Windows 7 update stuck at 7

This is probably specific to VM's. 1) Increase cores from 1 to something higher.

For me this had an immediate and dramatic effect on both CPU activity and RAM usability. Almost lost among the comments between KB hotfix/update answers, this passing mention in @Eugene K’s comment needs an answer in its own right.

Note: I prepared this as an answer to
Windows Update doesn’t work and consumes 100% of CPU (Win7 SP1), which is marked a duplicate of this one (though this one doesn’t actually mention 100% CPU). I find I am unable to post my answer there as the answer controls are missing, perhaps related to marking it as a duplicate, so this seems the next best place as folks trying to solve the 100% CPU question get given the link here.

There are several different issues with Windows Update, which, superficially, all sound the same. To be clear: this particular question is about Windows Update consuming 100% CPU without anything seeming to happen, and remaining in that state over a long period of time. My Windows 7 VM was in just this state. Task Manager showed 100% CPU being consumed by svchost.exe, the generic «parent» process Windows uses to «host» and run individual services. By right-clicking svchost.exe and choosing «Go to service», I was able to see which service was the culprit, and the culprit was wuauserv, the Windows Update Automatic Updates service.

I tried turning of IPV6, something suggested among the answers (which I thought I’d already done on all machines after other issues) but it made no difference in this case. I was loth to start picking and choosing KB hotfixes and updates, when there are a number of similar issues with Windows Update; I’d much prefer it to apply all the updates itself, in the right order, if there’s a way to get it in a state where it will do that. I left it for 24hrs and when I looked again it was still at 100%—and, moreover, the update history showed that it had not even installed a single update in that time. The last one had completed the previous day, over 24hrs ago. A couple of restarts made no difference: it just went straight back to 100% CPU.

Turning then to the question of Hyper-V, I looked and found where you can configure the number of processors for a VM. The setting is greyed out when the VM is running, so you must shut it down to change the setting:

I increased the number of processors from 1 to 2 and saw an immediate change: the VM now actually seemed to be doing something. Both CPU and memory usage rose and fell constantly. I also noticed that the VM seemed to be able to utilize more of the memory allocated to it: previously, when stuck at 100% CPU, it had been using 2G out of 4G bytes of RAM, whereas now, rising and falling, it was using up to 3G. I shut it down and increased the number of processors again, from 2 to 4, and saw a corresponding increase in the effects: a great deal of continuing activity in Task Manager, different in each of the 4 processors, and again, an increase in the amount of memory it could utilize, still rising and falling but now approaching the full 4G allocated. It seemed to be tearing through the updates now. And CPU usage, rapidly zigzagging too, was now typically around 25%, meaning from this point on the machine became far more responsive and usable while updates were being processed.

To recap, there are a number of different problems that can cause Windows Update to hang or run slowly, and Microsoft have published a variety of hotfixes and updates in this general area. So any time this comes up, it’s quite likey there’s more than one contributing factor. In any given case, upping the number of Hyper-V processors configured may or may not be the complete answer, but there’s no doubt that doing so brings a dramatic improvement in the machine’s ability to utilize both CPU and RAM.

In this post, we will see how to solve the problem of

Windows update getting stuck on checking for updates step

This problem of windows updates hanging on checking for update stage can happen due to many reasons so we have come up with the best four methods to solve it.

• Method 1: Run Windows Update for 1 hr
• Method 2.1: Update Windows Update Agent
• Method 2.2: Fix Slow Update Agent
• Method 3: Automated Diagnostic Tool
• Method 4: Offline Windows Update Tool

Before starting this tutorial I would like to state couple of assumptions we are undertaking:-

1. You have a genuine activated copy of windows
2. You are using either windows 7 SP 1 or windows 8.1 or windows 10  for other OS this tutorial might work but we cannot guarantee that.
3. You are internet connection is working properly
4. You have got admin rights to the system which you want to troubleshoot

Now let’s dive into method 1

#1: Run Windows Update for 1 hr (Windows 10/8.1 /7 SP 1)

With growing volume of windows updates packages, the process of selecting the suitable package for your system can be very time-consuming for the windows update agent. In fact, several people have reported that “Checking for updates” step toke them about an hour after which windows update started working properly and detected the packages required for your system. So if you have not left the computer on “Checking for updates” stage for an hour I would suggest you try it out.

