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Reference 1 : Checking for updates slow on Windows 7? Here is the fix
Reference 2 : [Fix] Windows 7 Keeps Checking for Updates for Hours
Reference 3 : The core of the Win7 update scan slowdown
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EnricoStef: yes i have a solution, star task manager and end the process of the manual update that is running, then go to control panel > administrative tools > service > windows update > restart, wait for win update restart. now you are able to install the manual updates for some minutes.... if those are not installed yet they will be installed. restart windows if needed, and repeat the sequence for the others manual updates remained to install. You will find that some of those are installed yed. then go to install the others updates.
TO download the ms updates from ms sites, you need Opera browser that is not hiding the download links and the download text messages...
Today in this tutorial, we are going to address one of the most annoying and strange problems present in Windows 7 operating system. This problem is related to built-in Windows Update program which regularly checks for new updates at Microsoft servers and downloads and installs them in Windows OS to keep your computer safe and faster.
PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:
Several Windows 7 users have reported that when they try to check for new updates using Windows Update, it keeps checking for updates for hours. The progress bar keeps showing progress animation which makes you think that Windows Update is doing something but even after waiting for hours, nothing happens. Windows Update just gets stuck at "Checking for updates" screen and Windows 7 doesn't download and install any update.
It also affects overall system performance and if you check Task Manager, the Svchost.exe process occupies high CPU resources and memory usage. Most of the times this issue occurs after a fresh/clean installation of Windows 7.
Many users have reported that they even waited for more than 24 hours but Windows Update just stuck at "Checking for updates" status and they couldn't install any update in their computers.
PROBLEM REASON:
The reason behind this irritating problem is a little bit funny! Actually Microsoft has released a few updates for the Windows Update client program. These updates upgrade the client program version and improve its functionality. It seems Microsoft has changed the way Windows Update client downloads and installs updates from Microsoft servers and only the new updated client is able to download updates from the servers, that's why the older versions of Windows Update client are unable to download updates from Microsoft servers.
If the new updates which upgrade Windows Update client version, are not installed in a Windows 7 machine, it starts giving this annoying issue and the Windows Update program hangs at "Checking for updates" screen and never downloads updates from Microsoft servers.
PROBLEM SOLUTIONS:
There are a few working solutions to fix this problem. We are providing all these solutions below. You can follow these solutions one by one until your problem gets resolved:
SOLUTION 1: Install Required Updates for Windows Update Client Manually
This is the best and easiest solution to fix this problem! You just need to install the required updates manually which upgrade the Windows Update client program and once you install these updates, Windows Update will be able to download and install updates from Microsoft servers without any problem.
Thanks to our readers David, Bill, TrollBytes and Steve for sharing the required updates list and providing their valuable inputs.
You need to download and install following updates manually:
These updates will upgrade the Windows Update client and will make some improvements to the client program. These updates are available for both 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) editions of Windows 7 operating system. You can know which edition of Windows 7 are you using with the help of System Properties window in Control Panel.
UPDATE: Our reader "Dan" reported that you might also need to install following updates to solve this issue:
For your convenience, we are providing direct download links of these updates. You can download the updates quickly and easily from following links:
For Windows 7 32-bit (x86) edition:
- Direct Download Link of KB3050265 Update (32-bit or x86)
- Direct Download Link of KB3065987 Update (32-bit or x86)
- Direct Download Link of KB3102810 Update (32-bit or x86)
- Direct Download Link of KB3135445 Update (32-bit or x86)
- Direct Download Link of KB3138612 Update (32-bit or x86)
- Direct Download Link of KB3161664 Update (32-bit or x86)
- Direct Download Link of KB3020369 Update (32-bit or x86)
- Direct Download Link of KB3172605 Update (32-bit or x86)
For Windows 7 64-bit (x64) edition:
- Direct Download Link of KB3050265 Update (64-bit or x64)
- Direct Download Link of KB3065987 Update (64-bit or x64)
- Direct Download Link of KB3102810 Update (64-bit or x64)
- Direct Download Link of KB3135445 Update (64-bit or x64)
- Direct Download Link of KB3138612 Update (64-bit or x64)
- Direct Download Link of KB3161664 Update (64-bit or x64)
- Direct Download Link of KB3020369 Update (64-bit or x64)
- Direct Download Link of KB3172605 Update (64-bit or x64)
After installing these updates, restart your computer and then check for new updates using Windows Update. It may take 20-30 minutes or 1 hour depending upon the speed of your Internet connection and then Windows Update will show you list of all available updates. Now Windows Update will no longer stick at "Checking for updates" screen.
