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

[Summerbear5]

Mine still isn't working properly when I go to Windows Update and Check for updates. Mine was only working when I went to shutdown computer. Now it's stopped again and not doing that either.

Got this error using WindowsUpdateDiagnostic

Windows Update error 0x80070003 (2015-12-26-T-09_51_40P)

 

[Richierich]

Id try some of the links and things i wrote a few posts ago. After following those steps mine is working properly. so far... I had the 1st download a lot of files. it prompted me to restart to complete update and now its installing more and at 33%. I hope you resolve your issue soon. I know how frustrating it is.

 

[Summerbear5]

I've been pretty much doing everything lol. It started working like I said before now it's stopped again =\. Maybe it's because we are later in the day now might close up and try again in the morning.

 

[thelma]

Hello Summerbear,

How many do you need to install ? Did you try just installing one to start with ? Takes ages, you need patience.
That worked for me. After that you can install 5 at one time, them 10 but not more.

 

[Summerbear5]

For me it's not about how many, because it stuck on searching for updates and there is no way to choose what to install.

I did another system recovery last night to out of box state and windows update was working like a charm until I got to one specific update and now it's broken again and doing a constant "checking for updates". It never stops checking and there is now no way to install anymore updates even though I know there are tons to install.

After this update it did close and re-open but then was stuck at "Checking For Updates" left it open all night and nothing...still saying "Checking For Updates"

 

[Richierich]

If it helps any I can give you my estimated update list to verify your getting at least the same updates as me.

I got the 1 update manually as described before
150ish on the first restart
130ish on the second ( this took a long time to install during this restart, maybe more than 30 minutes upon restart for the install)
30 on third
And now grabbing 4 or 5 the last 2 restarts

I did not download any additional for programs , i only have been downloading the important windows updates

I hope it helps

 

[Summerbear5]

Windows Update Agent 7.6.7600.320 is what broke my Windows Update.

 

[sherwoods12]

RESOLVED!
I continued to manually install updates and after about 15 updates from Oct. 2015 through Dec. 2015 one at a time, I hit restart and it said it was installing 12 updates.
After it restarted and finished installing those updates, I waited for a couple hours then did another restart and it said it was installing 198 updates.
After that I installed MS Office and it updated just fine.
I am not sure which update fixed the problem but, it is working now.
Thank you all for your support and suggestions.

 

[Summerbear5]

After the Windows update agent 7.6.7600.320 my windows update was stuck saying checking for updates. I ended up just leaving it sit there saying that for the longest time. When I came back to the computer it was still saying checking for updates but the Windows update icon was by the clock saying updates were ready to be installed. I hit shutdown and install updates I didn't get to chose what updates or how many it was all automatic since the Windows update window said checking for updates still. It ended up installing 206 updates then it seemed to be fine on its own. Good thing it's fine now. Now more system recovery to out of box state for me unless it's absolutely necessary.

 

[thelma]

I seen many threads now with all the same problem.

It seams that Windows Update has a big problem lately with any large quantities and that often it helps to start ( if you have the possibility) with only 1, then 5 and so on.

Also leaving it overnight seams to be an answer. When they have all installed in the end, put you'r settings on let me choose and read here on the forum about the ways to avoid getting sucked into Windows 10 if you don't want it in the future.

 

[dirtysouthboy]

I do a lot of system building and this has been a major issue for Windows 7 installations. Windows 8 and 10 have not this issue at all. Windows update agent 7.6 seems to be the root cause of the update issues. Microsoft has been no help with these issues either. Honestly, I think they are trying to force people to Windows 10.

 

[Normmron]

I've installed several systems with the same issues. Once the update process hangs, I waited around 16 hours and I could update from the update server without any issues.

I've done many installations previously without this issue and considering the updates were the same, it must be the windows update service is not functioning like previously.

In my opinion, Microsoft is making it difficult to update Windows 7 systems to force people to upgrade to Windows 10.

If Microsoft wants to interfere with the product that I purchased legally, they need to pay me several hunderd dollars and I'll give it back to them, no problem.

 

[thelma]

Agree fully to that !

 

[tbint]

Hello
don't mean to jump in as new to forum. I was thinking it was MS also trying to mandatory automatic update and the Microsoft store. I been declining the upgrade out of spite. I can not believe I can not fix the update issue. The only thing I have not tried yet is set to automatically update and opt out off Microsoft Updates. I'd bet I wake up and see WX on my laptop.

 

[Magnet]

Is this of any help? (See end of thread)
http://www.sevenforums.com/windows-...0070005-following-activation-work-around.html

 

[pprovaz]

My solution to this exact issue (automatic updates working well but when switched to manual updates it waits searching for updates forever) was surprisingly very simple. Open network adapter settings (the one where the internet is connected) and force set DNS servers to Google - 8.8.8.8 and the second to 8.8.4.4. Voila ! Manual update finished immediately and now works without any problem.

 

[XgPhoenix]

Fix that worked for me was to change the DNS of my IPv4 to the servers outlined by pprovaz, reboot, then let updates run for 30 minutes while I nipped out, came back to find the updates icon on the shutdown button, so I shutdown and the updates began to install, repeated the waiting and shutting down process a few times and all is now working as it should.

PS: Not a fan of Windows 8/8.1/X.

 

[PSCO2007]

Is this of any help? (See end of thread)
http://www.sevenforums.com/windows-...0070005-following-activation-work-around.html

I tried to download from your link - just hung up.
My solution to getting all updates was selecting "show all available updates"

I deselected Windows 10 (for now) and ran the updates.

It ran all the important updates immediately.

 

[7isntheaven]

After battling with WU on my HDD install 2 years ago & managed to get it working, then installing a new SSD drive last week & then installing Win7, then updating WU itself, it was still stuck on 'checking for updates'. I remember from reading a post back when using the hdd's OS, that if I clicked the start button and saw the shield icon on the shutdown button (updates waiting to be installed by restarting) it would install them, then check for more updates after restarting, but it stuck on "searching for updates' again.

What fixed it for me was by simply changing it to Install Updates Automatically (recommended) from 'check for updates, but...' and then rebooting. It wasn't 2 minutes later I had 180+ important updates to install.

I had hidden the three nefarious "Get Win 10" 'optional updates' beforehand so I never had the GSX nag screens, etc. & WU is still working well. I don't see why users don't get a restart prompt from the systray when WU needs to restart to install the updates, which I believe causes WU to stall. If users don't know about looking on the start button & seeing the shield icon that indicates WU needs to install updates by restarting, WU will stay stuck on 'searching' until they restart.

 

[gocinko]

Windows 7 Update fix

Had similar issue. Factory restored 7 and couldn't get windows update to stop hanging. Factory restore, get as far as you can with windows update before it hangs, force restart then manually install these.

KB3083710
KB3102810
KB3020369
KB3050265
KB3172605

I can't remember if I was forced to upgrade to IE11 to download but if the windows links don't work IE11 will sort. Restart whenever prompted then about 200 or so updates will appear. Takes a couple hours to install the 200 no way to avoid it.