Windows 7: Windows Update cannot currently check for updates.....

I recently installed Windows 7 on a new computer. When I was trying to install program, it told me that it could not proceed without updating .net and it instructed me to run Windows Update. When I tried, I got the message "Windows Update cannot check for updates, because the service is not running. You may need to restart your computer." I have done that several times now but still get the same message. I know how to check my services just do not know which one is the problem.

Thanks
Jim

You can try the System Update Readiness Tool. It tries to fix the most common reasons why Windows Updates fail.

What is the System Update Readiness Tool?

Try this BEFORE anything else!

Open Windows Updates
click on Change Settings
change your option to Never Update.
Click Apply
Close Windows Updates

Now open Windows Updates again
Click on Change Settings
Change the settings to your preference.
Click Apply, and close Windows Update

Now open Windows Updates, and Check for Updates

See what happens.

@marsmimar, I downloaded the Windows 7, 64 version. When I tried running it, I got the error "Installer encountere and error: 0xc8000222.

@NoelIDP, I tried your suggestion and did not get the error message but it did not do ANYTHING when I asked it to check for updates... well, it did falsh one breff moment.

This may simply be caused by a bad set of Intel Rapid Storage Technology drivers -
Installing the Intel Rapid Storage Drivers
try downloading and installing them from here - http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Deta...&DwnldID=20624
Once complete, please reboot twice, then test WU again

Try this. I had the same problem and it worked for me

Go to Administrative Tools/Services, and stop the Windows Update service. Then go to the folder c:/Windows/SoftwareDistribution and delete all of the files and folders. Then go back to Services and restart the Windows Update service which will recreate all of those folders again. Then manually run the Update Service and everything should work.

Such surgery is for where everything else has failed

Surgery?

That is pretty simple straight forward stuff. I'm no wiz and it was a a piece of cake for me.

It worked!! Thanks

Whoopee!


I'm a surgeon