Windows hangs up in «configuring updates»

This is a clean install that came with the computer. McAfee is the antivirus priogram.

Windows 7 Home Premium starts installing updates when it is shut down. On power up it goes into a «configuring updates» mode and stays there and never finishes the updates. There is a long string of failed updates in the update history.

I have to shut the machine down and restart in safe mode. Then it will undo the updates and return to a safe point. No error code is given. This started about 2 days ago. Automatic update is used.

This machine has been in use a little over a year.

It is a 64 bit operating system

You may try the following steps and check.

You may try to run the Windows 7 update Trouble shooter and check if it helps.

You may check in Windows update history and check for the recently failed updates.

Check update history to see what updates were installed. Refer the below mentioned link for the same.

See which Windows updates are installed

You may try downloading and installing the updates one at a time manually downloading from Microsoft download center and check:

a. Download updates from Microsoft download Center:

b. Enter the KB article number in the search field and download the same.

c. Double click on the downloaded file.

d. You may either Click Run to start the installation or you may click on save and save it on the desktop and start installation after the update is completely downloaded.

Hope this information is helpful.

Praseetha K
Microsoft Answers Support Engineer
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Windows Updater hanging on ‘Checking for updates’

I too am having this same problem with Windows Updater hanging on ‘Checking for updates’, following a clean install of Windows 7.

I am trying following the advice given to install indiviually these 3 updates-

‘KB3075851 and reboot

KB3083324 and reboot

KB3102810 and reboot’

However, on trying to install the first of these, Windows Update Standalone Installer hangs on ‘Searching for updates for this comoputer’ and I can get no further.

I have managed to manually install Ineternet Explorer to version 11, but the hanging Windows Update problem remains.

Any ideas/tips/advice please. It’s very frustrating as my Windows 7 install otherwise has gone smoothly. Please any help would be great, thanks.

Replies (3) 

Download the Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB3075851) from the Microsoft Catalog:

The link is for a 64 bit version of Windows 7. If you have a 32 bit version you should not use the link.

To start the download, click the link and then do one of the following, or select another language from Change Language and then click Change.

•Click Run to start the installation immediately.

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The hanging can be solved by stopping the unsuccessful search in the background. Set automatic updates to «Never check for updates» and restart. The search cannot be stopped by just closing the update window. 😉

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This might help:

Is A Problem with .NET Framework Preventing Update Installation?

Another way in which you can overcome problems with Windows Update is to look beyond that particular service. Some Windows Updates require the Microsoft .NET Framework to install – but what if that particular software isn’t working correctly?

To rule this possibility out, you can take advantage of the .NET Framework Setup Verification Tool to verify the state of your computer’s .NET installation. Head to Aaron Stebner’s MSDN blog to download the tool .

If you should find any faults, the .NET Framework Cleanup Tool can be used to tidy things up, removing the version of .NET (your computer might have multiple installations of the framework) you select. Once this has been done, download the standalone installer from Microsoft .

With this reinstalled, you should then be able to return to Windows Update, hopefully with the result of a successful hotfix/update/service pack installation!

Windows Update on Windows 7 hangs on Checking for Updates

Running Windows 7 Home Premium edition, x64 edition. Windows Update used to work but stopped working several months ago. Now it hangs forever on «Checking for Updates. » During the time it hangs, TrustedInstaller.exe runs to 50% CPU usage and stays there. This process can be killed but it relaunches in a few seconds. I have tried letting it run overnight, to no resolution.

I have run Fix It multiple times, before/during/after running Windows Update. If Windows Update is currently Checking for Updates, then running Fix It will cause Windows Update to exit without finding any updates (can’t be right — as I said, it’s been months), and the next time Windows Update runs, it hangs again on Checking for Updates.

I have found related threads in the forums but no clear answer. I have tried the manual instructions at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058. In particular, the instructions to register the BITS and Windows Update .dll files (Step 6) do not all work, as follows:

• mshtml.dll, shdocvw.dll, browseui.dll, and qmgr.dll fail with the error: The module [name of the .dll] was loaded but the entry-point DllRegisterServer was not found. Make sure that [name of the .dll] is a valid DLL or OCX file and then try again.
• msxml.dll, gpkcsp.dll, sccbase.dll, slbcsp.dll, wuaueng1.dll, wucltui.dll, wuweb.dll, and muweb.dll do not exist in my System32 folder.

Finally, I am unable to download a new Windows Update agent (Step 11). The download at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949104 does not seem to apply to Windows 7.

I last successfully installed updates on 7/2/2011, including the following Updates for Windows 7 for x64-based systems: KB2552343, KB2533552, KB2547666, KB2545698, KB2534366, KB2541014.

