Windows Update - Reset

How to Reset Windows Update in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8​

   Information

This will show you how to reset Windows Update view update history, and how to reset and re-register Windows Update Components if you are having a problem updating with Windows Update.

OPTION ONE

To Only Reset Windows Update History

   Note

Resetting Windows Update using this option will clear the view update history details list (cache).

This will not actually uninstall any of your currently installed Windows Update. They will just not be listed anymore. Any new Windows Update installed after the reset will show up in the view update history list as normal though.

1. Click/tap on the Download button below to download this file below.
Reset_Windows_Update_History.bat


Download


2. Save the .bat file to your Desktop.

3. Right click or press and hold on the downloaded .bat file, and click/tap on Run as administrator.

4. If prompted by UAC click/tap on Run, then Yes/Continue (if administrator) or type in administrator's password (if standard user).

5. You will now see an elevated command prompt open and run. When it's finished, it will close automatically.

6. If opened, close and reopen Windows Update to verify that it has been reset.




7. Resetting the Windows Update history will also restore the default language packs being listed in Windows Upate again in the Windows 7 Ultimate and Enterprise editions after you check for updates next.

OPTION TWO

To Reset and Re-register Windows Update Components

NOTE: This option is the Windows version of: How do I reset Windows Update components?. It will reset Windows Update Components and re-register the BITS files and the Windows Update files to help fix Windows Update errors. This option will not clear the view update history details list as it does in OPTION ONE above.
1. Click/tap on the Download button below to download this file below.
Reset_Reregister_Windows_Update_Components.bat


Download


2. Save the .bat file to your Desktop.

3. Right click or press and hold on the downloaded .bat file, and click/tap on Run as administrator.

4. If prompted by UAC click on Run, then Yes/Continue (if administrator) or type in administrator's password (if standard user).

5. You will now see an elevated command prompt open and run. When it's finished, it will close automatically.

6. Restart the computer afterwards to apply.

7. If this still does not help, then run the Microsoft Fix it tool here:
How do I reset Windows Update components?

See also: Unable to install updates in Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2

OPTION THREE

To Reset and Re-register Windows Update Components AND Reset Update History in One Easy Click

   Note

This option combines OPTION ONE and OPTION TWO above in one .bat file.

1. Click/tap on the Download button below to download this file below.
Reset_Windows_Update_Full.bat


Download



2. Save the .bat file to your Desktop.

3. Right click or press and hold on the downloaded .bat file, and click/tap on Run as administrator.

4. If prompted by UAC click/tap on Run, then Yes/Continue (if administrator) or type in administrator's password (if standard user).

5. You will now see an elevated command prompt open and run. When it's finished, it will close automatically.

6. Restart the computer afterwards to apply.

7. If this still does not help, then run the Microsoft Fix it tool here:

Download



How do I reset Windows Update components?

See also: Unable to install updates in Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• Windows Update Error 80246008 in Windows 7 - Fix
• How to Create a "Windows Update" Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Change the Windows Update Settings in Windows 7
• How to Enable or Disable Windows Updates from Automatically Restarting the Computer
• How to Uninstall a Windows Update in Windows 7
• How to Hide or Restore Hidden Windows Updates in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Create a Installed Windows Updates Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Create a Windows Update Troubleshoot Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Enable or Disable Uninstalling Windows Updates in Windows 7
• How to Enable or Disable Access to Windows Updates in Windows 7
• How to View Windows Update History Details in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Reset the Common Log File System (CLFS) Logs
• How to Enable or Disable the Windows Update "Who can install updates" Setting
• How to Download the Standalone MSU Installer File of a Windows Update
• How to Restore Default Services in Windows 7
• How to Trace what Windows Update a Manifest File Originated From
• How to Use DISM to Fix Component Store Corruption in Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012

 

[Brink]

I'm sorry to hear that Clint. What error message is it giving you?

None. It just keeps going for hours and nothing. I'm reinstalling Windows now.

If you have a 3rd party AV or firewall program installed, double check to make sure it's not blocking Windows Update.

 

[5Clint7]

If you have a 3rd party AV or firewall program installed, double check to make sure it's not blocking Windows Update.

I didn't have any.

 

[wdcarp]

This and KB3138612

This worked for me but I found I had to run it twice in a row and then restart because i received some failure messages about stopping Windows Update.

I immediately installed the Standalone Update KB3138612-x64 following restart for the fix because previous attempts failed... this process did work after hours of trying other things to fix this issue. Thanks. Hope it helps others. This process did not work for me from a USB so try putting the executable and the standalone on your desktop before running if you run into issues.

 

[Sebaztianin]

Im having problems too. I want to install Windows 10 but Windows Update wont work. At first it did not start the download, it seemed to be running but it never ended; if you cancelled the process, it launched a message: "0% downloaded". After trying a few things I think I completely ruined the Windows Update application, now it wont even look for updates, it gets stucked in a "looking for updates..." screen for ever. I tried doing what you post in here and it wont work, help would be highly appreciated.

