routine Win 7 updates check stalls

Hello,

Helping a friend with a Lenovo laptop about a year old currently running Win 7 Pro. She wants to update to Windows 10, but had a problem with the installation failing.

Looking into the update history, I can see where she made two attempts - one failed one cancelled - and I made one attempt that failed.

I tried running Windows Update 4-5 times, even leaving it overnight. Each time it stalled on the checking for updates screen and needed to be shut down to stop the process (I didn't know the process name to kill it). I don't even want to click on Windows Update now for fear I'll re-start the unstoppable process!

I tried making a Windows 10 installation disk, thinking that might resolve the issue, but the installation only proceeded as far as checking for updates, and then stalled. I was able to try to cancel the install, but it froze again while it was cleaning up the installation files, and I had to do a hard shut down. Luckily the computer rebooted with no problem.

Then I came here. I've downloaded the SURT tool and ran it twice - it froze both times. I ran chkdsk with no problems. The zipped CBS file is 99.8 MB! Since max zip file size allowance is 8 MB, how do you want me to proceed?

Rename CBS log oldCBS log & then please follow Windows Update Posting Instructions.
After running sfc /scannow This will place the SFCdetails.txt log on your desktop to include with your post.
Open command prompt as administrator: copy and paste:
findstr /c:"[SR]" %windir%\logs\cbs\cbs.log >%userprofile%\Desktop\sfcdetails.txt

then press Enter.

I'm sorry, I misspoke above. It was fsc /scannow I ran, not chkdsk. It ran with no integrity violations.

I cannot rename the CBS log folder as it is being used. There is a 1.3 MB text document called CBS within the folder that I can't open - access denied.

I forgot to mention in the first post that I have not received any error messages. I believe I have followed the instructions as well as I am able.

Windows Update is not booting from the Control Panel at all today, and clicking on the Windows Update link has frozen the Control Panel.

Just checked my Task Manager, same thing
I run Avast free antivirus with several anti-malware & anti-exploit programs. Run windows firewall. Maybe conflict with Avast Premier and windows firewall. You might try temporarily disabling Avast Premier.

Just saw your last. I'll try this after work & post back.

I see NoelDP is back (on other posts), hope he's feeling better. He has resolved many issues and if we can't I'm confident he will.

I don't think we're going to have to ask NoelDP, as I'm downloading Windows 10 as I type!

A firewall problem is indeed what it was - but there was a twist, because not only was the Avast firewall interfering, but Norton Online Backup was removed as a side job of getting the update, and it had four active registry keys! Removing Norton alone didn't resolve the issue, but once I turned the Avast firewall off and enabled the Windows firewall, the Windows 10 update started with no problem.

I don't anticipate further problems. Thanks for your help, and glad NoelDP is feeling better. :)

Norton Antivirus has a tool they created to remove all of Norton. Website is click here. Glad to be able to help you resolve issues. Happy Computing!!