Windows Update NOT updating?

stockhausen · 11 May 2016 at 08:33

I have left Windows Update running overnight - probably nigh on 12 hours - it still displays "Checking for updates..." with the progress bar happily drifting from left to right.

I do have Internet access (I can log onto OcUK and post this).

Does anyone have any idea why this might happen?

ron3003 · 11 May 2016 at 16:10

Is this Windows 7? It's a known bug, try https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3138612
Download the new update client then install it whilst you're not connected to the net. Restart pc and try again.
Also check if your cpu is running 100% when checking for updates, pc could be throttling if cpu is maxxed out.

stockhausen · 11 May 2016 at 17:31

Thanks for that, I am indeed running Windows 7 and at your suggestion downloaded "Windows6.1-KB3138612-x64".
It is described as the "Windows Update Standalone Installer".
When run it displays a MsgBox showing an endlessly running progress bar titled "Searching for updates on this computer".

Sadly, it still gets nowhere

98% System Idle Process. I have run Anti-Virus, MalwareBytes and SuperAntiSpyware with no reported problems. I have also used CCleaner.

Three further factors that seem "odd" are that:
1. the system seems to take a very long time to shutdown.

2. when booted it says:

"Preparing to configure Windows
Do not turn off your computer."

before reporting:

"Failure configuring Windows updates.
Reverting changes,
Do not turn off your computer."

3. it than says "Microsoft Mouse & Keyboard Centre has stopped working."

I take it from the first two items that there are files previously downloaded that do not work.
Do you have any idea where these might be located (e.g. under C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download\)?
Would it be an idea to delete these?

Dinkas · 11 May 2016 at 21:15

https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18714358

Had this problem back in January. Now it's back again. Sigh.

Puppetmaster · 11 May 2016 at 23:07

If it is Windows 7 then this should work: (download the 2 files first)

1. Disconnect from internet

2. Restart PC

3. Manually run 1st install (KB3102810)

4. Restart PC

5. Run 2nd install (System update readiness tool)

6. Restart PC

7. Connect to internet

8. Check for Windows Updates

9. Done!

stockhausen · 12 May 2016 at 10:36

Hi, thanks for you nine step solution. I downloaded everything and went through the steps you describe. Sadly it still hasn't worked

3a) Windows Update Standalone Installer - KB3102810-x64 - 3,251 KB.

Runs continuously saying "Searching for updates on this computer".
A MsgBox pops up after a while saying "The update is not applicable to your computer".
KB3102810 continues to run.
When you click [OK] on the MsgBox, KB3102810 terminates.

5a) System Update Readiness Tool - KB947821-v34-x64 - 551,509 KB. Also called "Windows Update Standalone Installer"?

Runs saying "Searching for updates on this computer".
A MsgBox pops up asking "Do you want to install the following Windows Software update?
Hotfix for Windows (KB947821).
When you click [Yes] it runs displaying "Copying packages to the Windows cache" and then changes to a new MsgBox saying "The updates are being installed".
Attempts to install Hotix for Windows (KB 948721) (update 1 of 1).
This never actually completes, it moves quite rapidly to within about 1cm of the end of the progress bar but never gets any further.
Looking at the Event Log, Error 7034 ("The Windows Modules Installer service terminated unexpectedly") clocks up every 30 seconds.

The search goes on . . .

In answer to the question below, No, I was not connected to the Internet.

I posted a longer, more detailed response yesterday but it appears to have got lost.

Puppetmaster · 13 May 2016 at 11:01

Were you connected to the internet when running each file?

stockhausen · 13 May 2016 at 11:20

Puppetmaster said:
Were you connected to the internet when running each file?

Nope, I followed your instructions to the letter; I actually unplugged the Modem/Router.

It may be worth adding that EVERY time I boot the machine I get a message reading:

"Microsoft is preparing to configure Windows - Do not turn off your computer."

followed after some minutes by another message reading:

"Failure configuring Windows - Reverting changes - Do not turn off your computer."

Is this problem likely to be down to some corrupted file(s) which I can delete or damaged registry entry(s) which I can correct? If so, any idea where I should look?

stockhausen · 16 May 2016 at 09:50

As a follow-on to this, I have been advised to try:

Running sfc /scannow

and

Resetting the Windows Update components (LINK)

The latter sounds particularly promising. I am somewhat suspicious about the SFC suggestion, I suspect that it may only compound the problem.

this_is_gav · 16 May 2016 at 11:00

What I would normally do is wipe the contents of the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder, which removes the WU cache.

Stop the Windows Update service first, either manually through Adminatrative Tools > Services (or run services.msc) or type net stop wuauserv in an elevated command prompt.

stockhausen · 16 May 2016 at 11:10

Many thanks for that . . . I was hoping someone would come up with a suggestion along those lines.

I am no longer near the PC but I have asked the user (my Brother-in-law) to try SFC with the /VERIFYONLY switch.

pastymuncher · 16 May 2016 at 16:42

I have the same thing with my laptop. It's been "checking for updates" since 9am this morning. I thought they fixed this nonsense? It happened earlier in the year and then was fixed and now it's messed up again. I have had no joy with the "fixes" either. Everything was fine until windows 10 came along!!

stockhausen · 16 May 2016 at 17:22

Try this, it is alleged to be the method used by Microsoft Customer Support Services:

Start => Run
cmd and [Enter]
net stop wuauserv and [Enter]
cd c:\Windows and [Enter]
rename SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old and [Enter]
net start wuauserv and [Enter]
exit and [enter]

Verify that C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution created when you restarted the update service is about 1.5 MB in size.
Restart the computer
Start => All Programs => Windows Update => Check for updates.
You will be told that there have been no previous checks.
Delete the folder the folder C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution.old if you have no issues.

pastymuncher · 17 May 2016 at 12:57

My laptop was on for 24 hours and still stuck on checking for updates. Tried stockhausen's fix above at 9.30 this morning and it's still stuck on checking for updates. The new C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution is 12.5mb though. Tried it twice and it won't go any smaller. This is just absolutely ridiculous!!

marc2003 · 17 May 2016 at 16:36

Try windows update mini tool.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/windows_update_minitool.html

IIRC, it does look like it's doing nothing for a few minutes but it shouldn't take any longer than that.

pastymuncher · 17 May 2016 at 19:08

That doesn't work either. Started at 17.02 and is still searching for updates. Is there anywhere to download this months updates and install them manually?

marc2003 · 17 May 2016 at 19:37

I just tested a clean windows 7 SP1 install in vmware and nothing happened with the mini update tool after 10 minutes. So I then installed this from a few posts up....

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=49540

I then tried again and it took 3 minutes to find this lot...

http://s32.postimg.org/c4pj5689h/Untitled.png

Deathwish · 17 May 2016 at 22:07

I have had some success using wsusoffline

http://www.wsusoffline.net/

Ran that a few times then left the machine for a while and they eventually came through. very frustrating!

stockhausen · 17 May 2016 at 23:15

If you Google about, I believe that you will find that many people have been suffering problems with Windows Update.

I find it difficult to believe that there is absolutely no connection between these problems and Microsoft's determination to have everyone migrate to the Venus Fly Trap that is commonly known as Windows 10.

EDITED:

I happened to speak to two people today who were very upset that their computers had been "automatically" updated from Windows 7 to Windows 10. They were adamant that they had not agreed to this but they both thought that their computers were setup to install updates automatically overnight.

ron3003 · 17 May 2016 at 23:25

Have you seen this just posted by KIA?
https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18731502

Windows Update NOT updating?

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