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

[JustDelSys32]

Hi,
I can't imagine why someone would not have sp1 installed years ago

Clean install with new media with sp1 on it
Microsoft Windows and Office ISO Download Tool

Can never be too specific when posting fixes

 

[FaxCap]

I would like to thank all who helped get this Update problem solved!
Running KB3020369 & KB3172605 worked perfectly.

What I don't understand is this....it was my cousin's laptop I was working on. He told me he bought it new in 2011. He also told me he was unhappy with it from the 1st day as it ran way too slow. No bloody wonder....1 of the cores was running one svhost maxed out. So as far as he saw it was a 1 core laptop. Not 1 update had ever happened. It just sat there trying for 5 years.

Then 1 day last week he was complaining about it to me. I brought it home and found the problem quickly. But....the solution took a while. 1st thing was to reinstall Win7. Still wouldn't update. But I got to this forum and noticed this thread. And as I stated running KB3020369 & KB3172605 worked perfectly. THANK YOU!!!

I'm starting to buy into the "MS is doing this on purpose" idea. Just way too many people with this problem. Now I have another cousin with the same problem but her updates stopped about 6 months ago. I've sent her the link to the 2 KBs.

FaxCap

 

[Hijin25]

Hi,
I can't imagine why someone would not have sp1 installed years ago

Clean install with new media with sp1 on it
Microsoft Windows and Office ISO Download Tool

Is this tool reliable?

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
I can't imagine why someone would not have sp1 installed years ago

Clean install with new media with sp1 on it
Microsoft Windows and Office ISO Download Tool

Is this tool reliable?

Hi,
I've personally never used it but many others have with success
The only requirement I believe is that the machine must have net framework 4.6.1 installed
To use the iso the tool will offer choices for all you need is a valid activation key but the tool it's self does not ask for a activation key.

 

[TheoA]

Running KB3020369 & KB3172605 worked perfectly.

Hi there! Same problem and solution here! After manually running those two KB's, the other 150 updates came in overnight. Windows is fresh again!

Theo

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3200747

 

[Craig Evans]

Just thought I'd post my solution, since I ended up calling Microsoft Support to solve this.

Since Microsoft want to keep their Windows 7 product up to date, they will assist you free of charge. Call the 800-642-7676 and say "technical support". Explain to the tech operator that your PC is hanging while searching for updates.

This is what the tech did:

- Remotely logged into my PC

- Went to Control Panel > Windows Update > Change Settings > Set Important Updates to:
* Never check for updates (not recommended)

- Download the 6.1-KB3020369 "Known as the April 2016 fix" for your version of Windows 7. My version is a 64-bit system, so they downloaded the x64-based versions for Windows 7 and installed it (see link) Access Denied

- Download the KB3172605 "Known as the July 2016 fix" for your version of Windows 7. Again they downloaded the x64-based version for Windows 7 and installed it (see link)
Access Denied

- Then they downloaded the "Convienience package". I can't get the link to work that's directed from this link: https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/kb/3125574. When you get there, and trying the link they suggest through the "How to get this convenience rollup", the "Microsoft Update Catalog" link that does an auto search for KB3125574, doesn't get through. You might have to call them to get this.

- Then we turned on the automatic updates:
Control Panel > Windows Update > Change Settings > Set Important Updates to:
* Install updates automatically (recommended).

You should try to call their support in order to get the convenience package, because they told me that manually doing these updates is difficult. I couldn't find a way to find it through google search "KB3125574".

I am having trouble carrying out this fix.

First of all the link for KB3020369 is dead so I used this one instead; https://wwwdotmicrosoftdotcom/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=46817 *

Secondly during installation of KB3020369 my computer is hung up on "Windows Update Standalone Installer. Searching for updates on this computer...". How long does this usually take? Or can't I bypass this step? So far its taken an whole hour and still at it with no end in sight.

I kindly ask that you please don't fob me off with negative or useless replies. I am already frustrated and on thinning patience with this as it is since I have the exact same problem as the original poster with no concrete simple clear cut fix, well nothing that's worked so far. Even Microsoft support are useless as usual. I have wasted a whole day getting nowhere before I even found this "fix". What's worse, I have to update my laptop before I can even carry out a "fix" for yet another problem which I won't bore you with, this one involving Microsoft Security Essentials.

*Sorry for the "dots" in the new link. This forum won't even let me post safe links.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi and welcome to SevenForums,
I have all the updates on my Onedrive I believe the link is still good on post #2 here,
windows update

 

[Craig Evans]

Hi and welcome to SevenForums,
I have all the updates on my Onedrive I believe the link is still good on post #2 here,
windows update

Sorry for the late reply, but I'd just like to say thank you for the link and your instructions. My windows update is back in tip top condition!

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
You're welcome Craig glad it worked out
Cheers.
Note November security only update is there too

 

[DBuckley]

Joined for a couple of reasons.

First was to directly thank Mergatroid and everyone else in this thread for posting advice that helped me solve this issue with Windows update not working.

Second, because I've been lurking for years (mainly because Google keeps directing me here when I search.) and decided it was finally time to quit lurking.

 

[wolfsdengaming]

Thanks to Mergatroid

Personal thanks to Mergatroid, and everyone else on this thread. Joined this forum just to give a quick thanks. After following Mergatroid and his tips, (after doing other tips to no avail) his tip helped and got my updates starting up. Thanks again everyone for all your wonderful tips and tricks into getting Windows Update to work and what not.

