Fresh Install Win7SP1 Update just hangs tried everything...

NoelDP said:

MS have been having throttling problems on the servers since Windows 8 was released.
It may be impacting on the updates servers you're using

Update

The Windows Update finaly returned after 20+ hours of checking, on my VM install of Windows 7. I wonder if I am having some network issues on my own end, which have componded the already very extended times it is taking to run Windows Update From a fresh install. Though I can't be sure, of that as the network seems fine pretty much all the time I want to use it(I am at home) I will post the logs tommorow, if someone is able to identify anything usefull, that mind help others who are following this thread.

Unfortunately the WindowsUpdate log rolled over, so I can't post that.

I thought I would sumarise my findings:

1. Windows Activation is not necessary
2. KB3083324 or kb3065987 was NOT necessary though it might make some difference if you have and old machine with less than 2GB, the SVCHOST needed at least 1.2GB
3. I had installed Microsoft Security Essentials (which had the effect of making the option for
Microsoft updates available and checked) this DID affect the memory footprint of the svchost process.
4. I have perfectly serviceable broadband, but I have noticed occasionally poor response times, this may compound any problems on the MS servers on the other end.

Bare metal Machine took 7hours
VM took 20+ hours


Hope that helps others

"Manually Install KB3083324"
This worked for me. Start with a generic Win7 SP1 DVD (ten bucks on *bay), install this update before running Windows Update, then be patient (several hours) while the 200+ current updates download and install.

I have exactly the same problem. I did a clean install of Win7 x64 Premium on a brand new SSD. I selected "Check for Updates" and it would be running until Christmas if I let it. The same thing happens if I look for "Installed Updates" on the computer. Interestingly, I downloaded the Microsoft Update Readiness Tool, and that took FOREVER to download and on trying to install it, it hangs up on the "searching for updates on this computer".
My internet access is working just fine. I just now loaded MSE and tried checking for updates again. Hang up. I tried switching Auto updates to Never, reboot, and then Auto then check for updates. Hang up again.

Any ideas ?

Yep, I had this problem last year and again the past couple of days. Installing the following is the fix. I additionally updated to IE11 prior to the linked-to update but it's (IE 11) probably not necessary. I can confirm that following the install of this patch, the "searching for updates" behavior of windows update which previously took 100% of the CPU for 1 day and didn't accomplish anything, instead executed using 9% of the CPU for 15 minutes and returned a list of 228 updates.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3102810