Windows 7 Update Problem

frank

frank

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Been handed a 64 bit Windows 7 Home Premium laptop with install disk to reformat and reinstall with Win 7, it is 2.40 GHz & 6Gb Ram. It seems after succesfully reinstalling when selecting Windows Update that it is in some sort of never ending loop doing nothing, it doesn't reach the screen where you see the choice of updates. Has Microsoft stopped supporting Updates for Win 7 or is this some new bug?
If it's a bug does anyone have a fix for it?
 
The "“Rebuild” the SoftwareDistribution folder."Option normally does the trick.

Although some people have been reporting w7 update issues recently from what I've read.

Irrespective of whether it's still in support the updates should still be there to download.
 
ive tried Alastair's link and Barry's link all three methods plus a few other methods i found on the net, stopping/starting net bits etc etc thanks guys but still no joy. i now have sp1 on it which i think one of the updates from samsung (laptop brand) is responsible, which one im not sure. i think this lappys main use will be just browsing the net at home, playing music and youtube stuff. i'll put avast on it but i'm not sure if i'd use it for shopping and banking, if any other security updates are unavailable.

I know he has win 10 on a desktop he could use that for shopping/banking. if he doesn't want to move with the times upgrading the laptop to win 10 then there's no point in me wasting my time getting nowhere fast. He could have had it for free as he knew about the offer, seems he has now decided to brush the cobwebs of this lappy and use it again after a few yrs in a cupboard.
 
Unfortunately still unable to get the Win 7 update to work, screen shows "Checking For Updates" but never does anything, like it's stuck in a loop. Left this on all night and was still the same this morning, the usual screen showing what available updates there just did not appear despite trying all the methods above and more. I'm wondering is they have stopped the home edition versions updates completely and leaving pro and enterprise versions and company users still able to download.
A repartitioned/formatted drive and fresh clean install without other software being added then start updates I'd have thought that shouldn't be a problem, 70 mb download speed too, turned off firewall in case that was blocking, no antivirus installed at this point, no yellow exclamation marks in device manager all drivers present and correct but no difference. Don't know where else to look cos all the suggestions online bearing in mind a lot of them are more than a several months old don't work now.
 
Have you tried the laptop manufacturer's support site for a model specific diagnostic scan and update?

Microsoft updates will frequently fail if the latest manufacturer BIOS/driver updates aren't installed. I've had this with Dell laptops and Windows updates before. The MS update doesn't know why it isn't working so can't give you a meaningful error message. But the endless death spiral update loop is a classic symptom.


PS
It is still possible to get the Win10 update from Win7 for free under certain unverified circumstances, even if the laptop's owner was too pig-headed to take it last year. But it will still fail if it's a manufacturer BIOS/driver error and that isn't fixed first.
 
I'll check out the bios, never thought about that one...thanks
 
latest Bios available is same as one currently in use so no point in going there, thanks.
Neil I'm sure I've been on that page and tried it out, I'll try again.
 
frank said:
latest Bios available is same as one currently in use so no point in going there, thanks.
Click to expand...
Does the manufacturer offer a diagnostic scan on their support page? I ran up against a brick wall trying to update two PCs and in both circumstances it was resolved by running the manufacturer's diagnostic scan and accepting the updates (BIOS and drivers) offered. It seems there are some drivers that Windows can't reach and update for itself, and you only need one old, incompatible driver to b****r up everything when updating.
 
Neil I don't remember seeing the date October 2, 2016 at the top of the page so I'm currently trying that out, I'll post the result. Alastair if no joy on Neils Link I'll look into a diagnostic scan
 
I've had similar problems with Win7.
What I did was to upgrade all software and security fixes by using WSUS offline update.
This downloads all necessary updates after comparing your system with Micro$ofts official releases.
It doesn't seem to update the list of installed updates that MS uses but I don't care about that - I know that my system is up to date and I can always run the offline update
again in 3 months or so.
BTW there is a Service Pack 2 (called a Win7 rollup) which you can download and install yourself which saves all the hassle of the dreaded "checking for updates".
 
Seems Neil the wsusoffline is working away downloading files, lots of kbxxxx's etc from Msoft in a dos window, is this just the dos version of the Windows Update were used to seeing?
 
The wsusoffline tool worked Neil thanks. A neat little program indeed, one of the updates downloaded has repaired the broken Windows Update. Thanks to all who replied.
 
neil_g said:
here you go..

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...n/f39a65fa-9d10-42e7-9bc0-7f5096b36d0c?auth=1
Click to expand...

My W7 Pro 64 bit has failed(?) to update correctly again, so your linky is good find. I will trying this in advance of the impending "October 2016 W7 update....." that will change the way W7 updates and some it is said will not like????

What I found interesting was the KB3172605, this dl on the linked site has a heck of title string so that got me looking at why that might be so? Well the original of that KB file is dated July 2016 but the one on that MS support page is dated Sept 2016......seems it is an undeclared (on MS main pages) tweaked version!

However, I hope it works for me :)

PS FWIW the links on that tech page are live for the above KB but needed copying & pasting for the other 3020369 file.
 
Last edited:
Tringa said:
Thanks for posting this link, Neil. I had a problem with W7 updates failing but the above solved it.



Dave
Click to expand...

Unfortunately it did not work for me :( even after, as the method advised, I installed the other single file the larger roll up one still said 'unsuitable for this computer'.
 
neil_g said:
try the wsus offline app above
Click to expand...

Do I read it correctly that the wsus offline app is third party product?

I have always been very cautious about software from "unknown" sources, granted a few folk above have found it works fine..........but still I try to be risk aware. And it is the potential for unknown hidden 'nasties' biting me as a result of using this app method???

Am I better of buying W10 upgrade and hence biting the bullet and doing that?

Fwiw W7 last updated 13/09/16
 
Box Brownie said:
Do I read it correctly that the wsus offline app is third party product?

I have always been very cautious about software from "unknown" sources, granted a few folk above have found it works fine..........but still I try to be risk aware. And it is the potential for unknown hidden 'nasties' biting me as a result of using this app method???

Am I better of buying W10 upgrade and hence biting the bullet and doing that?

Fwiw W7 last updated 13/09/16
Click to expand...

Yes it's a third part product with no Micro$oft involvement (apart from the servers that are used for updates).
As for hidden nasties - how about an unpatched system? Which is the greatest risk for you?
This software has been around for some time and is maintained in Germany.

W10 has been analysed by many people who swear by (or is that at) it?
I will not upgrade to W10 because of all the data slurping that goes on with it, which you cannot disable. I also understand from various blogs
that there are problems with W10 updates for some people but at least it's current software which should be maintained whereas W7 is EOL.
 
Box Brownie said:
Do I read it correctly that the wsus offline app is third party product?

I have always been very cautious about software from "unknown" sources, granted a few folk above have found it works fine..........but still I try to be risk aware. And it is the potential for unknown hidden 'nasties' biting me as a result of using this app method???
Click to expand...

mbscad said:
Yes it's a third part product with no Micro$oft involvement (apart from the servers that are used for updates).
Click to expand...

what he said. all this app does is connect to the MS download servers and bundles all of the updates together for installation.

if it helps, I'm using it right now as an older laptop which doesn't have a SATA controller driver for W10 is not playing ball with its W7 updates.
 
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