NOTE: You may need to temporary stop Windows Update service before installing above mentioned updates. You can run net stop wuauserv command in Command Prompt to temporary stop Windows Update service before installing each update.
You can also use Services Manager program to stop Windows Update service. Check out METHOD 7 in following tutorial to learn more about it:
SOLUTION 2: Install All Updates Using Official Convenience Rollup Package
Microsoft has released a convenience rollup pack for Windows 7 which installs almost all available updates released after SP1 (Service Pack 1) of Windows 7. So if you install this convenience rollup pack in your Windows 7 machine, it'll automatic upgrade Windows Update client version and your problem will be solved.
To learn how to download and install this convenience rollup pack, check out following article:
SOLUTION 3: Reset Windows Update Components and Services
Sometimes these kind of problems may occur due to corrupted components and services related to Windows Update. In past, we have posted a batch script to reset Windows Update components and services to fix such kind of issues.
You can download and run the Windows Update reset script from following article:
SOLUTION 4: Use Windows Update Troubleshooter and Fixit Tool
Windows 7 provides a built-in troubleshooter to fix issues related to Windows Update. You can run the built-in troubleshooter to repair Windows Update program. Microsoft also provides an official Fixit tool to fix Windows Update related problems.
You can learn more about the built-in troubleshooter and official Fixit tool in following article:
SOLUTION 5: Use Custom DNS Settings for Your Internet Connection
Sometimes this problem may also occur due to your Internet connection if the DNS server of your ISP is not updated. You can use external DNS settings to get faster and reliable Internet connection which may also solve Windows Update related problems.
To learn how to use custom DNS settings in Windows, check out following tutorial:
SOLUTION 6: Use Built-in System File Checker (SFC) Tool
If some files and settings related to Windows Update are corrupted or missing in your Windows OS, it may also cause such kind of issues. You can repair Windows and restore default system files with the help of built-in SFC tool.
You can learn more about SFC tool and how to use it by going through METHOD 4 in following tutorial:
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That's it. The above mentioned solutions will definitely help you in fixing this annoying issue in Windows 7 as well as other Windows versions.
Posted in: Troubleshooting, Windows 7
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Very good summary of the solutions. Good work. Again it was and is, worth to be in Your newsletter list.
I have tried Updates Using Official Convenience Rollup Package, but even after 90minutes, there was no show of updates.
Also tried Fixit tool, but it says no issues found.
I had similar problem with 32bit OS, but I solved it after updating the Windows Update Client to a specific one.
btw, the KBs listed in the post above are all for Windows Update Client, last one being the latest. Do you still recommend installing them all?
02. Leave the PC on overnight
03. Re-start the computer the next day,
04. Repeat the process until it is possible to see the progress bar or until no more updates.
05. After 3/4 days all Updates are installed.
07. Install all necessary programs.
I work on computers on a regular basis. I have not had any issues installing updates until last week. I first suspected that it was a bad update from Patch Tuesday. I had several computers that would hang on "Checking for updates". I uninstalled updates one by one, same issue. I tried multiple attempts of troubleshooting for hours and so-called solutions with no luck. I wiped one of the laptops and installed a fresh install of Windows 7 64-bit. I had the same issue with hanging on "Checking for updates". I found your solution 6/23/16. I was able to use SOLUTION 1: Install Required Updates for Windows Update Client Manually, with great success. It worked perfect. It works on 32 bit and 64 bit. I am extremely grateful for your help!!!
