Win7 update problems - fix that works?

stoofa

stoofa

stoofa

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I just wondered if anyone knew of a fix for the Windows 7 update issues which seem to plague many, that actually works?
I've got an old HP laptop here. Totally fresh Windows 7 Professional SP1 install. Been through the HP drivers and that is it, nothing else installed.
It was left attempting to update Windows last night:

Checking for updates..
Most recent check for updates: Never
Updates were installed: Never
You receive updates: For Windows only

This is where it has been for the last 12 hours.
I've seen fixes listed. Some involved downloading a file, which itself initiates a "searching for installed updates..." which doesn't seem to end.
Others directed me to a download which when I run I'm told isn't applicable for your machine.

Anyone with a definitive solution to this?

Ta
 
I gave up on this about 4 months ago now. It's very clear to me that Microsoft has deliberately interfered with the update software, so as to render as many Win7 machines as possible non updatable. It's obvious why they have done it, to force Win7 users onto Win10. This has been going on for so long now with no single definitive fix from Microsoft that a deliberate corporate decision can be the only possible answer.

If ever Adobe make Lightroom compatible with Linux, i would dump all Microsoft products instantly. Until that time you will probably have to do what most of us have had to do, bite the bullet and intall Win10. Or if you don't run any software that will only run in Windows, install Linux. As it happens, Linux may well be a much better choice for an old laptop than Win10 anyway.
 
It's how I'm beginning to feel on this laptop at the moment. It's a little bit old and as a work-around I did try Windows 10 on it. Alas so much hardware doesn't seem to be supported, I had to roll back.
So I can either have a laptop that is up to date on security - but loads of "base system" and other items not recognised or I can have a very out of date security wise laptop.
Hummm.
 
kitfit1 said:
I gave up on this about 4 months ago now. It's very clear to me that Microsoft has deliberately interfered with the update software, so as to render as many Win7 machines as possible non updatable. It's obvious why they have done it, to force Win7 users onto Win10. This has been going on for so long now with no single definitive fix from Microsoft that a deliberate corporate decision can be the only possible answer.

If ever Adobe make Lightroom compatible with Linux, i would dump all Microsoft products instantly. Until that time you will probably have to do what most of us have had to do, bite the bullet and intall Win10. Or if you don't run any software that will only run in Windows, install Linux. As it happens, Linux may well be a much better choice for an old laptop than Win10 anyway.
Click to expand...

Win7 has always had updating issues and this was way before Win10 was even out so your conspiracy falls to pieces, my Aunts Win7 updates fine even now.

My brother had the same Win7 update issue quite a few years back as well.

However I did have the Win7 WU issue on my mums laptop back in 2012(yes way before Win10 was even born), took me ages to fix the issue, in the end only solution I found was to do a clean install of Win7 which worked at the time, none of Microsoft's solutions worked.
 
I've found that I've had to wait almost 18 hours for update to list the updates so I can download/install; far far too long.
 
Elevon said:
Win7 has always had updating issues and this was way before Win10 was even out so your conspiracy falls to pieces, my Aunts Win7 updates fine even now.
Click to expand...

I never had major issues with it before Windows 10 - the odd machine (usually older ones) would be problematic - largely due to the time being out or something like that - but most of my main systems would update fine until around the time of Windows 10.

Now it is just a mess and even though I can sometimes get machines going again with random fixes more often than not within a couple of months they will stop updating properly again - it isn't like it is an unknown problem or limited to a small subset of users so MS obviously aren't in a hurry to sort it - which given the number of the user base who have various reasons to still be on 7 like many businesses is pretty poor.
 
Elevon said:
Win7 has always had updating issues and this was way before Win10 was even out so your conspiracy falls to pieces, my Aunts Win7 updates fine even now.

My brother had the same Win7 update issue quite a few years back as well.

However I did have the Win7 WU issue on my mums laptop back in 2012(yes way before Win10 was even born), took me ages to fix the issue, in the end only solution I found was to do a clean install of Win7 which worked at the time, none of Microsoft's solutions worked.
Click to expand...

I was on the Beta testing program for Win7 and have 3 machines at home, not one of them had ever had an issue with updates until A few months after Win10 was released. This has now been so long, i have no thoughts on any "conspiracy" theory. I stand by what i said "This has been going on for so long now with no single definitive fix from Microsoft that a deliberate corporate decision can be the only possible answer."
 
I'd have to guess that getting windows update to comply in windows 7 and 8.1 is like playing Russian Roulette, but with more bullets in the gun which means that you're more likely to have to wait ages for anything to happen instead of any available updates showing themselves in a few minutes.
 
Rroff said:
I never had major issues with it before Windows 10 - the odd machine (usually older ones) would be problematic - largely due to the time being out or something like that - but most of my main systems would update fine until around the time of Windows 10.

Now it is just a mess and even though I can sometimes get machines going again with random fixes more often than not within a couple of months they will stop updating properly again - it isn't like it is an unknown problem or limited to a small subset of users so MS obviously aren't in a hurry to sort it - which given the number of the user base who have various reasons to still be on 7 like many businesses is pretty poor.
Click to expand...

When I was on Win7 I never had any issues with WU, however as as I have stated my brother, mum and second aunt all had the WU issue, was frustrating for me trying to fix my mums laptop because none of the fixes on the net worked, I went through all the Microsoft suggestions.

In the end was almost going to move her over to Ubuntu OS (she only checks emails and does website shopping) when decided to try a full clean install of 7 which somehow solved the issue.



One thing I won't forget about Win7, lucky I never had that issue myself when I had 7.
 
Originally Posted by ~>Dg<~ View Post
try this

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/w...6b36d0c?auth=1

just done that after a day of nothing normally and windows updates have started after a few minutes.

really easy to follow.could save many a long time.hope it helps.

just to update this has worked and now the 200 odd updates have come through.easiest solution i found.

I tried the above yesterday after trying all sorts with no joy, and it did the job first go.
 
Broady21.pb said:
Originally Posted by ~>Dg<~ View Post
try this

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/w...6b36d0c?auth=1

just done that after a day of nothing normally and windows updates have started after a few minutes.

really easy to follow.could save many a long time.hope it helps.

just to update this has worked and now the 200 odd updates have come through.easiest solution i found.

I tried the above yesterday after trying all sorts with no joy, and it did the job first go.
Click to expand...

Page not found
 
Microsofts Convenience Rollup

Also, given the amount of updates out for a stock Win7 are greater then a single update check will allow (You can see this in the WindowsUpate.log in C:\Windows.) Multiple checks are needed to complete the update scan. On default that's every 22 hours IIRC per scan. It should take around a week to tell you what it needs if it works at all.
 
I am now seeing this problem on Windows 7 failing to update.

What in the name of God are Microsoft up to?
Is this just some devious ploy to force people to upgrade to / stick with Windows 10?
 
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