!

Linda

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Well, phooey. I followed your instructions (with one exception: had to enable WU before I could install KB…664).

WU is set to “notify but let me download”, but when I tried to download the patches, I got the eternally rotating icon with no further progress. It’s been going for 10 minutes now with no progress.

I stopped the big dowload and tried to download just 1 update (making sure to UNcheck Windows 10 first!)… same result.

Right now, downloading manually as I did with KB…664 is the only way that works. I have over 80 important updates in the list so I shudder to think that I have to do each one manually.

Any thoughts on what to try next?

Thanks for your help,

Linda

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After hiding the Win 10 one and KB3035583 change the WU settings to auto and see how they go, but at least you’ve gotten them.

You may just have to be patient when it comes to it actually downloading them.

You could also just select a few at a time to download.

As a safeguard to Win 10, you can download GWX Control Panel and check the relevant boxes but hiding KB3035583 will stop the GWX icon from appearing in your system tray.

http://ultimateoutsider.com/downloads/

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@ Andy – Your link is working now.

Not sure if it may have had something to do with WMP as I’ve only been getting audio without video initially on BBC Iplayer and have had to refresh the page – but clicking on a YT video on another forum would only play audio whatever I did.

I had recently upgraded my AMD video drivers and that put Quickstream on and other bits to enhance gaming (which I don’t do) which I uninstalled separately but had to manually uninstall a Non-Plug and Play driver.

Thinking it was that, reinstalled those which changed the blank black screen to green, so opened WMP and made that the default medium and that sorted that.

As I’m back on this thread, thought I’d also give that link another go, so it was one or the other that solved it.

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Thanks for the further suggestions.

I changed WU setting to auto, selected 8 important updates, clicked “Install Now” and will see how it goes.

Will post back results after let it run for the next few hours.

Linda

P.S. Appreciate the tip on GWX – I hid the KB to stop its appearance.

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I spent the best part of 3 days, (many different loads, fixes, re-install, etc.) trying to get updates with no success. Found the info for the wsus offliine update and decided to give it a try. It took almost 24 hours but I am back -up to date and the update check seems to be working the way it should. Thanks for the help !
http://www.wsusoffline.net

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Sigh. Today it’s worse: eternally downloading but nothing downloads. Had to change settings from auto since I don’t want the Win10 Update.

Any idea on what I can try next. My updates are months old and it worries me since I’m on this computer for our business daily.

Hopefully,

Linda

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Sigh. Today it’s worse: eternally downloading but nothing downloads. Had to change settings from auto since I don’t want the Win10 Update.

Hopefully,

Linda

Simple way to avoid the Windows 10 update is to use “Never 10” from Steve Gibson. I’ve done this on several PCs for friends and family:
https://www.grc.com/never10.htm

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Simple way to avoid the Windows 10 update is to use “Never 10” from Steve Gibson. I’ve done this on several PCs for friends and family:
https://www.grc.com/never10.htm

I think at the moment, Linda would be glad to just get any updates 😀

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Not really sure where you can go from there when you have the updates but the download is hanging.

Does Event Viewer have anything recorded ?

I don’t think changing your DNS servers would help, but you could give that a try.

Go Start – type ncpa.cpl and press enter – right click on the adapter you are using and select Properties

Click on (TCP/IPv4) then on Properties

Check the lower radio button to Use the following DNS servers then in the upper row of boxes enter 8.8.8.8

Tab down to the next row and enter 8.8.4.4 – check the box to Validate settings upon exit – OK – Close and that will invoke the troubleshooter which should return no problems found.

To revert to your previous settings, just check the radio button above that.

You could try WSUS Offline to see how they do with that –

http://www.wsusoffline.net/docs/

http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/wsus_offline_update.html

I’ve never used this but I would suggest you select Save and then run it from your Downloads folder.

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I sure appreciate all the time you’re giving me on this, Sudo15.

I misspoke in my post above: WU is not at the install stage today; it’s eternally “checking for updates”. So that listof 80+ updates it gave me yesterday is no longer appearing.

Checking successful updates, I see KB2310138 has been successfully installed 5 times since May 27, one being one yesterday. Could this be a problem?

Meanwhile, I’ll check out your links and keep trying.

Thanks so much,

Linda

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I think it’s quite normal for you to continually get that update as it relates to MSE updates – unless you don’t use MSE.

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Have you tried WSUS Offline?
http://windowssecrets.com/forums/showthread//172467-Windows-7-checking-for-updates-stalling?p=1060057&viewfull=1#post1060057

cheers, Paul

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Thanks, Sudo15…and I do use MSE.

Paul, I had read that thread but thought it was only for Windows Update on a Server and not a standalone PC. Can I use it on my computer? If so, I’ll give it a try.