Disable Sleep from Power Setting

This will prevent the update from getting interrupted in between so we open the power options and make the necessary changes so that your system doesn’t go to sleep

In Windows 7

1. Click on start
2. Type power options
3. Click on power options

In Windows 8.1

1. From the start screen
2. Type power in the search panel
3. Then select power options

In Windows 10

1. Right-click on the start button
2. Select power options

Depending upon the plan you have chosen either balanced or high-performance or power saver will be checked whichever plan yours is showing selected

1. Click on the change plan setting for the same
2. In “put the computer to sleep” option
3. Set it to never
4. Click on save changes

Also, if you are using a laptop or any battery-powered device make sure when you are putting your computer to update it’s connected to the power supply

Flush DNS

To make sure that DNS resolution happens properly we will flush the DNS settings. First, we will open a command prompt in admin mode.

In Windows 7

1. Click on start
2. Type CMD
3. Right click it and select run as admin
4. Click on yes if the UAC pops up

In Windows 8

1. From the start screen type CMD
2. Right click Command Prompt
3. Select run as admin
4. If a UAC pops up click on yes

In Windows 10

1. Right-click on the start button
2. Select command prompt admin

Keep the admin CMD open as it will be used in this method also.

In the command prompt type

1. ipconfig /flushdns
2. and hit enter

Now again start the windows update and leave it for an hour. If this method didn’t work try method 2

# 2.1: Update Windows Update Agent (Windows 8.1/7 SP 1)

Recently windows have released an update for its windows update agent which have a couple of bug fixes. The download links for the same are given below

• Windows 8.1
  • https://support.microsoft.com/en-in/kb/3138615
• Windows 7 SP 1
  • https://support.microsoft.com/kb/3138612

You’ll see a MSU file in your downloads folder when it’s completed. Before you run this MSU you must make sure that the Windows update agent is not running otherwise it would not allow you to install this update.

Disable Windows Update Agent Before Installation

1. Using the admin CMD prompt
2. Type net stop wuauserv
3. And hit enter

After installing and restarting the system if you are using windows 7 install the below-mentioned patch .For windows 8.1 users again try to update windows make sure you leave it running for sufficient amount of time If still windows update keeps showing “checking for updates” message then let step to method 3.

#2.2: Fix for Slow Update Agent (Windows 7 SP 1)

Microsoft has released a fix to solve the slow update client problem.The download links for the same are given below

• Windows 7 SP 1
  • https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3102810

You’ll see a MSU file in your downloads folder when it’s completed. Before you run this MSU you must make sure that the Windows update agent is not running otherwise it would not allow you to install this update. Use the above-mentioned steps to disable windows update agent.

After installing and restarting the system again try to update windows make sure you leave it running for sufficient amount of time If still windows update keeps showing “checking for updates” message then let step to method 3.

#3: Windows Update Troubleshooter & Update Errors (Windows 10/8.1 /7 SP 1)

Microsoft provides automated diagnostic tools for fixing common errors in the windows update agent the download it using the  below link :-

• Windows 7 SP 1/8.1
  • Download Windows Update Troubleshooter 
• Windows 10
  • Download Windows Update Troubleshooter 

After running the diagnostic tool restart the system and again try to update windows.

If you are seeing a specific update error Microsoft has built a knowledge base providing step by step instruction for solving them check the link below :-

Get Help on Specific Update Error Code

If none of the above methods worked keep faith method 4 will definitely work

#4: Offline Windows Update Tool (Windows 10/8.1 /7 SP 1)

Using this tools we can create a repository of windows update files which then we can transfer to any storage medium like pen drive, external hard disk etc. And use it for updating windows machine that has no internet connection. But the main reason we would be using this tool is it does not rely on the Microsoft Windows update client for downloading and installing updates so even if your update agent is broken it can install the required updates and fix the update client eventually.

Download the offline update tool from

http://download.wsusoffline.net/

1. After extracting the zip file
2. Open wususoffline folder
3. Click on updategenerator.exe
4. Check your os version and architecture
5. Check Windows defender definitions
6. Rest you can keep it at default settings
7. Click on start

After the download finishes

1. Open the clients folder
2. Click on updateinstaller.exe
3. Check the automatic reboot and recall
4. This will automatically install all your downloaded update on your system
5. Click on start

I hope this post helped you if so please share this website with your friends, allow me friends thanks for reading see you later bye.