 

[amartinr]

Just wanted to say thanks

Big thanks to everyone in this thread and special thanks to Mergatroid for his instructions!

You guys rock!

 

[bjproc]

This problem had been driving me nuts over the last year.
I would do a fresh install of Windows 7 for a customer, and the updates would fail to function. This is for Windows 7 Pro or Home, with service pack two.

I tried everything. Hunted the 'net for hours. Finally, I had settled on downloading some 3rd party software that would force-feed Windows its updates. This would work, but it took a while and was a rather inelegant solution.

Then I stumbles across a webpage that has an answer that actually worked.

1. Disable Windows Updates (tell it to never check for updates).
2. Reboot.
3. Download and install Internet Explorer 11.
4. Download update KB3102810 and place it on your desktop (make sure you get the correct one, 64 bit or 32 (X86) bit). Place on your desktop.
5. Reboot.
6. Go into Computer Management (right click on Computer in Start Menu) and select Services.
7. Stop Windows Update service.
8. Start Menu, Computer, C: drive, Windows, delete the entire Software Distribution folder.
9. Double click on update KB3102810 and let it install.
10: Reboot (this will turn update service back on).
11. Go into Windows Updates and check for updates. Give it about an hour, it may take less time but be patient. It will start working.
12. After installing your updates, you can turn Windows Update automatic check for updates back on if you like.

I have tested this on four fresh Windows 7 Home Premium and 3 Windows 7 Pro fresh installs and it worked on all of them.

a wee bit of an older thread, but this also worked for me

 

[n2mystic]

I was also having a problem on stuck Windows Update - and Mergatroid's steps worked perfectly. Thanks!!

 

[motoscribble]

I also joined this forum to thank Mergatroid for his post. After a year chasing this very frustrating problem with no help from Microsoft of course [URL="https://www.sevenforums.com/members/mergatroid.html"]Mergatroid's post has resolved the issue quickly and easily I might add. Thank you for the post! [/URL]

https://www.sevenforums.com/members/mergatroid.html

 

[joebale]

I also joined to thank Mergatroid. My steps were slightly different.

1. Delete c:/windows/software distribution folder
2. I Downloaded windows 11 but my computer already had the latest version so it did not install. I went ahead with the latest version of windows 11, not the downloaded one. If you have the latest it will work with that.
3. I could not install KB3102810 because I had stopped the update service so I had to set it to Automatic and restart the service. So no need to stop the Update Service beforehand. Or you could stop it and retart it then reboot, just to be sure.
4. Reboot.
5. Install KB3102810
6. Reboot.
7. Run Windows Update. I had to wait awhile because the computer had not been updated for awhile and it was a big download.

 

[Warzau]

Thanks to Mergatroid

I registered just to thanks to Mergatroid. His steps worked on 3 computers that were not updating even using fixit sw and other methods.

 

[gcapp99]

Another grateful member thanking Mergatroid for the absolute solution to this issue! I had a drive failure, used my backup image from 2015 to get Win 7 up & running on the new drive, but was stuck in the Endless Update Loop trying to get it current. This Fix worked perfectly.

Thanks again!

 

[doonebug]

Found Work-A-Round for WUA 7.6.7600.320

Two of my computers hit the Windows 7 SP1 update bug. And, I found a solution on a DELL web blog.
WIN7 SP1 installs a faulty Update Program [7.6.7600.320].
The fix involves editing the Registry.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Click Start, type REGEDIT in the Start Search bar and press Enter.

2. Locate the following key in the left pane:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft]

3. Highlight “Microsoft” folder and click "Delete".

4. Please repeat to delete the following keys:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies

Note: If some keys do not exist, please ignore them.

5. Restart the computer and check if the issue persists.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
This post fixed two of my Windows OS's --> Windows7 Home 64 + Windows7 Pro 64

 

[Harvick1]

This problem had been driving me nuts over the last year.
I would do a fresh install of Windows 7 for a customer, and the updates would fail to function. This is for Windows 7 Pro or Home, with service pack two.

I tried everything. Hunted the 'net for hours. Finally, I had settled on downloading some 3rd party software that would force-feed Windows its updates. This would work, but it took a while and was a rather inelegant solution.

Then I stumbles across a webpage that has an answer that actually worked.

1. Disable Windows Updates (tell it to never check for updates).
2. Reboot.
3. Download and install Internet Explorer 11.
4. Download update KB3102810 and place it on your desktop (make sure you get the correct one, 64 bit or 32 (X86) bit). Place on your desktop.
5. Reboot.
6. Go into Computer Management (right click on Computer in Start Menu) and select Services.
7. Stop Windows Update service.
8. Start Menu, Computer, C: drive, Windows, delete the entire Software Distribution folder.
9. Double click on update KB3102810 and let it install.
10: Reboot (this will turn update service back on).
11. Go into Windows Updates and check for updates. Give it about an hour, it may take less time but be patient. It will start working.
12. After installing your updates, you can turn Windows Update automatic check for updates back on if you like.

I have tested this on four fresh Windows 7 Home Premium and 3 Windows 7 Pro fresh installs and it worked on all of them.

AWESOME!! Worked perfectly! Stumbled on this forum doing a search, found and followed this post by Mergatroid, then BOOM! downloaded and installed Windows updates in less than two hours. Many thanks to Mergatroid.