Solved Windows update taking forever

[logo897]

I just re-installed windows 7 on my older laptop and I've let it check for updates, installed the standalone package, and the system readiness tool all with no luck. So many people online recommended these steps, but all they do is halt and not load. Windows update is stuck at checking for updates while any standalone package I do is stuck at "Searching for updates on this computer"

I'm blown away because I've let it run for 3-4 hours and it still is loading. So basically, I just wasted half of my day waiting for this thing to load.. pretty frustrating.

Any other methods that work?

Thanks and any attempt to help me would be greatly appreciated.

 

[logo897]

I could've sworn I posted this on another thread.. I did not mean to make another thread about it.. again...

Sorry all, don't know how to erase this

 

[derekimo]

I moved it here because you posted it in another thread, thereby hijacking someone else's thread.

If you have one already I'll get rid of this.

 

[logo897]

I moved it here because you posted it in another thread, thereby hijacking someone else's thread.

If you have one already I'll get rid of this.

Ah, that explains it. Sorry, I thought making another thread would be more of a burden to other's.

No I do not have another thread of this and this still is a problem happening to me

 

[derekimo]

Yeah, I know it's like a bunch of others but it gets confusing if two or more start requesting help in the same thread.

Unfortunately what you are experiencing is very common right now and I don't know of a fix myself besides letting it sit.

Some folks have suggested some other things, but I think it's just time myself.

 

[Brds7t7]

Hi logo, unfortunately the Windows updates on 7 are a mess now ever since 10 was released.
No amount of tweaking Windows update, resetting windows update, or updating Windows update components will offer a permanent fix. MS has either reduced the bandwidth to push people on to Windows 10 or they're just not bothering to fix it for windows 7 users as they're concentrating on 10.

I've actually given up with the Windows update system now as the last check was still running after 6 hours.
I download only the security updates from the MS site and install them all manually. I also skip the recommended/optional updates.
While I can't recommend this to everyone, it took me 5-10 minutes to install all this month's patch Tuesday updates that way. I'd rather do that than have to wait hours for updates to appear.
It's worse when doing a new install, I've seen people mention that it took them over 24 hours for updates to appear. Pretty ridiculous really!

 

[groze]

I have an idea.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/949104

Install that, then install

KB3145739

Here is my post on this.

http://www.sevenforums.com/windows-...d-temporary-fix-april-2016-stuck-updates.html

 

[Callender]

No amount of tweaking Windows update, resetting windows update, or updating Windows update components will offer a permanent fix. MS has either reduced the bandwidth to push people on to Windows 10 or they're just not bothering to fix it for windows 7 users as they're concentrating on 10.

Fix for me was a complete removal and reinstall of Windows Updates (takes a couple of days to do it correctly) then skip installation of any of those problematic Windows Update Clients/Agents. One or more of those is responsible for the issue.

Bandwith reduction - it's not true. Update checks typically last less than one minute. Downloads may take a little longer than normal on a Patch Tuesday but it's always possible to wait until Wednesday!

 

[Brds7t7]

Are you on a fast connection Callender?
I've tried every fix posted on these forums, including yours, they only seem to offer a temporary fix for me. The last couple of weeks my updates have gone back to taking hours to check again. Much quicker for me to install manually.
I've tried uninstalling all update clients and resetting components. Doesn't work for me. We shouldn't have to go through all this uninstalling, reinstalling, resetting to get it to work properly. There are times when they do show up properly then other times mine take hours to check. It's very hit and miss and not worth the wait for me. I can check manually once a month and have them installed in 5 minutes.
People on new installs have been hit the hardest. They go through reinstalls thinking they've solved the problem and then still have to wait 24 hours in some cases. Any new VM I've set up recently has experienced the same. That's why I keep an up to date update pack to install all the updates from now. Makes it much easier on a fresh install.
Glad it's worked for some people, but hasn't worked in my situation.

 

[groze]

Brds7t7

Have you tried my suggestion post #7?

 

[Brds7t7]

Yes Groze, I have those updates installed. Nothing has worked for me lately. The update clients seemed to resolve things for a little while. But lately they're borked again.