Linda

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Yes, the offline update works on any Windows computer.

cheers, Paul

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Please see UPDATE below, too.
Good one, Sudo15!

Still, rgrosz (and Paul), I followed the Never10 link but cannot figure out how to get the utility to work. I’m obviously missing something.

Can you help me understand how to get this utility…just in case I ever get WU to give me updates! If I have it, then I can select “download automatically” and that might let things happen…without allowing Win10 to sneak in.

Thanks,

Linda

UPDATE:

Just after posting above, I checked WU again…and got a notice that all updates had been done and there were none needed!!

I couldn’t believe it so checked the installed updates list: there, despite the “Windows is up to date” notice, I didn’t see any updates except the KB…138 I manually installed last week. And “check for updates” just keeps on spinning.

Sigh, thought all was magically well when I saw that message.

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Please see UPDATE below, too.
Good one, Sudo15!

Still, rgrosz (and Paul), I followed the Never10 link but cannot figure out how to get the utility to work. I’m obviously missing something.

When you download the EXE file, just click on the file to run it. It only takes a few seconds to change your “Windows 10 update” setting – just click the button at the bottom of the screen.

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I don’t think you’ve used the System Update Readiness Tool (SURT) yet.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/kb/947821

It’s a 538MB download so select Save and then run it from your downloads folder should you need to use at a later date.

I had to set my WU settings to Never to get this so it didn’t hang at checking for updates, but the WU service has to be enabled, otherwise it will fail.

Its log can be found at C:WindowsLogsCBS then double click on the Checksur one and that will open in Notepad, which you can then copy & paste into the reply box to see if we can make any sense out of it.

I’m starting to suspect Package .cat and/or .mum file corruption which can affect updates, but the log will show that if there are any it cannot repair.

Anyway, you can start again with this month’s updates 🙂

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Good grief! You guys will not believe this update…

Last night, after posting my question to Rick, I shut down my computer. It seemed to be taking a while so I checked the screen – and saw the “Windows is installing 84 updates. Don’t turn off your computer.”

I couldn’t believe it since, as I said above, the updates weren’t downloading at all.

This morning I held my breath when turning on the computer (because of Win10 which I “thought” I had hicl waiting to hear from Rick but wasn’t sure)…no problems. It started fine (and with Windows 7 Home Premium). I checked WU “installed updates” and there were all 84 updates, dated July 11.

This has totally confused me as it seems to make no sense, but I’m sure happy. This morning WU lists only 4 important and 5 optional which I have not yet attempted!!

I’m still going to try that Never10 (thanks for instructions, Rick) and will attempt the new updates and post back with results.

Your thoughts?

Linda

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Magic ? :D:

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It’s possible you managed to run Never10 and when the W10 upgrade is removed W7 updates load. We have seen this before.

cheers, Paul

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Thanks, Sudo15 and Paul. Magic seems likely since I never did get to Never10’s exe file…I don’t think. Maybe just opening Rick’s link did the magic:rolleyes:.

Regardless they’re in there. Unfortunately, I’ve got the eternally running “preparing to install” trying to get the latest updates! Ah well. Will let you know if they do install…by magic…tomorrow.

Thanks so much for all your help through a rather frustrating and long lasting issue! No wonder this Lounge is my best friend.

Linda

P.S. for Rick:well, duh, I’d missed the green Download button (see attached) when I scanned quickly down the page. Once that was clicked, it was easy!
44967-Never10

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It’s possible you managed to run Never10 and when the W10 upgrade is removed W7 updates load. We have seen this before.

This seems to make the most sense.

What’s strange is that the updater always checks for updates eternally and never says, “here they are and click to install”. I didn’t click to install the time I got the 84 nor last night when 4 were offered but seemingly never installed.

However, once again, when I turned off my computer, I got the message to wait until updates were installed. In the morning, on powering up, got the “preparing to configure Windows. Don’t turn off your computer.”

This has not been how updates used to install (via WU with the option to restart) so all seems a tad weird.

Still, even if WU tells me I’m not getting updates, I seem to be getting them in this different fashion. If no Lounger thinks this is an issue, I’ll just continue…and post back if things change.

At least Windows 10 can’t sneak in now, thanks to Rick!!

Appreciate everyone’s help and suggestions, as always,

Linda

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However, once again, when I turned off my computer, I got the message to wait until updates were installed. In the morning, on powering up, got the “preparing to configure Windows. Don’t turn off your computer.”

This has not been how updates used to install (via WU with the option to restart) so all seems a tad weird.

Linda

This sounds normal to me, especially when a large number of updates must be processed. I just installed Tuesday’s updates for two computers, and they both showed the same message. This is often required for Windows to make certain changes to the registry, which can’t be made while Windows is running.

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Check the WU settings to ensure they haven’t changed to auto install.

cheers, Paul

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