Solved Windows Update stuck at "Checking for updates..."

[ixfd64]

I recently re-installed Windows 7 Home Premium on my Alienware X51 after getting a lot of random freezes. After the installation completed, I noticed that Windows Update was getting stuck at "Checking for updates..." and would not move forward, even after I left the computer on overnight. I was ultimately able to get Windows Update to function by updating the Windows Update Client as described here: https://blog.krissmilne.tech/windows/windows-7/windows-7-stuck-on-checking-for-updates

However, that only worked once; Windows Update is now getting stuck at stuck at "Checking for updates..." again. The last few entries from WindowsUpdate.log are as follows:

2016-09-04    16:58:32:098    1060    3cc    PT    +++++++++++  PT: Synchronizing server updates  +++++++++++
2016-09-04    16:58:32:098    1060    3cc    PT      + ServiceId = {7971F918-A847-4430-9279-4A52D1EFE18D}, Server URL = https://fe2.update.microsoft.com/v6/ClientWebService/client.asmx
2016-09-04    16:58:39:985    1060    db0    AU    No pending client directive
2016-09-04    16:58:41:834    1060    3cc    Driver    Matched driver to device PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_0162&SUBSYS_05271028&REV_09
2016-09-04    16:58:41:835    1060    3cc    Driver    Status: 0x180200a, ProblemNumber: 00000000
2016-09-04    16:58:58:594    1060    68c    AU    Getting featured update notifications.  fIncludeDismissed = true
2016-09-04    16:58:58:594    1060    68c    AU    No featured updates available.
2016-09-04    16:59:00:460    1060    68c    AU    Triggering AU detection through DetectNow API
2016-09-04    16:59:00:460    1060    68c    AU    Piggybacking on an AU detection already in progress
2016-09-04    16:59:24:054    1060    3cc    Agent    WARNING: Failed to evaluate Installed rule, updateId = {2A1234D0-3E2D-4D9E-AA5E-3430A20EDC11}.100, hr = 80242013
2016-09-04    16:59:41:630    1060    3cc    Agent    WARNING: Failed to evaluate Installed rule, updateId = {818701AF-1182-45C2-BD1E-17068AD171D6}.104, hr = 80242013
2016-09-04    17:00:07:293    1060    3cc    Misc    Validating signature for C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\WuRedir\7971F918-A847-4430-9279-4A52D1EFE18D\wuredir.cab with dwProvFlags 0x00000080:
2016-09-04    17:00:07:299    1060    3cc    Misc     Microsoft signed: NA
2016-09-04    17:00:07:302    1060    3cc    Misc    Validating signature for C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\WuRedir\7971F918-A847-4430-9279-4A52D1EFE18D\TMPDE68.tmp with dwProvFlags 0x00000080:
2016-09-04    17:00:07:309    1060    3cc    Misc     Microsoft signed: NA
2016-09-04    17:00:07:310    1060    3cc    Misc    Validating signature for C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\WuRedir\7971F918-A847-4430-9279-4A52D1EFE18D\v6-muredir.cab with dwProvFlags 0x00000080:
2016-09-04    17:00:07:315    1060    3cc    Misc     Microsoft signed: NA
2016-09-04    17:00:07:565    1060    3cc    Misc    Validating signature for C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\WuRedir\7971F918-A847-4430-9279-4A52D1EFE18D\v6-muredir.cab with dwProvFlags 0x00000080:
2016-09-04    17:00:07:570    1060    3cc    Misc     Microsoft signed: NA
2016-09-04    17:00:07:581    1060    3cc    Misc    Validating signature for C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\WuRedir\7971F918-A847-4430-9279-4A52D1EFE18D\wuredir.cab with dwProvFlags 0x00000080:
2016-09-04    17:00:07:586    1060    3cc    Misc     Microsoft signed: NA
2016-09-04    17:00:07:589    1060    3cc    Misc    Validating signature for C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\WuRedir\7971F918-A847-4430-9279-4A52D1EFE18D\TMPDF82.tmp with dwProvFlags 0x00000080:
2016-09-04    17:00:07:596    1060    3cc    Misc     Microsoft signed: NA
2016-09-04    17:00:07:598    1060    3cc    Misc    Validating signature for C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\WuRedir\7971F918-A847-4430-9279-4A52D1EFE18D\wuredir.cab with dwProvFlags 0x00000080:
2016-09-04    17:00:07:603    1060    3cc    Misc     Microsoft signed: NA
2016-09-04    17:00:07:607    1060    3cc    Misc    Validating signature for C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\WuRedir\7971F918-A847-4430-9279-4A52D1EFE18D\TMPDF93.tmp with dwProvFlags 0x00000080:
2016-09-04    17:00:07:613    1060    3cc    Misc     Microsoft signed: NA
2016-09-04    17:00:07:614    1060    3cc    PT    +++++++++++  PT: Synchronizing extended update info  +++++++++++
2016-09-04    17:00:07:614    1060    3cc    PT      + ServiceId = {7971F918-A847-4430-9279-4A52D1EFE18D}, Server URL = https://fe2.update.microsoft.com/v6/ClientWebService/client.asmx
2016-09-04    17:00:08:054    1060    3cc    DtaStor    WARNING: Attempted to add URL http://download.windowsupdate.com/msdownload/update/software/updt/2011/05/4296717_ebb2a377906c369465222451a9c92eac3ecdcd71.cab for file 67Kjd5BsNpRlIiRRqckurD7NzXE= when file has not been previously added to the datastore
2016-09-04    17:00:08:070    1060    3cc    DtaStor    WARNING: Attempted to add URL http://download.windowsupdate.com/c/msdownload/update/others/2016/09/22074599_d6ac133b89e7e5fc16b1bd644ed8ea6395ec3b0b.cab for file 1qwTO4nn5fwWsb1kTtjqY5XsOws= when file has not been previously added to the datastore