Have some questions join the discussion.

Questions @ HowISolve Community

Today in this tutorial, we are going to address one of the most annoying and strange problems present in Windows 7 operating system. This problem is related to built-in Windows Update program which regularly checks for new updates at Microsoft servers and downloads and installs them in Windows OS to keep your computer safe and faster.

PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:

Several Windows 7 users have reported that when they try to check for new updates using Windows Update, it keeps checking for updates for hours. The progress bar keeps showing progress animation which makes you think that Windows Update is doing something but even after waiting for hours, nothing happens, it just keeps checking for updates forever. Windows Update just gets stuck at “Checking for updates” screen and Windows 7 doesn’t download and install any update.

It also affects overall system performance and if you check Task Manager, the Svchost.exe process occupies high CPU resources and memory usage. Most of the times this issue occurs after a fresh/clean installation of Windows 7.

Many users have reported that they even waited for more than 24 hours but Windows Update just stuck at “Checking for updates” status and they couldn’t install any update in their computers.

PROBLEM REASON:

The reason behind this irritating problem is a little bit funny! Actually Microsoft has released a few updates for the Windows Update client program. These updates upgrade the client program version and improve its functionality. It seems Microsoft has changed the way Windows Update client downloads and installs updates from Microsoft servers and only the new updated client is able to download updates from the servers, that’s why the older versions of Windows Update client are unable to download updates from Microsoft servers.

If the new updates which upgrade Windows Update client version, are not installed in a Windows 7 machine, it starts giving this annoying issue and the Windows Update program hangs at “Checking for updates” screen and never downloads updates from Microsoft servers.

Also there are some updates which require SHA-2 (Secure Hash Algorithm-2) code signing or signatures support for better encryption in Windows 7 and we need to manually add the support by installing required updates in Windows 7.

PROBLEM SOLUTIONS:

There are a few working solutions to fix this slow scanning problem. We are providing all these solutions below. You can follow these solutions one by one until your problem gets resolved:

UPDATE: Before going through all the given solutions, also check following important articles:

[Important Fix] Windows 7 With No (or Incompatible) Antivirus Not Receiving New Updates

[Fix] Windows Updates Fail to Install With Error Code 0x8000FFFF in Windows 7

SOLUTION 1: Install Required Updates for Windows Update Client Manually

This is the best and easiest solution to fix this problem! You just need to install the required updates manually which upgrade the Windows Update client program and once you install these updates, Windows Update will be able to download and install updates from Microsoft servers without any problem.

Thanks to our readers Dan, David, Bill, TrollBytes and Steve for sharing the required updates list and providing their valuable inputs.

You need to download and install following updates manually:

• KB3020369
• KB3050265 (More Details)
• KB3065987
• KB3102810
• KB3135445
• KB3138612
• KB3161664
• KB3172605
• KB3177467
• KB4490628
• KB4474419

These updates will upgrade the Windows Update client and will make some improvements to the client program. These updates are available for both 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) editions of Windows 7 operating system. You can know which edition of Windows 7 are you using with the help of System Properties window in Control Panel.

For your convenience, we are providing direct download links of these updates. You can download the updates quickly and easily from following links:

For Windows 7 64-bit (x64) edition:

• Direct Download Link of KB3020369 Update (64-bit or x64)
• Direct Download Link of KB3050265 Update (64-bit or x64)
• Direct Download Link of KB3065987 Update (64-bit or x64)
• Direct Download Link of KB3102810 Update (64-bit or x64)
• Direct Download Link of KB3135445 Update (64-bit or x64)
• Direct Download Link of KB3138612 Update (64-bit or x64)
• Direct Download Link of KB3161664 Update (64-bit or x64)
• Direct Download Link of KB3172605 Update (64-bit or x64)
• Direct Download Link of KB3177467 Update (64-bit or x64)
• Direct Download Link of KB4490628 Update (64-bit or x64)
• Direct Download Link of KB4474419 Update (64-bit or x64)

For Windows 7 32-bit (x86) edition:

