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Update on Win 7

I have a Toshiba Satelite with Win 7 and SP 1.  It will not update.  It has never updated.

I've done the shut off  the 3 services, deleted the Software Distribution folders restarted and waited patiently for days.... and nothing.

Windows update, BITS and Crypto services are running.  I've used the troubleshooter.  What's next?
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Brian Benson

Have you tried system file scanner?

As admin in cmd prompt 'sfc /scannow'

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/929833

This would be my first attempt at repair... if this shows up empty.. You may have to do an offline install.  Which is usually for corporate admins, but will force the issue.

More on that here:  http://www.howtogeek.com/255435/how-to-update-windows-7-all-at-once-with-microsofts-convenience-rollup/
Try the following two methods for offline updating:

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

Either or both should work.
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Is this a fresh installation? if yes, follow method one in my Article below. Basically you have to first install the new update agent, then the KB mentioned there, reboot, and after that updates will work without problems.

https://www.experts-exchange.com/articles/28629/Windows-7-New-Installation-Windows-Updates-fix-applies-to-windows-2008-Server-R2-too.html

I it isn't a fresh installation, then I suggest you do a fresh installation, as a system that has never been updates will be completely riddled with malware etc. After that you will have to follow my Article again.
I've run into this same issue before. I would:

-stop the windows update service
-install kb3138612
-install kb3145739
-install kb3020369
-install kb3172605 (kb rollup)

-restart the computer between each kb.
-make sure the update service is stopped before running each install.
-if the installer states the update is not needed, continue to the next one. no need to restart.

-windows update should now work normally.
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Brian.  I ran the SFC utility and it came up with no issues.  I'm trying to install the Standalone Installer, all it does is spin at "Searching for updates on this computer"  for hours.  It never completes the install in order to move on to the Rollup download.  What is the fix for the Standalone to install?
Get this tool (http://download.wsusoffline.net/), download it, explode it and run it. Read the on-line documentation first. I have used this tool successfully. Everything you need is included.
Just follow the instructions in my Article. It works best.
Rindi,  I'm trying to follow the steps in your article.  The first download install without a problem.  However the second download for KB 3102810 will download but  not complete it's install and gives me the same message "Searching for updates on this computer".  It will stay at that point for days and just spins.
What can we do next?
Dan
Rindi's article steps works on machines where updates are not too far out of date. I have used his steps successfully.

In your case, try the WSUS Offline tool. It will first update .NET Framework, restart, do more updates, restart again and in my case that was enough to get updates running automatically.

There is no one magic bullet here.
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One thing I have tried, is to switch the Windows Update from Automatic to Manual (not disabled), then stop the service.
Then try to install the standalone updates, it will then avoid the long Search for Updates stage and install quicker.
Rindi, No it's not a fresh install.  The user did not know the system needed to be updated.  They have it loaded with pics and docs and I'm trying to avoid the fresh install approach.  I ran a Avast boot time scan last  night and trying a standard update process and it's still not doing anything but spinning.  I will work on this a good bit this afternoon trying some of the other tips.

Can I do a repair install to save the data and have no media available?

Dan
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John, I'm doing the repair install following your suggested article.  The process has started and I'm in Phase 1, "Collecting Info", "searching for installation updates"  It's sat at this one point with no progress for over an hour.  Is that normal for this?.  I'm guessing it's looking for the updates and there has been none.  Will this take long?

Dan
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John,  I've left for 4 hours + and it has moved one little bit.  Still stuck at Collecting Info, and Searching for Installation updates.  Not one bit more.

Should we give it more time?

Dan
That is too long for system restore. Give it another hour or so, but then consider a fresh install.
i hope you made a backup before starting.
my experience with repair intalls that go wrong is usually severe problems, hard or soft  ware wise
John,  I did the Factory Restore on this Toshiba.  That went smooth.  Started running the windows backups and that has been not so good ( on a clean factory restore setup).  With 21 total updates there are 9 failures.  The last important update, a net framework KB982670 would not install and sat and spun for several hours.
Should the new update process with the Roll Up take this long?
I am not sure what has gone wrong.

Try WSUS Offline:   http://download.wsusoffline.net/

See if that helps.
John,  Thanks for introducing me to WSUS.  I think it has real potential.  I've started the update with WSUS and seem to be doing well except it now sits at one point for an hour now. It says "Installing..\w61-x64\glb\winodws6.1-KB263908-x64.msu"

Is it normal to sit a one file install for this length of time?  The first time I ran it got this far and installed and  rebooted it's self, started up again and is stopped at the same spot.

Dan
See if it installed .NET Framework. Restart, run it again and see the selections. Make sure you are selecting the correct OS and then just do .NET and restart, then so more after that.
John,  I'm learning something here.  Instructions say turn off windows update service.  which I did when it started.  After this wait checked again and the update service was back on.  Turned it off and more updates installed.  About three more updates and the service was turned on again.

Right now we have 3 more updates installled and progressing.

Dan
As updates install, close the WSUS app, restart and then run it again. It may take a few tries.
isn't it nice the easy way of ms??
Microsoft still needs to fix Windows Update.
Did the factory restore and started with WSUS offline and had lots of problems.  Finally manually upgraded IE to IE11, removed all bloatware, ran the update troubleshooter and finally started getting WSUS to work like I suppose it should.  Anyway, it's done, thanks for all your help.

Dan
Thanks for all your help.

DAn
Thanks for the update and I was happy to help you resolve this