"Restart your computer to install important updates" issue

edassange · 19 Oct 2015

For over 48 hours Windows Update has said "Restart your computer to install important updates", yet every time I restart and check Windows Update it is still saying "Restart your computer to install important updates". Before I deleted SoftwareDistribution to try and solve matters the update history showed a security update, KB3069762, which has been showing as "pending" for the whole of this period despite numerous restarts, but never shows as "successful" or "failed". It just stays stuck at "pending". It doesn't appear in installed updates, but when I try to install it manually it says it's already installed.

SURT installed hotfix KB947821. SFC scan didn't find any problems. Microsoft Fix it said Cryptographic services could not be stopped. I've tried to upload the CBS folder as per your posting instructions but it's over 80MB zipped and it didn't upload.

PS: I don't know if this is relevant, but this update KB3069762 relates to a vulnerability when Remote Desktop Protocol is enabled. When I went to the dialogue box to check if RDP is enabled (system/advanced system settings/remote), the 3 check boxes relating to RDP are missing. All I have is a check box for remote assistance, so I don't know for sure if RDP is enabled or disabled.

NoelDP · 20 Oct 2015

Please follow the Windows Update Posting Instructions
and post the requested data

If the file is too large (8MB compressed), remove the older CBSPersist cab files until the final file is below the limit - you can always post them separately after zipping them. (the forum doesn't allow the upload of bare CAB files, for a number of reasons)

Please also post the C:\Windows\windowsudpate.log file

edassange · 20 Oct 2015

Thanks a lot Noel. In the CBS folder attachment I removed a massive CBS persist file of 80MB but the more recent ones are there. I can't find any windows update logs. I think I may have deleted them with ccleaner. Would there be any useful logs for you in software distribution?

PS - this Windows 10 nag thing keeps appearing in the taskbar.

PPS - I've looked into this troublesome update KB3069762, and it relates to a potential vulnerability with Remote Desktop Protocol, but RDP isn't an option with W7 Home Premium so I guess it's not necessary so could that be why it stays pending but won't install properly? Just a thought.

NoelDP · 20 Oct 2015

RDP is a potential issue even in Home Premium, since it can act as an RDP Client, even if not as a host. There's also the potential for problems if the system is ever upgraded to Pro.

There's no problems in either the SFC scan. or the CheckSUR scan - and there's no significant errors in the background CBS data uploaded.

You're using Panda as AV? - it's not one that I have any experience with, which probably means that it's not the cause of the problem.

I really need that update log - C:\Windows\windowsupdate.log - as it may give a clue as to the failure mode.

So far as I can see the problem may simply be that the system isn't set to complete any update on the reboot - try this...

Open the Services.msc app, and find the Windows Modules Installer entry - double-click on it to open the control panel.
It should be set to Manual start - but we want to set it to Automatic start, so do that, and then click OK
Immediately, reboot the system in the normal way.

Wait a few minutes, and post the new CBS.log file, and then check that the Windows Modules Installer service is back at Manual start, where it should be.

Then try Windows Update again.

edassange · 20 Oct 2015

Hi Noel. I've no idea why but it seems to have corrected itself. In Windows Update I'm now getting the green shield saying Windows is up to date. Thanks again for all your help. Really appreciated.

NoelDP · 20 Oct 2015

Heh - that happens quite often

Good luck!