Val
KB3145379 is a critical security update for Windows. It should have no bearing on getting WUpdates to work again. Also, the first update listed, KB3050265, is a blocker for Win10 garbage. If you manually install updates, you will hide all of your Win10 and telemetry patches anyway.
windows-update-checker.com/FAQ/ConvenienceRollupKB3125574-Issues.htm
For me the main problem was the SFC integrity error, also it didn't fix my windows update.
KB3161608
KB3161664
I just returned from windows 10 and was fighting with the updates
Thanks
Thanks for your valuable time creating this awesome tutorial :D
I'll explain (in bad english): I startet with solution 1, but the update KB3161608 would not work no my computer (I actually found it much earlier from another website-solution). So I went on to solution 2 (though I must admit, that you could rewrite that solution in its own article). It went well, but my update was not working. So now I tried the KB missing from before, and behold: I could now install that update, and everything is now fine. Finally...
I also went through a scan in cmd (i did not understand completly), and it found some problem and fixed it before I got to theese solutions here...
I had the same problem on another computer, but there I could just flush dns... ("ipconfig /flushdns".
This is really an annoying problem, but then again. If I didn't like challenges, I would not be using Microsoft... :p
Anyway. Thanks so much for this article!
****
METHOD 2: Using Registry Editor (regedit.exe)
◦KB3065987
◦KB3102810
◦KB3135445
◦KB3138612
Thank you very much, after long stumbling and research this helped.
2 problems solved: Message "downloading updates", but nothing download and "searching updates", but nothing found.
please go on with this very helpfull tutorials,
Jan
I was happy reading Your instructions, I got the feeling that this guys knows what they are speaking about. I was quite sure about success so I was not suprised when I now after 2 days of fighting got this new Computer to work. I have tried everything.
KB3050265
KB3065987
KB3102810
KB3135445
KB3138612
KB3161664
KB3020369
KB3172605
Stop the WindowsUpdate service via GUI (services.msc) or via elevated (running as admin) command line (net stop wuauserv).
Now install the 1 MSU update and stop WindowsUpdate service again and install the 2nd MSU file, and so on (be sure to stop the service after every install)
I have lost 24 hours for the solution and your post worked with me
Solution 1 worked for me
- noticed that next msu "hanged" in looking for updates once the previous one had been installed. My solution was to kill the WUSA process and boot just in case. Then next one went in with no prob. Those "optional ones" in end of list were probably not needed.
- after last boot, Windows Update automatically announced 265 critical updates plus 11 optional ones.
- Oh and thanks for the Group Policy tip on how to eliminate the W10 update suggestion(s), which have actively ruined one perfectly running W7 pc and crippled another one (from 2007 and 2008), due to missing drivers.
All the best, this saved a lot of hassle.
64 bit: microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=52232
After installing this update, reboot the computer and install all above mentioned updates.
Good luck!
thanks a lot
It almost didn't work as I ran into the problem of not being able to install it, as now the install was stuck searching forever. Thankfully, reading the comments about turning off the windows update in the service section allowed the installs to work.
10 minutes after completion I had updates to download (1 gig worth haha) and my CPU is no longer constantly maxed out by windows update.
support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3135445
The only comment:
Before downloading the first KB in the list, you need to stop Windows Update Service as follows:
1. Start > in the search type "services" and click on Services
2. Go down to Windows Update and right click on it, then Properties
3. In the new window that was opened, change Startup Type to Manual
4. Click OK
5. Restart the PC
Now you are ready to download and install the KB's in the list.
Direct Download Link of KB3065987 Update (64-bit or x64)
Direct Download Link of KB3102810 Update (64-bit or x64)
Direct Download Link of KB3135445 Update (64-bit or x64)
Direct Download Link of KB3138612 Update (64-bit or x64)
Direct Download Link of KB3161664 Update (64-bit or x64)
Direct Download Link of KB3020369 Update (64-bit or x64)
Direct Download Link of KB3172605 Update (64-bit or x64)
But found it impossible to get past "checking for updated on this computer" until I stopped the update with a command prompt. THANK YOU!!
Before I did the solution I installed the rollup package manually, saved me some downloads!
But thank you!
By the way, any chance of something like this for Vista x64?
