Solved Never ending search for updates

[Calenulma]

Hello world!

I'm having this problem after installing Windows 7 Pro where the Update Agent never stops searching for updates.
I mean: the green progress bar just rolls and rolls and rolls... I've left the computer during the night and nothing happens.

Know, I know what you're thinking: piracy, bugged ISO, bad internet connection, bla bla bla.
No. Original DVD with genuine serial number (normally activated), downloaded ISO from Microsoft website, solid 100mbps connection. Everything is fine.
In fact, on the same computer I can run Windows 10 and that one has no problems what so ever!

I've tried every fix I can find online including the Microsoft auto fix (or whatever they call it), turning services on and off so I can delete the SoftwareDistribution folder contents, manually update the Windows Update Agent...

Nothing works!!!


Did anyone ever got this problem?
It just stays there, like an idiot, searching and searching...

(thanks Alexey2912 for the screenshot)

 

[Brds7t7]

Hi Calenulma, it's been discussed in a lot of threads.
Unfortunately the Windows updates don't perform well in Windows 7 any longer. They've been that way for quite a while now and it hasn't helped since Windows 10 was released. There are a few workarounds posted online but it's very hit and miss as to whether they work. Nothing has offered me a permanent fix yet.
Try this:
Open Windows update and change to "Never check for updates"
Open start menu and type services.msc in the search bar.
Scroll down to the Windows update service and select startup type to manual and stop the service.
Reboot the PC.
Try downloading and installing the latest Windows update client manually https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/kb/3138612
Or the November update (some have said this works better) https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/kb/3102810
Reboot PC again once installed.
Go back into services and change Windows updates service back to Automatic (delayed start) and restart the service.
Open Windows update and select "Check for updates but let me choose"
Check for updates and be prepared to wait. They may still take up to a few hours for the first check.

 

[Calenulma]

There are a few workarounds posted online but it's very hit and miss as to whether they work. Nothing has offered me a permanent fix yet.

This... this is just awesome news!

The good thing is that I'm not crazy and haven't lost my touch.
The bad is that things haven't changed as far as the OS goes.

Anyway, after reading this I got the thing to work by manually installing the latest Update Agent (WindowsUpdateAgent-7.6) and some randomly found update (KB3138612).
I actually did a new fresh install just to make sure and it worked again!

And there I was thinking Windows 7 support would go up until 2020... how naive.


Thanks man!
I'll keep those two updates on my flashdrive in case I have to fresh install the machine again (or any other since I have multiple PC's, all with the 7 licence and I might not like the Windows 10 upgrade on some of the older ones).


I'll mark this as "solved" since there is no reall problem with my installation but with Windows 7 itself. Also, we've ended up posting useful tips.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi and welcome to SevenForums,
Yea there's quite a few quirks to go through lately
http://www.sevenforums.com/windows-...ut-windows-still-wont-update.html#post3237782

 

[Calenulma]

Thank you all very much!
You've helped me save a lot of hours and brain cells.

Great forum!!!

 

[Brds7t7]

No problem
With the amount of people this is affecting, MS should really be pushing out a permanent and easy fix for this.
I don't see this happening anytime soon though (if ever).
We're stuck with having to use workarounds. Which in my case haven't worked. This is why I now stick to manual updating!

 

[Calenulma]

Yeah... They're more interested in pushing customers into Windows 10 rather than supporting those same customers.
That shows, I think, the attention customers get from Microsoft. That bug/problem/situation has been going on for months if I'm not mistaken and it is still not fixed.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Yea I've read if people hid KB3112343 they might have issues with updates search since it was classified as a Important update.

FWIW win-10 last round has caused a tad bit of issues
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...ues-with/8cc2af67-d1ef-43d8-8658-b5c5a69be530

 

[boatNsun]

Solved the Updater Problem on Dell XPS7100 Thanks to this Forum!

I read many of the threads in this forum about Windows Updater not working and tried half a dozen solutions recommended and nothing worked until yesterday when I finally installed the Windows Updater Agent 7.6 along with KB3138612. And it worked! I had run all the 7Forums resets and MS Fixit modules along with making various tweaks to my Dell XPS7100, but none of that solved the problem until the two installs I did yesterday. THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS FORUM, because without you, I would never have resolved the issue. And NO THANKS to Microsoft who made it all necessary.