• Direct Download Link of KB3020369 Update (32-bit or x86)
• Direct Download Link of KB3050265 Update (32-bit or x86)
• Direct Download Link of KB3065987 Update (32-bit or x86)
• Direct Download Link of KB3102810 Update (32-bit or x86)
• Direct Download Link of KB3135445 Update (32-bit or x86)
• Direct Download Link of KB3138612 Update (32-bit or x86)
• Direct Download Link of KB3161664 Update (32-bit or x86)
• Direct Download Link of KB3172605 Update (32-bit or x86)
• Direct Download Link of KB3177467 Update (32-bit or x86)
• Direct Download Link of KB4490628 Update (32-bit or x86)
• Direct Download Link of KB4474419 Update (32-bit or x86)

After installing these updates, restart your computer and then check for new updates using Windows Update. It may take 20-30 minutes or 1 hour depending upon the speed of your Internet connection and then Windows Update will show you list of all available updates. Now Windows Update will no longer stick at “Checking for updates” screen.

NOTE: You may need to temporary stop Windows Update service before installing above mentioned updates. You can run net stop wuauserv command in Command Prompt to temporary stop Windows Update service before installing each update.

You can also use Services Manager program to stop Windows Update service. Check out METHOD 7 in following tutorial to learn more about it:

Fixing Windows 10 Automatic Updates Install Problem

SOLUTION 2: Install All Updates Using Official Convenience Rollup Package

Microsoft has released a convenience rollup pack for Windows 7 which installs almost all available updates released after SP1 (Service Pack 1) of Windows 7. So if you install this convenience rollup pack in your Windows 7 machine, it’ll automatic upgrade Windows Update client version and your problem will be solved.

To learn how to download and install this convenience rollup pack, check out following article:

Install All Post-SP1 Updates Offline in Windows 7 Using Convenience Rollup Package

SOLUTION 3: Reset Windows Update Components and Services

Sometimes these kind of problems may occur due to corrupted components and services related to Windows Update. In past, we have posted a batch script to reset Windows Update components and services to fix such kind of issues.

You can download and run the Windows Update reset script from following article:

Fix Windows Updates Problems and Issues Using Automatic Reset Script

SOLUTION 4: Use Windows Update Troubleshooter and Fixit Tool

Windows 7 provides a built-in troubleshooter to fix issues related to Windows Update. You can run the built-in troubleshooter to repair Windows Update program. Microsoft also provides an official Fixit tool to fix Windows Update related problems.

You can learn more about the troubleshooter tool in following article:

[Tip] Use Windows Update Troubleshooter to Fix All Problems

SOLUTION 5: Use Custom DNS Settings for Your Internet Connection

Sometimes this problem may also occur due to your Internet connection if the DNS server of your ISP is not updated. You can use external DNS settings to get faster and reliable Internet connection which may also solve Windows Update related problems.

To learn how to use custom DNS settings in Windows, check out following tutorial:

How to Change or Use Custom DNS Server Settings in Windows?

SOLUTION 6: Use Built-in System File Checker (SFC) Tool

If some files and settings related to Windows Update are corrupted or missing in your Windows OS, it may also cause such kind of issues. You can repair Windows and restore default system files with the help of built-in SFC tool.

You can learn more about SFC tool and how to use it by going through METHOD 4 in following tutorial:

[METHOD 4] How to Use SFC /SCANNOW Command in Windows?

That’s it. The above mentioned solutions will definitely help you in fixing this annoying issue in Windows 7  as well as other Windows versions.

NOTE:

If you are facing similar issue in Windows 8/8.1 operating system, following tutorial will help you:

[Fix] Windows 8/8.1 Keeps Checking for Updates Forever

Несмотря на то, что Windows 7 уже больше не получит новых функций путём установки системных обновлений, Microsoft к этой версии операционной системы будет по-прежнему выпускать обновления безопасности и исправления. И продлится всё это до начала 2020 года. Так что вопрос установки обновлений для пользователей Windows 7 будет актуален ещё целых 3 года. Увы, не всегда этот процесс может обойтись без проблем и, соответственно, вмешательства пользователя в целях устранения этих проблем. Не устанавливаются обновления на Windows 7: какие причины, как правило, обуславливают возникновение такой проблемы и как эти причины устранить?

