3x Win 7 PCs NOT updating - losing my hair on this one

ZaphodB · 01 Aug 2016

Hi folks,

Hoping you can help on this as it is driving me mad.

I regularly update my 3 Win 7 HP machines -- however the major last update I did was in April 2016.

Two machines are laptops, one is a desktop.

I DO NOT want any Windows 10 stuff - so I research what each update does before accepting them for download and install.

All three machines are displaying the same issue - I am notified that updates exist and when I go to install the updates, selecting a few at a time - eg the .NET updates, I either get "Downloading x Updates (0 KB total, 0% complete) or if I go to the KB item directly to download that individually, the machines stop at "Searching for Updates on ths Computer".

I have tried downloading KB 3020369 for x64 (9.13MB) and KB 3172605 (for x64).

One machine seemingly did nothing at all when I clicked on the relevant download button on the relevant microsoft page - even though it informed me that the update was being downloaded - so I resorted to booting into Safe Mode where I was able to download the update using IE (as both FF and Chrome wouldn't download the update).

As I write this, the third machine I have tried (the desktop) has been "Searching for Updates on ths Computer" for the past 30 mins with seemingly no progress (I am trying to manually install KB 3020369).

Is this update dependent on any other updates being installed previously?

This is driving me mad as I seem to have 3 Win 7 machines which were last updated in April and I can't apply any newer updates.

Thanks in advance,

Zaph

Eric3742 · 01 Aug 2016

As far as i know, Microsoft do not install Windows 10 automatic, as it need your permission, such as T&C.
The download is only for get started, as actual Win 10 files about 14GB.
Btw, it was shown on my windows updates before 29 July.
But it was remove after that date came, as it had asked for permission to update/remove.

As from what you mentioned, you have set the windows updates option to "Download.....install them"
This is not necessary, and to make the matter worst, like Microsoft is controlling you, against your wish /decision.

I did use this option but somehow i had found this is not a good method, thus worry too much and making the system no better.
Hence, i have switch to the option "..Recommended" which make the computer very stable.

Maybe by using the option " Recommended " may solve you problems.
Do remember one thing to take note.
The date/day and time: Date/day should be daily. For Time: select the time are you are using the computer.
Time is important as it will activate the windows updates to check for any 'important' updates when the time is reach.
So, when windows updates is activated on that particular time, it go and search for the updates which was not updated yet.

This is my own conclusion.

torchwood · 01 Aug 2016

Hi Zaphod,
ALL W10 updates have been pulled from the list.
Revert WU settings to the default, D/L and install.
note
i did read somewhere that the GWX (W10) folders are also being removed.

Roy

ZaphodB · 01 Aug 2016

Thanks Guys

However, the issue is still that no matter what the update settings are, when I click on 'Download & Install' all that happens is I get the box saying 'Downloading X updates (0 KB total, 0% complete)' and nothing else happens.

If I try to manually install by going to download.microsoft.com and searching for the relevant KB article, all that happens then is after downloading, I get "Searching for Updates on ths Computer".

In short, both the 'automatic' and 'manual' attempts at updating dont't seem to work.

e.g. KB 3172605. I use this download link: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/down....aspx?id=53332
and click on 'Open with Windows Update Standalone Installer'. What happens next is I get "Searching for Updates on ths Computer"and no further. Will try leaving this overnight to see what happens and will check in around 12 hrs.

I've tried to Reset and Re-register Windows Update Components using the link on another thread on this forum - to no avail.

Also tried to Reset Windows Update History.

Nothing seems to resolve this issue.

Zaph

torchwood · 01 Aug 2016

Hi Zaphod,
Lets have a look see what the logs are saying.(copy/paste)

c >> Windows >> WindowsUpdate.

just post 1 days worth.

Roy

legacy7955 · 01 Aug 2016

ZaphodB said:

Hi folks,

Hoping you can help on this as it is driving me mad.

I regularly update my 3 Win 7 HP machines -- however the major last update I did was in April 2016.

Two machines are laptops, one is a desktop.

Zaph

There was a situation with some OEM PCs like HP and Dell where there is an error in the registry that keeps Windows update trying to contact a invalid out of date and no longer used MS windows update server. I can't remember where I saw the post on this, but I'll try and search for some more info. Essentially somehow we need to get Windows update to stop using that path and use a current one to reach MS.

Torchwood...do you know what I'm referring to.

torchwood · 01 Aug 2016

Hi Legacy,

It wasn't the servers it was the WindowsUpdate Agent version.

Roy

ZaphodB · 02 Aug 2016

Torchwood,

Couldn't see how to get one day's worth and log file is 82MB so won't send. I'm not getting any error codes.

Thanks in advance,

Art

ZaphodB · 02 Aug 2016

UPDATE:

After leaving the desktop machine alone it then installed 32 updates (eventually)

One of my laptops (Sony Vaio) has been looking for updates since 9am this morning and it is now just after 5pm (so that's 8hrs) and it is still searching for available updates.

Will try to Reset and Re-register Windows Update Components using the link on another thread on this forum first and if that fails I'll try to Reset Windows Update History and see what happens then.

What I don't understand is why the manual installs using the standalone installer are apparently doing nothing - not even generating an error code *shrugs*

Zaph