Windows 7 Starter Edition

[isandu]

My son received as a gift a Dell Inspiron Mini 10 laptop, with pre-inatalled Windows 7 Starter Edition (according the My Computer Properties).

I think he answered a kind of No to a security question (maybe related to Windows Firewall), because now he has an annoyng problem.

He tries to make Windows Updates; number of important updates were already made, but the last 49 updates are in status of downloading; I'd say "perpetual downloading". For example now the system reports 49 important updates of 443 MB; from two days ago (more than 48 hours) were downloaded of this amount only 1%. So, I think the downloading is "working", but extremely slow.

Some notes: Windows Updates are enabled and set as automatic. All other kind of downloading are working very well; for example, I downloaded Avast Personal Edition (53 MB) at 1.2 MB/sec, Adobe Acrobat Reader (45 MB) at 976 KB/sec, so there are no problems with my connection or downloading - generally speaking.

My son tells me that at the beginning (6-7 days ago), when he received his gift, updates were downloading... reasonnably (as he can remember), he didn't notice anything strange.

Now, I am a specialist in informatics (programming, using, trainings), I work in this area from more than 35 years ago. But I'm not a specialist in configuring operating systems like Windows 7. I tried to see settings under Windowsd Firewall which can imply such a behaviour: all downloading work fine, excepting downloading in Windows Updates. But... many of settings I don't understand (of this point of view I think Windows Vista and Windows 7 are "double-troublers". Too much security settings can be counter-productive). I even turned off the Windows Firewalls - with no effect (and then I turned them on).

You realize I am angry with this situation. I've downloaded Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE), which I use on my desktop and I am very satisfied of it; downloading the program was OK (somewhere at 1 MB/sec); but after installing, the first update was... not finished yet. So I've downloaded Avast Personal Edition, which updates automatically without any problem of downloading speed. I've uninstalled MSE.

So, it seems that only downloadings for Windows Updates (signatures for MSE are Windows Updates, too).

Maybe - I hope so very much - there is someone which knows what the hell happened to Windows Updates on my son's Dell Inspiron Mini 10.

TIA,
John

 

[Petey7]

Here's what you should try first. Set Windows Updates to ask before downloading and installing updates. Then do 2 or 3 at a time. It might take a little longer, but it usually solves problems like the one you are experiencing. If it doesn't work let me know. I have a couple other tricks up my sleeve.

 

[isandu]

Thanks, Petey, but the download is very slow. My son works in other city, so I could not cope with Windows Updates this style (requiring much time).

I set already the Updates to download and ask me which updates will be made and when.

Microsoft (MS Helper) recommended me to try applying what is written in

Windows Update Not Working.

but this doesn't fit.

Now I know there are problems with Windows Updates (stop to work), and I wonder what can be the cause of this.

John

 

[Jacee]

Is Windows Defender running in Services? If it is, disable it and see if that helps.

 

[isandu]

Unfortunately there is no effect.

Using Petey idea I performed 3 of the 49 updates.

John

 

[Petey7]

This is a little trick that Jacee taught me for when updates won't work at all. I've passed on to a few people and even used it myself one time. It hasn't failed yet, but can't guarantee anything for your case.

Clear your DNS cache and restore MS's original hosts file

Copy and paste these lines in Note pad.
@Echo on
pushd\windows\system32\drivers\etc
attrib -h -s -r hosts
echo 127.0.0.1 localhost>HOSTS
attrib +r +h +s hosts
popd
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns
netsh winsock reset all
netsh int ip reset all
shutdown -r -t 1
del %0

Save as flush.bat to your desktop. Right click on the .bat file and choose to run as Administrator. Your computer will reboot itself.

BTW. The downloading would take the same amount of time whether did all at once or a couple at a time. The need to restart multiple times is the only addition slowdown when you use the method I suggested earlier.

 

[Corrine]

Hi, isandu.

The Patch Registration Cleanup Tool helps resolve some issues that are related to invalid or corrupted update registration. This tool lets you bring the product back to a known state so that you can reinstall updates.

Additional Information: Description of the Patch Registration Cleanup Tool

Download: Patch Registration Cleanup Tool

 

[isandu]

Thanks, my friends.

@Petey: Something happened after performing the .bat. The start was encouraging, but... Suddenly the system told me that some of updates failed and if I want I can press "Try again" button. Pressing it brings me to the downloading of the updates and everything was as before: after an hour I see 0% for the downloads.
Seeing the behaviour of updating Windows, I agree to the ideea that something finished corrupted. My son works rather wireless than wired and I think one of the connections had some failures...
I've notice myself that restarting - let's say each 2 hours - seems to make updating advance by 1 or 2 pieces. Unfortunately the laptop is at my disposal for 12 more hours and I'll not have the necessary time to finish updates.

@Corinne: I didn't see Windows 7 Starter in the list, but I've downloaded the patch tool. I was blocked myself when seeing I have to give to the tool a productcode which is GUID of the component to check and clean. I can't give such a code. I should explore the Registry to see all the entries which seems corrupted?

I'm digging forward. And waiting for help.

BTW: Can I download and perform updates offline?

John

 

[Ryan2320]

Thanks, my friends.

I'm digging forward. And waiting for help.

BTW: Can I download and perform updates offline?

John

Only if those updates are already downloaded to your computer, then you can install them..

Are you having any issues with high CPU or high usage in RAM from the Windows Update Service?

 

[isandu]

CPU between 1% and 9%, memory around 552 MB of 1 GB (54%).
That seems to be relaxed...

 

[Ryan2320]

CPU between 1% and 9%, memory around 552 MB of 1 GB (54%).
That seems to be relaxed...

Sure does, well let me see if I can find more information about this problem...

 

[Jacee]

Just an 'off the wall' question ... is the date and time set correctly?

 

[Ryan2320]

Let's try to reset the Windows Update core components,
Here is an article from Microsoft Support, How do I reset Windows Update components?
You can do this manually or have the Microsoft Fix it application do it automatically. (your choice)
It looks like this does a lot of reseting in the Windows Update area.. (I personally have not used this before, so I recommend to backup at least the Registry)

Hope this Helps..