Windows Update will not update and I've tried multiple fixes

This is interesting. jeff3211 had responded to my original post and mentioned he followed your stuff on the first page of this thread. He then went on to mention the date and whether the CMOS battery should be replaced. Finally he mention about a failed Win 10 install and the potential need to set a registry entry. In my previous post I was asking which registry entry in Windows 7 needs to be reset for a failed win 10 install. jeff3211 posting is now gone from this thread.

Thanks for further info Thrashzone. (and jeff3211) I'm picking up machine on Friday and bringing it home. From there I will follow the instructions.

Solved. Followed process. KB3020369 was installed. Manually installed KB3172605, immediately the checking process worked, took 5 minutes to determine missing patches. When all was done I ran SFC. No integrity violations. Booted and checked for updates multiple times. Checking and installation working 100%.

Thank you.

I'm back. This time for my machine. I'm running Windows 7 Ultimate. I went nuclear today, I've been avoiding this rebuild for months.
Clean install from store bought CD. Installed and updated as per normal, loaded all my drivers. Things were progressing well, I declined on installing optional language packs. I was informed I needed Service Pack 1. I installed successfully. Next pass at updates I was informed I needed new Update Agent. Okayed and installed successfully. Last mod to go in, now in endless "Checking for Updates".

Having just experienced this loop on friends machine I came back and ran the game plan. Stopped Windows Update service, installed KB3020369 successfully, restarted and installed KB3172605 successfully and restarted.

Ran check for updates, within minutes found 165 Important and 104 optional. Now most of the optional updates are these language packs I had hidden previously.

Question, do I need to install language packs to avoid future problems? Strange that on a clean install I ran into issues. Even stranger they are back. I have not run the Windows Update Reset - Option 3 mentioned in ThrashZone's opening post of this thread.

Thank you for any help or advice you can offer.

Thanks all. When I said I went nuclear I was re-installing. Bought my copy in March 2011, no SP1 on disk. Can't answer why Ultimate, likely was told it had some feature I could use later and I took the bait.

Thanks on language packs, I don't need so I will hide again. I posted on this thread as I was stuck updating, almost posted on Clean install thread as my installed stop with an error 0x8007003 file not found. Checked cables and restarted. Long story with Asus P8P67 MB.

I had read about an ISO to shorten the rebuild but couldn't get answers on the patches they left out, wasn't sure what they did or why I might need. My internet speed is really good so I just let the process run.

Thanks again.