Here are the entries from the previous attempt:

2016-09-04    16:31:11:225    1032    12ac    AU    Install complete for all calls, reboot NOT needed
2016-09-04    16:31:11:226    1032    12ac    AU    Setting AU scheduled install time to 2016-09-05 10:00:00
2016-09-04    16:31:11:226    1032    12ac    AU    Successfully wrote event for AU health state:0
2016-09-04    16:31:11:232    1032    5fc    AU    Getting featured update notifications.  fIncludeDismissed = true
2016-09-04    16:31:11:232    1032    5fc    AU    No featured updates available.
2016-09-04    16:31:11:240    1032    5fc    AU    All updates already downloaded, setting percent complete to 100
2016-09-04    16:31:13:158    1032    5fc    AU    All updates already downloaded, setting percent complete to 100
2016-09-04    16:31:13:158    1032    5fc    AU    No featured updates notifications to show
2016-09-04    16:31:13:159    1032    5fc    AU    UpdateDownloadProperties: 1 download(s) are still in progress.
2016-09-04    16:31:13:159    1032    5fc    AU    WARNING: Failed to change download properties of call, error = 0x80070057
2016-09-04    16:31:13:159    1032    5fc    AU    Piggybacking on an AU detection already in progress
2016-09-04    16:31:13:160    1032    5fc    AU    AU setting pending client directive to 'Install Complete Ux'
2016-09-04    16:31:13:160    1032    5fc    AU    Changing existing AU client directive from 'Progress Ux' to 'Install Complete Ux', session id = 0x1
2016-09-04    16:31:13:181    1032    5fc    AU    Successfully wrote event for AU health state:0
2016-09-04    16:31:17:789    1032    1074    AU    No featured updates notifications to show
2016-09-04    16:31:17:807    1032    1074    AU    Successfully wrote event for AU health state:0
2016-09-04    16:31:17:825    1032    11d4    AU    AU received handle event
2016-09-04    16:31:55:077    1032    1560    Agent    WARNING: Failed to evaluate Installed rule, updateId = {2A1234D0-3E2D-4D9E-AA5E-3430A20EDC11}.100, hr = 80242013
2016-09-04    16:32:18:946    1032    1524    AU    Getting featured update notifications.  fIncludeDismissed = true
2016-09-04    16:32:18:946    1032    1524    AU    No featured updates available.
2016-09-04    16:32:24:189    1032    5fc    AU    Getting featured update notifications.  fIncludeDismissed = true
2016-09-04    16:32:24:189    1032    5fc    AU    No featured updates available.
2016-09-04    16:32:31:034    1032    1524    AU    Triggering AU detection through DetectNow API
2016-09-04    16:32:31:034    1032    1524    AU    Piggybacking on an AU detection already in progress
2016-09-04    16:32:47:276    1032    1560    Agent    WARNING: Failed to evaluate Installed rule, updateId = {818701AF-1182-45C2-BD1E-17068AD171D6}.104, hr = 80242013
2016-09-04    16:34:14:772    1032    49c    AU    Successfully wrote event for AU health state:0
2016-09-04    16:34:35:387    1032    1560    Misc    Validating signature for C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\WuRedir\7971F918-A847-4430-9279-4A52D1EFE18D\wuredir.cab with dwProvFlags 0x00000080:
2016-09-04    16:34:35:392    1032    1560    Misc     Microsoft signed: NA
2016-09-04    16:34:35:396    1032    1560    Misc    Validating signature for C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\WuRedir\7971F918-A847-4430-9279-4A52D1EFE18D\TMP8C24.tmp with dwProvFlags 0x00000080:
2016-09-04    16:34:35:404    1032    1560    Misc     Microsoft signed: NA
2016-09-04    16:34:35:406    1032    1560    Misc    Validating signature for C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\WuRedir\7971F918-A847-4430-9279-4A52D1EFE18D\v6-muredir.cab with dwProvFlags 0x00000080:
2016-09-04    16:34:35:411    1032    1560    Misc     Microsoft signed: NA
2016-09-04    16:34:35:849    1032    1560    Misc    Validating signature for C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\WuRedir\7971F918-A847-4430-9279-4A52D1EFE18D\v6-muredir.cab with dwProvFlags 0x00000080:
2016-09-04    16:34:35:853    1032    1560    Misc     Microsoft signed: NA
2016-09-04    16:34:35:862    1032    1560    Misc    Validating signature for C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\WuRedir\7971F918-A847-4430-9279-4A52D1EFE18D\wuredir.cab with dwProvFlags 0x00000080:
2016-09-04    16:34:35:866    1032    1560    Misc     Microsoft signed: NA
2016-09-04    16:34:35:870    1032    1560    Misc    Validating signature for C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\WuRedir\7971F918-A847-4430-9279-4A52D1EFE18D\TMP8E09.tmp with dwProvFlags 0x00000080:
2016-09-04    16:34:35:875    1032    1560    Misc     Microsoft signed: NA
2016-09-04    16:34:35:877    1032    1560    Misc    Validating signature for C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\WuRedir\7971F918-A847-4430-9279-4A52D1EFE18D\wuredir.cab with dwProvFlags 0x00000080:
2016-09-04    16:34:35:882    1032    1560    Misc     Microsoft signed: NA
2016-09-04    16:34:35:885    1032    1560    Misc    Validating signature for C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\WuRedir\7971F918-A847-4430-9279-4A52D1EFE18D\TMP8E1A.tmp with dwProvFlags 0x00000080:
2016-09-04    16:34:35:891    1032    1560    Misc     Microsoft signed: NA
2016-09-04    16:34:35:891    1032    1560    PT    +++++++++++  PT: Synchronizing extended update info  +++++++++++
2016-09-04    16:34:35:891    1032    1560    PT      + ServiceId = {7971F918-A847-4430-9279-4A52D1EFE18D}, Server URL = https://fe2.update.microsoft.com/v6/ClientWebService/client.asmx
2016-09-04    16:36:59:868    1032    1474    AU    Piggybacking on an AU detection already in progress