Got a machine with Vista installed, play games on it, got 31 installed, so I don't like to upgrade. We Visties have the same issue with W.U.
I am happy to say that your solution was clear, simple and worked perfectly. The explanation of the reasoning behind the whole problem was also helpful for me. I had already spent a bunch of time trying to fix the update issue and nothing was working. Simply manually running the required 7 updates fixed the problem I was having on two of my Win 7 computers. Update is now working perfectly.
2. Sort the services by name in descending order and find the "Windows Update" service
3. Right click "Windows Update" service and select "Restart".
* I already had KB3065987 installed from 16/07/2015.
* I tried to install KB3168965 but it said "not applicable to your computer".
* So I tried KB3172605 as also recommended.
* I managed to install this from the MS download site.
* I rebooted twice (possibly I didn't wait long enough with the first reboot).
* In Windows Update I selected 2 security updates (yes, that's a lot of clicking to clear check marks - if only there was a "clear all" and a "select all" button!).
* This seemed to get stuck on "(0 KB total, 0% completed)"
* I disabled Auto Update, as recommended by somebody I believe (Don's suggestion of disconnecting from the internet didn't work)
* This worked! I then installed those 2 updates.
* I'm now working on 44 of them. It seemed to have got stuck at 54% downloaded, but since I have been writing this it's moved on to installing.
* I'm drinking Bollinger champagne. But that's for a different reason. Goes well with success here too!
KB306598
KB3102810
KB3135445
KB3138612
KB3161664
KB3020369
KB3172605
Piotr
- Installed all Drivers for the PC (Using snappy drivers installer)
- rebooted
- Activated Windows 7 from internet
1) Installed Offline Update of Internet Explorer 11
2) Installed Offline Update of Microsoft Framework
3) Installed KB3102810
did a Search for update and after 10-15 min found 200+ updated and it works.
2. Stop Windows Update services with command 'net stop wuauserv'
3. Install files
4. Reboot
I was able to bypass this by opening cmd as admin and to enter: 'net stop wuauserv'
After that all updates installed and the problem is solved :)
Thank you very much!
The updates you listed worked like a charm in my case.
Unfortunately it did not fix my issues after going through every single one of them, but then I read Dan's comment underneath the article, and I found that the updates in his answer did do the trick !
KB3161664
Absolutely brilliant
I consider myself reasonably techy and have fixed WU numerous times but couldn't on this occasion
Your fix for Win 7 did the trick - just knowing what updates are missing - mine had 2 of the 8 missing - grrr
Any way all OK now thanks again
Worked!
After installing every update i restarted, and my updates popped up after a minute.
Thanks!
Thanks for being there and taking the time to aid all us out here.
But the main thing is the routine i needed to do it.
Stop Windows update service. Download all the updates.
Rip the Internet out. As DON SAID. ** This was what made everything work for me **
Do each update in turn followed by a restart after every one.
Plug back in, restart Windows Update, fire up windows update.
I couldn't believe it!!! I had 200 updates ready to install in under 15 minutes.
Thankyou very, very much for this information. Much appreciated !!!!
Thanks everyone for this!
I have been trying to get Update to work for three days now. I needed to start from a four year old clean image and could not get Update to work. Tried all of Microsoft's fixes, reinstalled the image at least three times and tried many other fixes listed on the net but only yours, Solution 1, worked. Installed all 8 recommended updates so not sure which one worked. After installing the updated ran Update manually and in less than ten minutes 218 important updates and 46 optional were listed. THANK YOU.
ps. Win 7 Ultimate/64 bit/SP1
Thanks to all involved in making our lives a bit better.
Cheers!
"net stop wuauserv" enter
"net stop bits" enter
Delete all the contents
Install NTLIte from http://www.askvg.com/download-nlite-for-windows-7-windows-8-and-windows-8-1/
Click on 'Wizard'.
Click on 'Install updates'.
Click on 'Add' and select all of the update files. They'll now be listed in the 'update queue' in NTLite.
Click on 'Apply'
(Say 'yes' to the dialogue box)
Click on the 'Process' button
(Say 'yes' to the dialogue box)
Reboot, and windows update should now work properly.