Solved Windows Update: Keeps checking for updates for over 1.5 hours?

[spc3rd]

Good morning everyone,

Problem description:

After logging-on to my computer around 2:00 a.m. (U.S. EST), I went to Control Panel and clicked on "Windows Update." As I'm typing this, WU is still displaying the progress bar, and says "Checking for updates." This has been going on for over 1.5 hours now. I tried to end the process in Task Manager, but get an "Access denied" message.

* Please note that I am not seeing any error codes.

My question: How do resolve this endless 'checking for updates' situation and get WU to actually update my computer with the "Patch Tuesday" updates released yesterday?

[EDIT @ 4:15 a.m.]: I restarted the computer about 15 minutes ago, and the WU "Checking for updates" has stopped (when in the Control Panel & clicking on Windows Update). WU is shown as "Running" in Task Manager under the "Services" tab. I continue to note in Task Manager, my CPU is still hovering around the 50% level.

[Additional steps taken - as of 5:18 a.m.]:

1. Performed scans with ESET, MBAM & SAS - no issues found.
2. Ran sfc /scannow. NO problems found.
3. Ran the Microsoft "Fix-it" tool. NO issues reported.
4. I've attached the CBS below.

At this point, I don't know what to do next and frankly...afraid to try anything without expert guidance from someone here.

Thank you for your time and any help!

View attachment 388066

 

[Scottyboy99]

I'm no expert so Cbs log means little to me. But in last few months the 'checking for updates' is pretty screwed. Patch Tuesday is a nightmare as for many it takes many many hours to find them. Your best to leave it overnight, eventually it will find them. I started mine about 3 hours ago and it's still checking. It was the same the last couple months. I can only think that MS has deliberately placed Windows 7 updates server traffic in an extremely low priority behind 8 and 10. It's prob part of their ruse to force people towards the bug riddled plague that is Windows 10

 

[spc3rd]

Thanks for the info regarding your own experience with this WU problem, Scottyboy99.
You may well be right about MS screwing around with Win 7 users.

The one thing I don't like is the fact my CPU will continue remaining in the 50% range - until those updates can be installed. Needless to say, it impacts my computer's performance.

 

[Ex_Brit]

I've been trying to check off and on for updates for a couple of days now, "Checking for Updates" seems to be not reaching any server...anywhere at the moment.
Microsoft seems to be losing it lately IMHO.

 

[spc3rd]

Hi Peter,

Much obliged (as always) for your feedback!

I just got an alert about 10 minutes ago that updates are available. But, given the issue(s) going on with WU...I'll likely just have to wait a few days before attempting to download & install them. Maybe things will have settled down a bit by then.

Cheers!

 

[Scottyboy99]

It's a bit of a joke the whole thing. I don't know how to avoid the 50% cpu utilisation. Presume a reboot doesn't help?

Torchwood seems to give good suggestions on the forum. To quote you could try "quickest way ive found to update, change the WU updates settings from X to Y and back again tick recommended BUT let me choose.."

I'm going to give this a go and see if it helps. Just want to get patch Tuesday done and forgotten about. This date in the diary every month is becoming a real day of frustration and dread!

 

[Ex_Brit]

Hi Peter,

Much obliged (as always) for your feedback!

I just got an alert about 10 minutes ago that updates are available. But, given the issue(s) going on with WU...I'll likely just have to wait a few days before attempting to download & install them. Maybe things will have settled down a bit by then.

Cheers!

Hi,
I guess the saying "patience is a virtue" applies here.
Whilst I'm not getting 50% CPU utilization as others are reporting my CPU is a bit hotter than usual when WU is running.
Regards.

 

[spc3rd]

(For Scottyboy99):

I did change my WU settings back last month (when I experienced an issue with WU, which Torchwood happened to be one of the people who helped me with that problem). It's set to what you mentioned, i.e. "Let me decide...".

(For Ex-Brit):

Although, my temps are remaining around 43 degrees C, I can readily hear the fan(s) on this machine running faster than they normally do, especially when I go on-line (or try to download/install those updates).

Thanks again Scottyboy99 and Peter for your respective follow-up posts!

 

[Ex_Brit]

If it's any consolation, reports are posted all over the web via several different OS platforms about this same issue, so maybe Microsoft servers are problematic at the moment.
It wouldn't be the first time but I guess we notice it more because they are usually very reliable.
Maybe they're sulking at all the bad press regarding forced 10 upgrades etc. LOL.