Running the standalone installers (including the System Update Readiness Tool) results in them getting stuck at "Searching for updates on this computer..."

Anyone have any solutions?

 

[pbcopter]

First, set Windows Updates to never check for Updates.
Next reboot your computer, then install KB3020369, if not installed.
Then install KB3172605.

Windows updates should return to normal. You can then reset your updates to automatically check for updates if desired

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3020369

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3172605

 

[ixfd64]

That worked for me. Thanks so much!

 

[pbcopter]

You're most welcome.

 

[bessini]

Hi,

Many thanks to Mr. Pbcopter.

It results and solved a 3 hours issue.

Regards,
Bessini

 

[RBDigital]

Thanks pbcopter, that fixed it for me too!

 

[cakgun]

I am experiencing the same exact problem. I checked that my Windows 7 came with SP1. I queried my installed windows updates with wmic and found that KB3020369 has been installed automatically in 2015 but KB3172605 was not. I read the description of 3172605 and saw the prerequisites. Certainly it was saying SP1 and 3020369. When I click on the SP1 prerequisite, it says KB976932, which I could not fınd that as an installed KB in my computer. Since I am not experinced in these things, I do not want to mess with my computer. Since the Systems shows me my Windows 7 is installed with Service Pack 1, this would be OK for me to install only 3172605 and expect my computer will be back to normal. I appreciate the answer from pbcopter or any guru on these issues.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Yes it will work

 

[cakgun]

Thanks TrashZone! I will try ASAP. As I understand I have to set the Windows Update service to "Never" state and reboot to stop the windows update service to kill the related service process. I have seen some discussions to put dnsservice to disabled state before installing the 3172605. I do not understand that is necessary or not, but there are discussions on the forums for proper installatıon of that patch? Is there any validity for that claim?

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Well really you just need to stop the windows update service
You can do that by going to services and do it manually easily enough
More details are here too just scroll down to post #2
Windows Update will not update and I've tried multiple fixes