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Dan EckertFlag for United States of America

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Windows update on Win 7 Home prem.

An Acer Aspire 5534-1121 laptop with Win 7 Hm Prem with SP1, was an extremely slow pc.  To correct I did a Win 7 repair install and that fixed the slowness issues.
However, the windows update function was not repaired.  The update search will run for hours and never show any needed or optional updates.
I've tried clearing the windows/softwaredistribution cache, and the Microsoft Update Fix It and neither will allow it to update.
What else can I do?  I'm considering another Win 7 repair install.
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Iamthecreator
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If you are having such problems with a brand new Windows 7 installation or a computer that has not been updated for more than 6 months, make sure you install Service Pack 1 first (if it has not been installed already), then download and apply the following two patches manually: KB3083710 and KB3102810. Make sure that you download the correct version: x86 for 32-bit Windows 7 and x64 for 64-bit Windows 7. The first update might take 30 minutes or more to install, this is normal.
In case Windows 7 has been updated regularly, let Windows Update search for updates and if nothing happens for about 30 minutes, close the window and reopen it after a minute or so (do not restart your PC). The second attempt usually works much faster. Changing the time when Windows Update installs updates also helps sometimes. Make sure your device has the two optional updates installed: KB3083710 and KB3102810.
Alternatively, please use WSUS Offline Update instead.
Also try the following:

Go to Windows Update and set to Never.
Shut down (power off).
Start up.
Set Updates to Automatic and set to do the update at 3:00am local time (default).
Updates should start running.
Now wait (even until tomorrow). You may have several hundred updates to process.
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☠ MASQ ☠

If you have done a repair install you'll have a system that is missing updates since the disk you used for the repair was issued - if it was issued as SP1 was released there are some 500 updates that will be downloading in the background for cataloging before you see a change on the update page.  Generally if the green line is moving then things are happening just in this case very,very slowly.  The two updates above may help but normally they'll be expecting a cache of old updates to clear out.
This was written some time ago so please forgive any duplication of suggestions already made.

Did you check in Services that Windows Update service and Remote Procedure Call service are on?

Reset Windows Update

http://support.microsoft.com/gp/windows-update-issues/en-us

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/906602

Windows Update Troubleshooter
http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9830262  or
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058

Fixit
http://support.microsoft.com/mats/windows_update/en-us

Reinstall Windows Update Agent (different links for different Win 7 systems (32bit and 64bit))

http://download.windowsupdate.com/WindowsUpdate/redist/standalone/7.1.6001.65/WindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe

http://download.windowsupdate.com/windowsupdate/redist/standalone/7.6.7600.320/WindowsUpdateAgent-7.6-x64.exe

Run the Windows Update Readiness tool:
http://support2.microsoft.com/?kbid=947821

Scan for viruses and other malware.

Run SFC /SCANNOW from a Command Prompt

Run a System Restore to a date before the problem started.

If you have an error code
http://support2.microsoft.com/common/survey.aspx?scid=sw;en;3779&showpage=1
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ASKER

This Windows 7 Home Premium is a challenge.  I worked with all the fixes you guys suggested and there was no difference.  It continued to check for updates and never, ever downloaded a single one.  it just spin  for days at a time.

I next tried a Windows 10 upgrade and the install started ok, progressed to checking for updates and stayed there for another day and never downloaded a thing.

Now the last attempt has been a total reinstall of a full Windows 7 from scratch.  Completely wiped the drive and did a full reinstall and tried to update that with nothing but "checking for updates" for the last six hours.  And nothing downloaded.

I've changed the settings on the automatic updates and changed them back, used the Windows Fixit t tool. and still no updates will download.  I've checked the services and both BIT and Windows Update is running.  I've stopped them both and restarted.  I'm at a loss.  What am I doing wrong?
Now the last attempt has been a total reinstall of a full Windows 7 from scratch.  Completely wiped the drive and did a full reinstall and tried to update that with nothing but "checking for updates" for the last six hours

So long as updates are actual running, you need to wait at least 24 hours for the 400 or more updates to process.
PS I did get "Windows Agent 7.6.7600.320" to download today, but I'm expecting hundreds of updates to bring a Windows 7 to full update after a complete reinstall on a bare drive.

Dan
John Hurst
Based on your last comment, I'm letting this "Checking for updates" run.  It's at about 15 straight, uninterrupted hours.  I'm monitoring with Task Manager's Performance tab.  Processor is running at 50% and Memory is at 76%.   Processor graphic shows constant activity, Memory is steady at 76%.  No downloads are showing as available.

I will update around 24 hours.

Dan
John
At 20 to 24 hours the Win 7 showed 215 updates to install.  That's the first sign I've seen of any updates.  So you're "wait for 24 hours" is right on...  Now, it's been on "Preparing to Install" for the last six hours with no actual installs showing.  

Task Manager > Performance Monitor shows 50% CPU and 66% Memory

We'll keep you updated.
Thanks for the update.

<anyone would think Microsoft are deliberately throttling Win7 updates to get us to move over to 10...>. ^-^
We are coming up to 20 hours of waiting at "Preparing Install", close to a full 48 hours of just waiting.  CPU usage is still running 49 to 51%.  Memory is an unchanging 66%.  Gives me no signs of hanging up.

What my plan is is to do a full Win 7 update and then Upgrade to Win 10.  Maybe next week?
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John
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John

If I don't need all these updates to be eligible to do the 10 update, should I stop now.  It is currently a Win 7 with Service Pac 1 level.  Will 10 want to add in those updates I'm trying to install now?

Dan
Windows 10 will spend about an hour looking for driver updates and then install Windows 10 with its updates. Windows 7 updates will be a thing of the past.
Got this one finished up on Saturday the 7th.  On the 5th John said it would take an hour to update drivers for 10 to load.  It took 48 hours.  On the same network I upgraded two others in the time it took this one old Acer.   In that time I had authentication problems to deal with,.  IN the end it got done and returned to the owner.  Just hope it holds up.  Thanks for y our help.
Thanks again for your help.
You are very welcome and I was happy to help.