 

[Callender]

My connection isn't superfast:

​

I had the same problem more than once. It began with a WUC download - I forget which one was responsible, Then I spent two weeks trying multiple fixes before getting it sorted. Then in December another WUC download made the problem resurface. So I fixed it again.

I see some people report that "windows updates is now working" but unless RAM usage by datastore.edb remains low then it is not really working as well as it should be.

Why do I think this is the case?

I saw slow Windows Updates checks/ download with RAM usage climbing to over 3GB

Fixed and then RAM usage during Windows Update checks was a more reasonable 2.5GB

RAM usage with just background programs running was around 2.2GB

Then after the problem returned and was fixed once more:

RAM Usage during Windows Update checks never exceeds 2.5 GB but RAM usage with just background programs running is currently around 1.68GB

That's nearly 0.5GB less!

RE: VM's

Check these ideas after fresh install:

Sticking with Windows 7? The forecast calls for pain | ZDNet

http://www.sevenforums.com/news/393...ecast-calls-pain-post3232261.html#post3232261

As for fixes that I used -it did require some steps to be performed without an internet connection.

It does require a full removal of Windows Updates to get things working again. That includes any leftover locked files/ folders that these "Fix/ reset Windows Updates" scripts cannot deal with.

 

[Brds7t7]

Not sure how 2.5GB is classed as a reasonable amount for an update check?? That seems extremely excessive to me. And this wouldn't be very helpful to people on low spec systems. Older systems would struggle with this. The most RAM usage I've had on some of the newer update clients is around 300mb. That's what I would class as a reasonable amount.

If MS has caused this issue, then MS should be the ones fixing it.
As you say, it took you two weeks to sort out. I don't see any of that as a reasonable solution, especially for users who don't have a vast knowledge of how PC's work.
The amount of people complaining on here and all over the Internet is pretty big so it's clearly a widespread issue.
And my updates are still slow despite any fix posted on here.
Been having on/off problems and trying to sort these out for around the past 6 months.
And my Internet connection is very fast as I'm on the top package from virgin fibre optic, so it's no slouch when it comes to speed.
Until Microsoft pushes out a proper fix which sorts out this widespread issue, I'm happy to manually update. I find it less hassle anyway.

 

[Callender]

I meant total RAM usage not just RAM used by WU!

​

I totally agree that MS should sort it out as most users won't be able to fix it themselves.

 

[torchwood]

gettin to be a real joke now,
Had mine running for ages, JUST ON CHECKING FOR UPGATES thought oh well
CHANGED the default to D/L but let me choose -- Rebooted
Went on line to here
POP-UP appeared Updates have installed, click here to check WTF

Roy

 

[Brds7t7]

Ah sorry Callender, misread that. So how much RAM does the Windows updates service use on average while you're doing a check? The update checks shouldn't be going over 500mb. Anything over that just seems excessive to me. I'm pretty sure that it never used to grow like that while doing updates. But then again, I could be wrong, as I wasn't keeping an eye on the RAM usage until these issues started.
Hell I've tried everything and it's banging my head against a brick wall time for me :banghead:
Although that might knock a little sense into me too!

 

[groze]

Aren't some people having trouble with windows 10 updates as well?

 

[Callender]

I don't know how much RAM WU checks actually use. I have a couple monitors that I keep an eye on and when there were problems with WU memory usage would be sky high. If I run an update check those monitors usually shows no more than 2.5 Gb total usage during the check.

​

 

[Callender]

Maybe you can see screenshots (before and after fix) of RAM usage by datastore.edb during WU checks?

http://www.sevenforums.com/vip/394745-windows-7-updates-post3239385.html#post3239385

 

[Brds7t7]

I do remember at one point (before I had installed any newer update client) that mine was rising to around 1.5gb just used by the update service. As soon as I had updated to one of the newer clients the most it would use was around 300mb. So, they definitely improved something performance wise and I was getting the updates a LOT faster.
I don't know what's happened in the past few weeks to cause them to go back to being slow again though.