Не устанавливаются обновления на Windows 7: возможные причины и способы их устранения

Друзья, перед использованием изложенных ниже способов устранения причин проблем с обновлениями Windows 7 в обязательном порядке позаботьтесь о возможности отката проделанных в системе изменений. Создайте:

1. Проблемы со службой обновления

Причиной, почему не устанавливаются обновления на Windows 7, могут быть проблемы в работе системной службы обновления. В системные службы попадём с помощью поиска меню «Пуск». Прописываем ключевой запрос «Службы» и запускаем этот раздел настроек.

2. Проблемы с загрузкой обновлений

Одной из частых причин проблем с обновлениями Windows 7 являются сбои в процессе их загрузки на компьютер. Специфика загрузки системных обновлений заключается в том, что сначала они загружаются в кэш и хранятся там до момента их установки в систему. Неудачное скачивание, соответственно, влечёт за собой невозможность установки обновлений. Увы, при новом скачивании файлы обновлений не перезаписываются. Необходимо сначала удалить находящиеся в кэше файлы обновлений с ошибками, а затем только приступать к повторному их скачиванию.

net stop wuauserv

ren %windir%SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.OLD

3. Проблемы в системном реестре

Львиная доля сбоев установки обновлений в системе Windows 7 приходится на ошибку 80070308. Причина таковой может крыться в некорректной работе системного реестра. Решить эту проблему можно внесением правок в реестр. Жмём Win+R для вызова команды «Выполнить». В её поле вводим:

Всё: теперь необходимо перезагрузить компьютер и так же, как и в предыдущих случаях, приступить к ручной установке обновлений.

4. Утилита Fix It для автоматического устранения неполадок

Для различных системных проблем компания Microsoft создала специальную утилиту Fix It, это автоматическое средство устранения различных неполадок. Скачать утилиту Fix It для устранения конкретно неполадок Центра обновления можно 

на сайте Microsoft по ссылке

http://download.microsoft.com/download/9/1/3/913B0797-F3A4-4135-9CF8-E6FD548E3CD8/MicrosoftFixit50123.msi

5. Отсутствие Интернета и блокировка доступа к веб-ресурсам Microsoft антивирусом или файерволом

Естественной причиной проблем со скачиванием обновлений является отсутствие Интернета, в частности, ошибки в настройках прокси-сервера, если соединение со Всемирной Паутиной идёт через таковой. Из этой же области причина, почему не устанавливаются обновления на Windows 7 – блокировка доступа к веб-ресурсам Microsoft антивирусом или файерволом. Прежде чем возиться с настройками последних на предмет выявления, не в этом ли причина, можно просто отключить антивирус или файервол на время и приступить к установке обновлений вручную.

6. Отсутствие места на диске С

Отсутствие свободного места на системном диске С – ещё одна естественная причина, почему не устанавливаются обновления на Windows 7. Ведь для полноценной работы функционала обновления Windows требуется как-никак, а целых 5 Гб свободного пространства на жёстком диске. Потому прежде системного предупреждения о нехватке свободного места на диске С эта проблема может дать о себе знать, в частности, препятствием скачиванию и установке обновлений.

Освободить место на системном диске С Windows 7 помогут следующие статьи сайта:

7. Последнее время, если установить чистую оригинальную Windows 7, то начинается вечный поиск обновлений, но ошибок никаких не пишет, я решаю эту проблему так:

устанавливаю MicrosoftFixit50123

http://download.microsoft.com/download/9/1/3/913B0797-F3A4-4135-9CF8-E6FD548E3CD8/MicrosoftFixit50123.msi

и перезагружаюсь, затем устанавливаю Windows6.1-KB3102810

https://www.microsoft.com/ru-RU/download/details.aspx?id=49542

для 32-битной системы 

https://www.microsoft.com/ru-RU/download/details.aspx?id=49540

для 64-битной системы, затем перезагружаюсь и запускаю поиск обновлений, и всё проходит в штатном режиме.

8. Ну и последнее. Часто причиной некорректной работы Центра обновлений Windows 7 является повреждение хранилища системных компонентов

Восстановить повреждённое хранилище компонентов можно очень просто с помощью команды Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth, читайте нашу подробную статью на эту тему.

Также для устранения этой проблемы в Windows Vista и Windows 7 выпущено специальное обновление KB947821, скачать его можно по этой ссылке: