W7 Update Issues Unbelievable

This is really unbelievable. When I started using Windows 7, I never had any problems. Microsoft has now made it as difficult for us as possible to install updates. Most people on this forum have some sort of technical knowledge and can at least turn to help when they have problems. But what happens to the average user who has no idea why their cpu and ram use has become almost uncontrollable for no obvious reason?

I reinstalled my os twice during the last few days and it almost became a full time job. I followed this link for advice but it didn't completely work and I wasn't happy just accepting a restore point when it all went wrong. I have now had enough. What is the point in carrying on like this constantly trying to outmanoeuvre Microsoft on windows 7 update so I don't have to download or install Windows 10.

With supposedly 50% of pc's running Windows 7 what are people doing out there? Are companies just switching Windows Update off?

I have now installed my os for the third time (clean install) and switched off updates ("Never check for updates"). Then Windows 7 decided to automatically install Windows Update Agent 7.6.7600.320 and it changed the update settings to "Install updates automatically" so I thought I may as well take the risk and try again as I thought it would be better to try and at least control the situation myself.

I set updates to "Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them". Nothing was happening as usual except for high ram/cpu use. I then manually installed KB3102810 and KB3083710. This then stopped high ram/cpu use and allowed the updates to appear and be installed manually. I may have had to restart again once although I can't exactly remember.

I have now installed all important updates with the word "security" in them. I have hidden the following updates as I wasn't sure if they were related to Windows 10 upgrade:

KB2798162
KB2868116
KB2929733
KB3020369
KB3138612
KB3148851
KB971033
KB2533552

I am now left with KB976932 (Windows Service Pack 1 for x64-based systems). I don't understand if I need to install this as I already have SP1 installed?

Also did anyone have any problems with GWX Control Panel. Can it be fully trusted and is it being properly managed and updated? I haven't yet installed it but I suspect it may have been blocking my original attempts to update Windows 7. I am trying to avoid making manual changes to the registry.

Many thanks for your thorough reply. It looks like I am not the only person having problems.

My laptop is now fine after this third install. It is an OEM and all is working is ok so as the expression goes "If it ain't broke don't fix it".

I have two other laptops both with W7. One is retail and the other is OEM. Those were last updated before October 2015 so this may require some experimentation as they are not clean installs. I wonder if it is possible or advisable to also reset Windows Update i.e. run the Windows Update Troubleshooter?

Many thanks. I will look into all this and get back to this post again at some point with feedback if necessary.

This is where I am at now. I had to install updates on three laptops (still one more to go!):

1) W7 HP SP1 64bit - clean install.
2) W7 Pro (upgraded to SP1) 64bit - some updates already previously installed but not updated for some time.
3) W7 HP SP1 64bit - some updates already previously installed but not updated for some time.

My main aim has been to get Windows Update going without installing or downloading Windows 10.

I used the following procedures and updates:

KB3083710

KB3102810

KB3138612

Windows Update Automated Troubleshooter (run this a few times and run again after restarting. The troubleshooter's report may not always be accurate. Try running it with Windows Update on and off - experiment!).

Optional Task (only if necessary - try Troubleshooter above first):

Go to services.msc > Stop Windows Update > Delete contents in folder C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution (not folder itself) > Start Windows Update in services.msc **

** Some users do not like to delete these files so you could always just copy the files into a new folder called 'SoftwareDistributionOld' and restore the contents later if you have a problem. Do not forget that by deleting these files you will have to find your update history from Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Windows Update\View update history\Installed Updates. I personally deleted these files on the two laptops that were not clean installs, but if the troubleshooter resolves your problem then you should try to avoid this procedure.

I changed my laptop power settings temporarily on 'Put the computer to sleep' to 'Never' so that the update process could take place without interruption.

I also installed GWX Control Panel I cannot advise the best settings but I would at least "Click to Prevent 'Get Windows 10' App" and "Click to Prevent Windows 10 Upgrades".

In terms of the troubleshooter the updates suddenly appeared on one laptop when I disconnected the wifi connection in one case. In the other two cases the updates appeared more quickly and when I had a wifi connection.

My Windows Update settings are on "Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them" as I am really only interested in security and important updates and do not want automatic updates with Microsoft having complete control over this process.

Needless to say it is worth restarting your pc after each install and procedure.

This is not intended to be a definite guide but at least I have made good progress on this and Windows Update has finally got moving after these updates.

No doubt the game of cat and mouse with trying to get us to upgrade will continue.

Let's hope the below is true and then perhaps we can get back to a more normal life...

Microsoft is removing its nagging Windows 10 upgrade notifications soon | The Verge

For what it's worth, I recently faced the same situation with ridiculously slow update process on a clean install from W7 Pro x64 SP1 refresh media. But with some testing I found that manually installing WindowsUpdateAgent-7.6-x64 and then Windows6.1-KB3112343-x64 before ever running Windows Update solved those issues. Following that process on two clean installs on two different sets of hardware, the initial update check took just minutes, and the entire update process took just a few hours.