Windows updates stuck checking for updates for hours

ohwhat · 13 Aug 2016

I installed windows 7 yesterday but windows update is now stuck on checking for updates all the time. Doesn't download or install any updates

That said i looked up and tried a lot of solutions/fixes online but no luck, nothing worked.

Any help is much appreciated. I don't wanna upgrade to windows 10 by the way.

condoghost · 13 Jan 2017

Following these steps totally worked for me

Brds7t7 said:

Sniggler, this has worked on all my systems and every VM I've tested over the last couple of months:

Try this:

Download the April 2015 servicing stack update https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/kb/3020369

Also download the July 2016 update rollup https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/kb/3172605

Disconnect your internet connection.

Open Windows Update, select 'Change settings' and change it to "Never check for updates". Click 'OK' to exit out of Control Panel.

Open the start menu and type services.msc in the search bar.

Scroll down to the Windows Update service -> right click -> select Properties. Change startup type to 'manual' and stop the service. Click 'OK'.

Reboot the PC.

Install the April 2015 servicing stack update (KB3020369).

Install the July 2016 update rollup (KB3172605).

Reboot the PC again once installed.

Go back into Services and change Windows Update service back to 'Automatic (delayed start)' and then restart the service.

Reconnect your internet.

Open Windows Update and select 'Check for updates but let me choose'. Click 'OK'.

Check for updates and it should hopefully pick them up within 5 - 10 minutes (depending on your connection).

Brds7t7's answer is posted here Win 7 Updates Stuck on Downloading % For Three Days!! :)

Trapper · 14 Jan 2017

Just getting around to updating my brothers PC, been out of commission for some time. It has the same problem, checking for updates, 3 tries over 10 hours each gets nothing.

The link= https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/kb/3020369 is available but the download link W7 64 returns:
"We are sorry, the page you requested cannot be found.
The URL may be misspelled or the page you're looking for is no longer available"

I assume I need to install the first before the second so am stuck....

Found both after searching......
Seems kb/3020369 was already installed but 3172605 was not.
Followed above guide and am now seeing if the green 'Checking for updates' finds any........
Will report back later......

Later.

77 important updates and 7 optional found and are installing as I type on the wife's laptop.
The guide was perfect apart from the link problem.
Many thanks.

erpster4 · 16 Jan 2017

you can install the KB3177467 update instead, which supersedes/replaces KB3020369 (as Microsoft noted in support KB article 3177467).
Download the KB3177467 update from here [use Firefox or Chrome].
Then download the revised KB3172605 update from here [again, use Firefox or Chrome].
Note: KB3172605 was originally released in late July 2016 but re-released in mid-September 2016 to resolve a few issues found in the original update.

Install KB3177467 update first, then install the KB3172605 update and reboot.