Windows Update "Checking for updates" - but nothing else happens

Hey guys,

I have newly installed Windows 7 Prof. 64 Bit SP1 on my Lenovo Thinkpad T60p (with T61 Mainboard and Penryn T8100 processor).

So far this is what I did:

1) installed IE 11 through the browser (i.e. the old IE 8)
2) installed Microsoft Security Essentials by downloading the installer through IE 8
3) ran the first check of MSE - all good
4) actived Windows successfully
5) changed some visual settings to have better graphics in Windows (nothing special)

I have done nothing else to the system. No driver, no whatsoever.

Unfortunately Windows Updates will simply not download let alone install any of the updates that should be abundantly available. Automatic update is enabled, firewall is on. I've been having this problem all day long and tried reinstalling Windows several times, but it would not wipe out the error.

I am currently running the SURT file, also trying to get updates via wsus offline (dunno exactly what's going on with these).

See the attachments for the full windowsupdate.log of this installation.

What do you suggest?

Thank you very much!

Ok, here is what I did to get rid of the nasty problem.

I first of all deactivated the automatic update, but not the service itself, only via the settings in the windows update window. I then installed a package of updates that I got from winfuture.de or something like that. Afterwards I installed a firewall plus anti virus software. Resetting updates to be downloaded and installed a9utomatically now worked just fine.

This will most probably fix the issue:

Windows 7 Says "Checking for updates", but hangs there