---

 

[DavidE]

Many are having this issue with Win 7 updates, including me.
This month after the PT updates were published, it took me over 6 hours to check for available updates.
After that it took less than 15 minutes to download, install, and restart.
It should only take 1-2 minutes to check for updates, that's the way it use to work for me.

This same PC takes less than 15 minutes to find, download, install, and restart with Win 8.1 and Win 10.

After i get the latest Win 7 PT updates installed it takes a minute or two to check for updates, until the next PT updates are released.
Every month it takes longer for me to "Check for Updates" with Win 7 after the PT updates are published.

 

[Ex_Brit]

Well normally Windows alerts me to the updates awaiting but nothing this month.

 

[Ex_Brit]

Yey, WU just came in with 11 updates which I will carefully check before downloading and installing. The wait allowed me to shower, dress, do the dusting and make some fresh coffee...oh well, at least I accomplished something useful....now back to my machine

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Yep never boring but like the last few months manually installing KB3161664 expedites the search
Main download page KB3161664 as always switch your update settings to Never check for updates first and restart
https://technet.microsoft.com/library/security/MS16-073

Win 7 32 bit
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=52823
Win 7 64 bit
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=52794

I also ended up resetting the updates system first with option 3 here as well
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91738-windows-update-reset.html

Then I also installed the updates roll up update too
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3156417

Lastly installed KB3161664

 

[Ex_Brit]

KB3161664 was already installed and the roll-up had no effect as I was totally up to date anyway.
(Except the updates that induce W10).

 

[spc3rd]

(For TZ):

O.k. Here's where I'm at after following your steps above (after first setting WU to never check for updates - as you said do), in addition to doing the restarts required along the way.

1. I reset the WU using that Option 3 you referred to. Completed successfully.

2. When I clicked on the link to download KB3161664, it started to do a download, but within a couple of seconds, a message appeared on my screen stating that KB3161664 was already installed.

3. I then went to the WU in the Control Panel. It had the yellow-colored caution message about checking for updates.

4. I clicked on the [Check for updates] button. (That was at 10:06 a.m. - just over 1/2 hour ago. At this moment, WU is STILL checking for updates.

5. Since there was no button shown on the WU screen to "Stop checking for updates" - I just went and did a restart of this computer. Thus far, I haven't gotten an alert that updates are available like I would expect to see.

[ADDITIONAL NOTE]: I've noticed that Task Manager is no longer showing my CPU running in the 50% range, as it was before. At least, that's SOME...consolation.

What do you recommend doing now? Should I wait several days to see if I get the 'updates available' alert again and then check for updates?

Thanks again.

 

[johnny20]

My laptop searched for updates all night (10 hours or so) without success. Everything was fine until Tuesday.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Interesting it was already installed :/
But you should be able to switch your update settings to Check for updates but let me choose.....
Then do a manual search and just let it run it shouldn't take long mine was about 30-45 minutes
That's what resetting the update system does it has to recreate the cache again which was messed up.

 

[Scottyboy99]

My status is, checking for updates finally found them after about 6 hours!!!! So I clicked to install but now it's got to download them and that's been stuck 0% for about 3 hours so far.

Contrast to our Windows 10 desktop which found yesterday's updates in seconds and all downloaded and installed in minutes. Shows where MS priority is. But boy do I hate Windows 10, so buggy

 

[spc3rd]

Hi TZ, and much obliged for getting back with me!

I'd forgotten just what that WU reset did - as I used it last month when I posted about a problem with WU then. (I actually still had that batch file on my Desktop). I'll change my WU settings back to the one where it just notifies me, but I decide when to download/install.

I'll check for updates again, and hopefully...everything will return to 'normal' (if there really IS such a thing when it comes to MS).

(For Scottyboy99)

Just noticed your post after I submitted this one. The issue you mentioned......about how WU is supposedly downloading updates, but the "progress bar %" continues to remain at 0% for over 3 hours...is the very problem I had last month with WU'S 'Patch Tuesday' updates. Fortunately, with the exceptional help received here, I was able to get things back to normal.

I just hope this WU issue isn't going to become a continuing problem every single month, necessitating jumping through a dozen hoops every time!

Many thanks again to everyone!

 

[guniu]

Yep, I just installed KB3161664 manually, and after the restart it searched for the new updates for like 2-3 minutes.

Thanks TrashZone