Same issue as josefine. Recent clean install. Got some updates done, including service pack 1, then Windows Update updated, and now I'm stuck. No earlier version of Windows Update detected, so I can't roll back, tried the above fixes (including Windows Fix It, which wasn't able to install properly), and in Safe Mode with networking, Windows Update won't run at all
Had exact the same issue. Clean install of Windows 7. Installed drivers, updates, SP1. Then checking for updates failed and was stuck (checking for updates was going for 12 hours and without success). I was searching for solution and today I found Microsoft tool that helped me. I run the tool, it installed some updates, I rebooted my laptop and 192 updates waiting.
Search for Windows6.1-KB947821-v34-x86
Please follow the Windows Update Posting Instructions and post the requested data
If the file is too large (8MB compressed), remove the older CBSPersist cab files until the final file is below the limit - you can always post them separately after zipping them. (the forum doesn't allow the upload of bare CAB files, for a number of reasons)
Please also post the C:\Windows\windowsudpate.log file
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