Windows update not working, hangs while "searching for updates"

Thanks Mergatroid,
Around an hour to assemble hardware into new box. The ? 4-6 hours of pain to get SP1 and rest of updates on which should have happened automatically.
Fix worked a treat and I have filed it away for future use if MS does not get its act together.

Just thought I'd post my solution, since I ended up calling Microsoft Support to solve this.

Since Microsoft want to keep their Windows 7 product up to date, they will assist you free of charge. Call the 800-642-7676 and say "technical support". Explain to the tech operator that your PC is hanging while searching for updates.

This is what the tech did:

- Remotely logged into my PC

- Went to Control Panel > Windows Update > Change Settings > Set Important Updates to:
* Never check for updates (not recommended)

- Download the 6.1-KB3020369 "Known as the April 2016 fix" for your version of Windows 7. My version is a 64-bit system, so they downloaded the x64-based versions for Windows 7 and installed it (see link) Access Denied

- Download the KB3172605 "Known as the July 2016 fix" for your version of Windows 7. Again they downloaded the x64-based version for Windows 7 and installed it (see link)
Access Denied

- Then they downloaded the "Convienience package". I can't get the link to work that's directed from this link: https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/kb/3125574. When you get there, and trying the link they suggest through the "How to get this convenience rollup", the "Microsoft Update Catalog" link that does an auto search for KB3125574, doesn't get through. You might have to call them to get this.

- Then we turned on the automatic updates:
Control Panel > Windows Update > Change Settings > Set Important Updates to:
* Install updates automatically (recommended).

You should try to call their support in order to get the convenience package, because they told me that manually doing these updates is difficult. I couldn't find a way to find it through google search "KB3125574".

I'm having the same problem on a fresh Windows 7 install. Windows Update spins forever and never found a single update. It says Most recent checks for updates: Never and Updates were installed: Never.
However it shows 186 updates installed on todays date under Installed Updates.
Under View update History it shows 2 updates with todays date. This must be a Windows problem. They are probably pissed we didn't upgrade to 10.
I'm going to let it run overnight again and see what happens

paulsilvio76 said:

I just wanted to post what I have learned about this process over five days of tackling this issue on a refurbished PC my father purchased. In order for windows update to work both the Windows Update Service and Background Intelligent Transfer Service must be set to Automatic (Delayed). If either is not started when Windows or an Administrator physically searches for updates the Windows Update bar will just spin forever.

To check click start and type "services.msc" in the Search Box and press enter. Look for Background Intelligent Transfer Service and double click. Click Start to start the service. Set the dropdown for setup type to Automatic (Delayed). Press Apply OK.

Scroll down and repeat above process for Windows Update. Go to Control Panel and search for updates. This fixed my problem after searching the web for days with no answer. I even reinstalled the OS and it still would not start on system boot. Hopefully this helps someone out there.

After trying all the steps except the address change this finally worked. right before this change of delayed start in services, i manually installed KB3020369 & KB3125574 & KB3172605.
and when i went back to check on the control panel, immediately began the check a results for available updates.
I think there are a few things that have to be done just right on a few machines so if you're still stuck after all else, this step worked for me after: stopping WindowsUpdate service, deleting the SoftwareDistribution folder, restart computer, stop WindowsUpdate service, manually installed the three updates (one of which was already installed), restarted computer, changed WindwosUpdate and BackGroun* service to delayed start, went to windows update and was working/pulled available updates and downloaded them right away.

Thanks to all who have contributed their part to helping with this utter madness of forced/planned obsolescence issue. i agree this is an attempt to "coax" the SeveNation to 10up.

Simple reason why Win7 update doesn't work. Since Redmond killed the GWX craplet, they decided to kill win 7 updater as well. Now the only way to get updates is to move to win 10. Simple marketing. Cause a problem, push ineffective repairs, firce customer to buy new product.

After trying almost every "solution" i first removed the Internet Explorer 11 update. This fixed the problem for me. I think, maybe some of the other solutions needed some time. donno, but it works and im happy,

I think this is a Windows problem that was caused by the Windows 10 upgrade updates MS installed and then uninstalled after the free upgrade expired.
I have the same problem with the endless search for updates. However, when I look in "Installed Updates" they are already there. Check in Installed Updates and see if any have dates later then when you first had the encountered update search problem.

For those who still has this issue, after days of looking at the update not really doing much.
I did some research and found something that worked for me. Follow the steps in order, and it should work.

Follow these steps, in order.

1. Download and install SP1 from here.
   You need to get either windows6.1-KB976932-X86.exe for 32-bit or windows6.1-KB976932-X64.exe for 64-bit.
2. Search for CMD in the start menu, and run as administrator. Then execute the command below.
   net stop wuauserv
3. Then install April 2015 servicing stack update for Windows 7 use your version below.
   32-bit
   64-bit
4. After the PC has been rebooted, do step 2. again and stop the service.
5. Now its time to install July 2016 Update Rollup. Select your version below.
   32-bit
   64-bit
6. After reboot, search for updates. Give it like 15 minutes, should be pretty quick after this.

This worked for me after trying to follow 3 different fixes from this post.