 

[Brink]

Hello Sebaztianin, and welcome to Seven Forums.

If you like, you could use an option in the tutorial below to upgrade to Windows 10 instead.

Windows 10 - Upgrade Installation - Windows 10 Forums

 

[Sebaztianin]

Hello Sebaztianin, and welcome to Seven Forums.

If you like, you could use an option in the tutorial below to upgrade to Windows 10 instead.

Windows 10 - Upgrade Installation - Windows 10 Forums

I will try creating a USB Installation Media from another PC and tell you how it goes. Thanks

 

[Brink]

I hope it goes well.

 

[Sebaztianin]

I hope it goes well.

It didnt, each time I try to create the USB Installation, the process throws an error message after the download finishes. The error code is 0xC180010C - 0xA0019

 

[Brink]

Sebaztian,

You might see if this may be able to help any.

USB Flash Drive - Create to Install Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

 

[Sebaztianin]

Sebaztian,

You might see if this may be able to help any.

USB Flash Drive - Create to Install Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

Finally. Ive been able to install it by creating an ISO file and copying it to a USB Drive. Anyway yesterday, the USB Media Installation failed because of the USB I was using, I think it didnt have enough space probably it would have worked if I tried with a new one. Thank you for your help

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi Shawn
These services are interesting
After running option 3 here all were either on auto or auto delayed start only the installer was manual
Background intelligent transfer services
Cryptographic
Windows installer
Windows update

Today I noticed
Background intelligent transfer services
Was set at Manual as well as installer :/
Does that sound right
Settings being set at Check for update but let me decide whether to download and install them.

Seems Background.... would stay on auto delayed start or auto ?

 

[Brink]

Hey Mike,

Yeah, the .bat file will change them to automatic and start to make sure it's running afterwards for Windows Update, but it won't hurt anything to change them from manual since Windows will still automatically stop and run them as needed.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Okay just checking I thought it was an interesting change in settings
Good to know it's normal
Great .bat by the way

 

[Brink]

 

[Hermitt43]

Just wanted to post I did everything under the sun to try and solve this problem and got it to finally work in my situation. Wanted to post my findings.

Setup:
Dell Precision M6400 Clean install of Windows 7 Pro.

After a clean install (installed a SSD) and Windows update installed the update agent to 7.6.7600.320 windows update would get stuck at "checking for updates" and would never do anything else.

How I solved it:

I am not sure what exactly solved it. However, this is the combined methods that ended up fixing it for me.

1. Performed all 3 options on first page of this forum (trying windows update between each one and problem persisted).
2. Installed Intel Rapid Storage Technology v9.6.0.1014 from Dell.
3. Installed this update manually https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3083324.
4. Installed this update manually https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3102810.
5. Attempted step 1 again and then tried windows update with same problem.
6. Noticed there were a couple devices in device manager without drivers so installed those from the Dell website which consisted of multimedia card slot, graphics card(wasn't missing but was using standard vga), wifi card(wasn't missing but updated it anyways) and security control point. I think I also updated the chipset driver which fixed a couple missing devices in device manager.
7. Performed step 1 again and attempted windows update and BAM windows found updates and installed. Windows update now works. :grouphug:

Why did this problem happen from a clean install? My assumption was that windows update was hanging on trying to locate driver(s) for the missing device(s) in device manager and was "hanging" on one or more of those missing devices.

Good luck!

UPDATE: 2-22-2016

Confirmed with another Dell machine. I did the following to get windows updates to work.

1. Perform step 3 above. Reboot when prompted.
2. Perform step 4 above. Open up windows updates and it should work.

Good luck!

Your post was the Miracle Cure for fixing my broken Windows Updates. Thanks a ton, RoverDawg

Jim

 

[dirthawker]

I just want to say thanks for making those batch files. I tried #2 then #3 which finally got rid of the stupid "Install updates" thing. Hopefully I can turn on automatic updates again (I had hidden that one that keeps hassling you about upgrading to 10, looks like I might have to hide it again but that's OK).

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome dirthawker, and welcome to Seven Forums.

If you like, the tutorial below should be able to disable the "Upgrade to Windows 10" update.

Upgrade to Windows 10 Update - Enable or Disable in Windows 7 or 8.1 - Windows 10 Forums

 

[dirthawker]

Done! and thanks again.
All the trouble started when I originally hid KB3035583 and a couple other annoying "recommended" updates to stop it from bugging me about Win10. Microsoft Fixit didn't, nor did a few other things I tried. Yours worked.

 

[Brink]

I'm glad it could help.

 

[rollercoaster]

Today exactly 6 years this thread started and still very very helpfull.
I had to run the .bat files a few times before it didnt give me any errors. Now windows is installing 174 updates.

Can we give Brink an applause for his 6 year lustrum!