Win/7 updates never complete

[DelJo63]

Symptoms:

• ENVIRONMENT: Win/7 pro sp1
• running windows update appears to never discover new updates

Verification:

• Run Task Manager; click the column heading CPU (twice?) to get descending list of usage.
• svchost is second in the list and stays there (doesn't change usage). on my system, it appears to hang at 25% (your may differ)
• 
  
• let Update run 10-20 minutes and there's no change, no progress.

Notice in the Update window, you will have

• Most recent check xx xx xx
• Updates installed xx/xx/xx
• and View History will show it all from day-1 of your system.

Comment:

• Whereas Win/7 is getting long in the tooth (my install goes back to 7/2006)
• the history and downloads accumulated thru time are enormous and SVCHOST is
• reading all of this to determine, "What Do I Need", ergo large cpu usage.

• PLEASE don't mention upgrading to the mindless win/8 8.1 or win/10. I know why I've elected to freeze at win/7 and you will not convince me otherwise - - so let's be friends and show some tolerance for the choices of others

FIX: *READ* the entire post before beginning this change!

login as Admin. QUIT all running programs

1. using services, STOP Microsoft Update service
2. using the file Explorer, cd to c:\Windows
3. SCROLL to find the folder SoftwareDistributions
4. right-click on that folder and DELETE IT
5. REBOOT

The folder will be recreated on first execution of MS Update

Panel will show

• Most recent check NONE
• Updates installed NONE

Click on Check For Updates
and let it complete *DO NOT KILL THE TASK OR CLOSE THE WINDOW*

These will become current again

• Most recent check xx xx xx
• Updates installed xx/xx/xx

History will be reset to this date as well

 

[bazz2004]

I did have this issue a few years ago and nothing that was suggested worked. I think that eventually I visited the section in Control Panel for enabling/disabling Windows features and found a completely empty box. Working from that I found a solution.

The unmentionable upgrade is not an option anyway because you need to fully update Windows 7 first. In your situation I'd reinstall Windows 7. It could well be faster than tinkering to find the problem. Not a great option but lots easier than reinstalling XP.

 

[DelJo63]

Perhaps it wasn't clearly expressed, but the post IS a solution and I subsequently applied it, and able to get 27 new updates. (which is why I posted it)

 

[bazz2004]

Yes, your April 1st post certainly fooled me.
Now about upgrading to Windows 10 - - - -

 

[learninmypc]

Good one (y)

 

[DelJo63]

Yes, your April 1st post certainly fooled me.
Now about upgrading to Windows 10 - - - -

CERTAINLY not April fools comment - -

 

[bazz2004]

Joke! I couldn't resist after wasting 10 minutes trying to remember my solution to a problem you don't have.

 

[DelJo63]

Joke! I couldn't resist after wasting 10 minutes trying to remember my solution to a problem you don't have.

What problem(s) - - I have no problems, you must be thinking of by evil twin!