Windows update will not complete - constantly scanning for updates

Ok. Thanks for all of your help and for sticking with this. I did run CCleaner early on. Not sure if I need to run it again. I will try your latest list of instructions but I noticed earlier that there is no file named Pending.xml in the winsxs folder you mentioned, but there is a temp folder with a bunch of other .xml files. Is pending.xml a hidden file? I am logged in as administrator btw. Thanks again

@Thrashzone,
My bad, just went and had a look at the pre-requistes, ASSUMED the correct version had been run.

Roy

I attempted KB 3135445 originally then when KB3138612 came out, I attempted it. But both resulted in a message that said the update was not applicable. I do have windows 7 64bit SP1, according to my computer properties.

I ran that fix-it early-on, but it didn't help.

They were when I checked at one point, but it is probably worth checking again. I've tried so many things, some of them very late at night- I should make sure the services are running properly

I booted from the original Windows 7 Pro 64-bit dvd and did the following:

On the System Recovery Options page, click Command Prompt.
Type cd C:\windows\winsxs, and then press ENTER.
Type ren pending.xml pending.old, and then press ENTER.
Type regedit, and then press ENTER.
Select HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
On the File menu, click Load Hive.
Locate the following folder:
C:\windows\system32\config\components
When you are prompted for a name, type Offline_Components.
In Registry Editor, locate and then delete the following registry
subkey:
HLKM\Offline Components\AdvancedInstallersNeedResolving
HKLM\Offline Components\PendingXmlIdentifier
Exit Registry Editor:
At the command prompt, type exit to exit Registry Editor.
Press ENTER.
Restart System

But unfortunately, it could not find any file named pending.xml and could not find any registry entries when searching on "Advanced Installer" or "PendingXML"