Solved Stuck Checking for Updates on Second Machine; Fix Not Working

[Sniggler]

Hi Guys... the below fix worked perfectly on my Home Premium machine... my Win Professional wasn't originally affected...

Stop the Windows Update Service (wuauserv).
Download and install KB3050265 reboot Download and install KB3102810

However, this week, my Win Professional machine suddenly got stuck on Checking for Updates in another endless loop. I tried the above fix again, no luck.

Any advise would be appreciated..

Again, thanks!

 

[MoxieMomma]

Hi:

Those "fixes" are actually a bit outdated and were supplanted by other, more current patches.

I suggest trying to manually install these two instead:

3020369

3172605

You will need the correct version for your architecture (32-bit or 64-bit).
And, if WU is already stuck in that perpetual "checking for updates" vortex, you'll need to both temporarily disable it from the WU applet (change to "never check for updates") and from windows services (services.msc > windows update > "disable" and then "stop" the service) and reboot.
Then install those two patches.

Be sure to turn WU service back on afterwards....

Let us know if that helps.

Thanks,
MM

 

[Sniggler]

Many thanks.... this worked...

I both disabled Update Services and set "never to check for updates".
However, with Update service disabled, Win7 would not let me stop the service, so I had to re enable the service.
0369 was already on my system
I was able to install 2605. When rebooting, I noticed alot of registry rewriting messages
After restarting services, I was able d/l updates and install.
Thanks!!

 

[MoxieMomma]

Great!

I'm glad those two patches worked for you.
They worked for my two boxes and seem to work for nearly everyone else having updating issues on Win7.

>>Don't forget to enable Windows Update. Most of us use the setting to "Check for updates, but let me choose...".
>>And, in services.msc, Windows Update should be set to "Automatic - Delayed Start".

Cheers,
MM

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Hi:

Those "fixes" are actually a bit outdated and were supplanted by other, more current patches.

I suggest trying to manually install these two instead:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3020369
3020369


3172605

You will need the correct version for your architecture (32-bit or 64-bit).
And, if WU is already stuck in that perpetual "checking for updates" vortex, you'll need to both temporarily disable it from the WU applet (change to "never check for updates") and from windows services (services.msc > windows update > "disable" and then "stop" the service) and reboot.
Then install those two patches.

Be sure to turn WU service back on afterwards....

Let us know if that helps.

Thanks,
MM

I've got a notebook I can't get to update. I followed the instructions above (which worked for my desktop, btw) but it won't accept the above updates. When I disabled WU per above, it would be reenabled after the first three times I rebooted. Once it did decide to stay disabled, when I try to install the first update, I get this error message:

Installer encountered an error: 0x80070422

The service cannot be started, either because it is disabled or because it has no enabled devices associated with it.

Curse Microsoft! Now what do I do?

 

[MoxieMomma]

Hi:

I may have misspoken in those earlier instructions.
Rather than setting the WU service as "disabled", try "manual" and then stop the service and click "OK".
You'll still probably need to reboot.

Here's the complete process:

1. IF NOT ALREADY DONE: Download and save, but do not run yet, the standalone installers for KB3020369 and KB3172605 for your architecture (32-bit or 64-bit).
2. Disconnect from the internet.
3. Disable the Windows Update service in both the applet itself ("never check for updates") AND from services.msc (change it to "manual" and STOP the service, then click "OK").
4. REBOOT
5. Run 3020369 and reboot.
6. Run 3172605 and reboot.
7. Go into services.msc and change WU back to "Automatic-delayed start" and start the service.
8. Reconnect to internet.
9. Change WU to "notify me, but let me choose".
10. Run a manual check for updates.

Let us know if that works,

MM

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Hi:

I may have misspoken in those earlier instructions.
Rather than setting the WU service as "disabled", try "manual" and then stop the service and click "OK".
You'll still probably need to reboot.



Here's the complete process:

1. IF NOT ALREADY DONE: Download and save, but do not run yet, the standalone installers for KB3020369 and KB3172605 for your architecture (32-bit or 64-bit).
2. Disconnect from the internet.
3. Disable the Windows Update service in both the applet itself ("never check for updates") AND from services.msc (change it to "manual" and STOP the service, then click "OK").
4. REBOOT
5. Run 3020369 and reboot.
6. Run 3172605 and reboot.
7. Go into services.msc and change WU back to "Automatic-delayed start" and start the service.
8. Reconnect to internet.
9. Change WU to "notify me, but let me choose".
10. Run a manual check for updates.

Let us know if that works,

MM

Thanks for the updated instructions (it's curius, though, that the earlier ones worked just fine on my desktop when I followed them a month or two ago)! I was able to get the updates you recommended to work with the amended instructions. I just started Windows Updates but it will probably take a while for all the needed updates to download since It's been around a year since I used this computer so we are at hurry up and wait. I'll let you know if I'm able to get the remaining updates are not. I would rep you but the forum says I need to spread something around (or something like that).

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Well, Windows Update just finished doing its thing. There were only 121 important updates and 7 optional ones so it's not surprising it took so long. I'm weeding out the ones on my Specialized High Intensity Training List and downloading/installing the survivors in small batches so I'll be awhile (quite a while) at this but it appears everything is working properly.

Thanks again.

 

[MoxieMomma]

You're most welcome, Lady Fitzgerald.
I'm glad I could help.

Cheers,
MM

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

You're most welcome, @Lady Fitzgerald.
I'm glad I could help.

Cheers,
MM

Not even half as glad as I am! Again, thanks for guiding me though this this despicable morass thrust upon us by equally despicable MS.

The only hiccough I encountered once I finally was able to download and install most updates (thanks to your wonderful directions) were the Security Only updates (I didn't want to download/install the potentially spyware infected October and November rollups) from Windows Catalogue. When I tried to install Win. Up. Cat. from the update description page, the install would fail. I finally looked up the address of the update catalog and it installed from there (weird). After that, I just looked up the Security Only updates and installed them one at a time.

Thank you, MS and Nutella, for simplifying the update process (/sarcasm).