Windows Update cannot now search for updates - service not working


  1. Posts : 8
    Windows seven ultimate edition, 64 bits
       #1

    Windows Update cannot now search for updates - service not working


    Greetings,

    I have a rather serious problem with Windows updates, which haven't run for about 11 months.

    If I go to Windows update and click on "Searching updates", I have following error message : "Windows Update cannot now search for updates because the service isn't working. Maybe you'll have to restart your computer".

    I restarted my computer at least half a dozen times since I first this error message, which hasn't solved my problem.

    There is no particular error code, annoyingly.

    I did the following steps:
    Check in Services that the "Installation program for Windows Modules", the "Smart background transfer service", "Windows installer" and "Windows Update" all start at startup are working. Only the "Installation program for Windows Modules" doesn't start at startup and I had to start it manually, but I still have the hereabove mentionned error message.

    I launched the System Update Readiness Tool twice.

    I also did the SFC scan. As a result : " The Windows Resource Protection found damaged files, but it couldn't repair them all". I joined the CBS.log.

    I haven't joined images of the error message because it appears to be in French (I am French with Windows in French).

    Thanks to anyone trying to help me.



    Windows Update cannot now search for updates - service not working Attached Files
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 6,021
    Win 7 HP SP1 64-bit Vista HB SP2 32-bit Linux Mint 18.3
       #2

    Hi Lorelei,

    Welcome to SevenForums!

    Lorelei said:
    I also did the SFC scan. As a result : " The Windows Resource Protection found damaged files, but it couldn't repair them all". I joined the CBS.log.
    If you only ran the SFC [System File Checker] once, then run it again two or three more times. For some reason, this makes a difference. I think it has to do with the settings.ini file sometimes showing false positives!

    I hope this helps!
    Last edited by Paul Black; 10 Nov 2018 at 10:27. Reason: Added more specific information!
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 6,021
    Win 7 HP SP1 64-bit Vista HB SP2 32-bit Linux Mint 18.3
       #3

    Hi Lorelei,

    Lorelei said:
    I also did the SFC scan. As a result : " The Windows Resource Protection found damaged files, but it couldn't repair them all". I joined the CBS.log.
    I just had a thought. Run the below command to only show the files that could not be fixed. This needs to be run from an elevated command prompt:

    (1) Click Start.
    (2) In the search box type cmd.
    (3) Right-click the cmd icon from the search results under Programs and select Run as administrator.
    (4) The elevated command prompt window will now open.

    Copy findstr /c:"[SR]" %windir%\Logs\CBS\CBS.log >"%userprofile%\Desktop\sfcdetails.txt" [yes there are three spaces in there] and Paste it [you need to use the mouse right-click and paste for this as CTRL+V doesn’t work] into the elevated command prompt window and press Enter.

    When this has finished running, it places a sfcdetails.txt file on the desktop with only the SFC scan result details from the CBS.log in it.

    I hope this helps!
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 8
    Windows seven ultimate edition, 64 bits
    Thread Starter
       #4

    I ran the sfc /scannow three more times (from an elevated command prompt). I join to this message the CBS.log and the sfcdetails.txt, since I cannot read those files.

    The SFC gave the same results as previously : "The Windows Resource Protection found damaged files, but it couldn't repair them all".
    Windows Update cannot now search for updates - service not working Attached Files
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 3,615
    Win 10 x64, Linux Lite, Win 7 x64, BlackArch, & Kali
       #5

    Try option 2 from below do not try option #1 or #3
    Windows Update - Reset

    Here's your missing files
    Download CheckSUR.exe
    then run, click Extract
    then run System Update Readiness Tool and post CheckSUR.log
    Location C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 8
    Windows seven ultimate edition, 64 bits
    Thread Starter
       #6

    I did something like what you proposed. I used the Windows Update Reset Tool.

    Reset Windows Update Tool

    It seems to me it worked. I had done every possible update, just needed to suppress the updates linked with Windows 10 like KB2952664.

    But for an unknown reason, now the computer doesn't start. It's very annoying, since I haven't made any save since the end of January.

    So how to make an old computer work? Is there something to do with the hardware.

    This computer was more than 9 years old, and I really like what you say about making a regular backup, because now I am really concerned.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 6,021
    Win 7 HP SP1 64-bit Vista HB SP2 32-bit Linux Mint 18.3
       #7

    Hi Lorelei,

    Lorelei said:
    But for an unknown reason, now the computer doesn't start. It's very annoying, since I haven't made any save since the end of January.
    [1] What do you mean, doesn't start exactly?
    [2] How far does it get when you boot?
    [3] Are there any error messages?
    [4] Can you boot into Safe Mode?
    [5] Have you got an installation disk?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 8
    Windows seven ultimate edition, 64 bits
    Thread Starter
       #8

    I am now on the computer which had theses Updates problems.

    For an unknown reason, today it works (for now...)

    In previous days (on Monday and Tuesday) , I couldn't start it. BIOS didn't even start, screen was in standby because, I suppose, it received no information from the computer. I had no error message since the screen was in standby. I couldn't boot into Safe Mode. I have an installation disk for Linux Elementary and an installation USB key for Windows Seven. I also have tree DVDs which are supposed to put the computer back to its state when it was brand new, just coming from the factory.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 8
    Windows seven ultimate edition, 64 bits
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Today my computer has started, which is good!

    I used the Reset Windows Update Tool and I could install all updates but one, for which installation has failed.

    Its name is KB4462923 and I had error codename 80242016. Searching google for kb4462923 80242016 didn't give any usable result.

    Pb MAJ KB4462923 - Casimages.com

    Thanks to anyone trying to help me.
      My Computer


 

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