Windows update will not complete - constantly scanning for updates

Regarding this suggestion:

Confirm your windows update setting are Excluding Recommended updates being installed the same way as Important updates.

Set to install automatically
This is the new client update or at least good enough to manually install if it does not exist already,
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3135445

Click Start and type in the search box
services
Click on the suggestion or the enter key,
Make sure these services are running and on automatic,
Background intelligent transfer services
Cryptographic
Windows installer
Windows update

Actually here is the newest update client
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3138612

I checked the listed services and discovered that the Background intelligent transfer service was not running, so changed it to automatic and started it. I'm assuming I should be trying to install the 3135445 updater because that is the 64-bit version. it looks like 3138612 is for 32-bit.

Hi Witchhazel,

It wont work coz you used the CD.

Its not very clear on my part

The CD command tells the comp to move to the "c" directory, safe boot starts in "x".

Roy

I did change from x: to c: before proceeding.
How do I get to system recovery options without using DVD?
Even earlier when I had not booted from DVD I have never been able to find a pending.xml file anywhere on my hard drive

Since all suggestions have lead me to dead ends, I am finally giving up and doing a complete reinstall of Windows 7.
Thanks everyone for taking the time to try to help, but I've got to move on.