FIX: Windows 10 update hangs

• Windows Update is a Windows service in charge of downloading and installing system updates.
• If Windows Update hangs, you can usually fix it by restarting Windows Update service.
• There is a wide range of Windows Update issues, but we covered most of them in our Windows Update hub.
• If your having additional problems with Windows Update or your PC, we suggest you check out our Windows 10 errors hub for more useful guides.

1. Download Restoro PC Repair Tool that comes with Patented Technologies (patent available here).
2. Click Start Scan to find Windows issues that could be causing PC problems.
3. Click Repair All to fix issues affecting your computer’s security and performance

• Restoro has been downloaded by 0 readers this month.

In order to keep your system stable and protected, Windows 10 automatically performs all the necessary updates in the background.

Downloading Windows Updates is rather important, but many users reported that Windows 10 Update hangs for some strange reason.

This seems like a big problem, but fortunately, there are several ways to fix it.

What can I do if Windows 10 update hangs?

Table of contents:

1. Stop Windows Update services and delete SoftwareDistribution folder

1. Press Windows Key + X and choose Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu.
2. Once Command Prompt opens, enter the following lines and press Enter after each line:
   • net stop wuauserv
     
   • net stop bits
     

Now you need to navigate to C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution folder. After you enter SoftwareDistribution folder, select all files and folders and move them to a safe location, for example to your Desktop.

In case some of these files are still in use, just restart your device and repeat all the steps again.

After you’ve managed to move all the files and folder from SoftwareDistribution folder you need to restart your computer once again and check if the Windows update still hangs.

2. Be patient and wait for the update to finish

Sometimes these updates can take a long time to download, and Windows Update might seem stuck to you, but it’s actually working slowly in the background.

If Windows 10 Update hangs, leave your computer running over the night, and if everything is working correctly there should be some progress by the morning.

If the issue still persists, you might want to try some of our other solutions.

3. Use Windows Update troubleshooter

1. Go to Settings.
2. Head over to Updates & Security >Troubleshoot.
3. Select Windows Update, and go to Run the Troubleshooter.
   
4. Follow further on-screen instructions and let the process finish.
5. Restart your computer.

After running Windows Update troubleshooter, check if Windows Update still hangs on Windows 10.

4. Restart your network connection

1. Press Windows Key + S and type view network connections. From the list of results choose View network connections.
   
2. Locate your connection, right click it and choose Disable.
   
3. Right click your connection once again and choose Enable from the menu.

Run a System Scan to discover potential errors

After you’ve enabled your network connection again, the issue should be resolved. In addition, you could try unplugging your Ethernet cable or try restarting your computer a few times.

In most cases, Windows Update isn’t actually stuck, it’s just working slowly, so if Windows 10 Update hangs on your computer, maybe it’s best for you to be patient and wait for it to download all the necessary components.

If you’re certain that update process is stuck, you could try restarting the Windows Update service and delete its cache files.

5. Run the SFC scan

1. Right-click on the Start Menu button, and open Command Prompt (Admin).
2. Enter the following line and press Enter: sfc/scannow
3. Wait until the process is done (it may take a while).
4. If the solution is found, it will automatically be applied.
5. Now, close the Command Prompt and restart your computer.

6. Run DISM

1. Open the Command Prompt as shown above.
2. Enter the following command and press Enter:
   • DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
3. Wait for the process to finish.
4. Restart your computer.
5. In case the DISM can’t obtain files online, try using your installation USB or DVD. Insert media and type following command:
   • DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:/RepairSource/Windows /LimitAccess
6. Make sure to replace ”C:/RepairSource/Windows” path of your DVD or USB.
7. Follow further on-screen instructions.

7. Disable your antivirus

Third-party antivirus programs don’t go along with Windows updates (and other Windows 10 features). So, it’s quite possible that your antivirus is actually blocking the update.

To see if that’s indeed the case, disable your antivirus for a couple of minutes. If the update finishes installing, your problem is solved.

8. Delete the update and try again

1. Go to Settings >Updates & Security >Windows Update.
2. Go to Update history >Uninstall updates.
3. Now, find the troublesome update (you can sort updates by date), right-click it, and go to Uninstall.
   
   
4. Restart your computer.

After doing that, check if the Windows 10 update still hangs.

9. Restart Windows Update service

And finally, if none of the previous solutions worked, let’s restart the Windows Update service. Here’s how to do that:

1. Go to Search, type services.msc, and open Services.
2. Find the Windows Update service. Right-click and open Properties.
   
3. Click Restart.
4. Once the service restarts, go to the General tab, find Startup type and choose Automatic.
5. If the service is not running, right-click and choose Start.
6. Confirm selection and close window.

In addition to this problem, many users reported that Windows Update isn’t working on Windows 10, and if you have that problem, you might want to check some of our other articles.