Windows 7 and Updates

[sparky]

Hi All,

Just wondering if anyone else had found themselves in a similar situation and what views were on my final decision.

This first started on my HP Netbook.  Now I have the same problem on my Desktop PC.

I run Windows 7. I do not want to upgrade to Windows 10 with my current hardware and I'd rather this thread didn't turn into a "why not". I have a scanner that seems to be hit or miss whether it works or not under 10, plus some older software. I will go Windows 10 when I upgrade my PC. until then.....

I have never had Automatic Updates selected. I have always had it set to notify me of updates and I choose to install them. So when W10 "malware" started to come along, I started to get selective in what updates I installed. Security updates yes, lots of recommended updates no. I now have the problem on both machines, that Windows Update doesn't work. Either it finds updates, but sits at 0% downloading and never downloads them, or it continuously searches for updates and never finds any. Google this and it seems to be very common. Some blame MS, some blame users such as me for being selective in what we downloaded and installed. I have tried most of the supposed solutions to no avail, except the ones to install the W10 nagware/malware which I have no intention of doing. Nothing has improved it.

I have now become so frustrated by Windows Update taking 100% CPU time and never doing anything, that reluctantly and I suppose at some risk, I have switched off Windows Update altogether.

What is that risk? I don't visit dodgy websites. My router has a firewall. I have an Internet Security Package.

Any thoughts appreciated.

[Simon]

You could try this and see if it repairs Windows Updates:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/kb/971058

This might also be of interest:

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/threads/list-of-windows-7-telemetry-updates-to-avoid.379151/

Your scanner may just need re-installing, or a driver update to still work properly on Windows 7. 

[Glenn]

Re-install Windows 7?

[Gary]

You don't need to visit dodgy websites these days, malvertising on well know websites can get you,  nor is a router with a firewall as routers can be hacked or used for amplification attacks, especially if its an old one with no current updates. A security package is no guarantee of any safety as they are generally so behind on signatures and heuristics for new malware which changes to fast for them to keep up with. Windows 10 may be hard work but once you sort its privacy issues out, and stop using flash and Java, you will be safer than using windows 7 tbh.

[sparky]

Thanks for the replies:-

Simon - Yes, have tried the MS fix it tool. It ran OK, said it found a couple of registry issues and fixed them, but it didn't fix my windows update problem on either netbook or PC. The link to the updates to avoid shows all the ones that I have avoided. The scanner is fine on W7, some people seemed to have managed to get it to work on W10, but then W10 has done an update and bricked it again. The same seems to apply to Office 2007.

Glen - Uh. No! 

Gary - Take your point. But Windows 7 updates only come out on Patch Tuesday. Surely W10 presents a new challenge for hackers and when I see a Very Large Grocery Store, still using Windows XP, what real chance of my little ol home PC becoming a target?

It would appear that it's not only me that thinks that this situation has got worse:-
http://www.infoworld.com/article/3055885/microsoft-windows/its-time-for-microsoft-to-fix-the-windows-7-update-slowdowns.html

[Glenn]

run from an admin prompt sfc /scannow fixes a multitude of problems https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/kb/929833, run a repair from the install DVD?

[Glenn]

Does the updater fail with an error code?

http://www.askvg.com/fix-windows-update-problems-using-automatic-reset-script/

[sparky]

Glen,

Thanks will try your last two suggestions. No it doesn't give any error, just sits there either checking for updates or 0% downloading updates. It doesn't stop or time out, although I have not left it running overnight yet.

[sparky]

Mmmm. I seem to be digging a big hole for myself.

Have now spent all day on this and time to give up me thinks.

I ran sfc /scannow. It said that it found errors and fixed them. I then tried the fixit tool. Now that came up with two errors.
1) Service Registration is missing or corrupt
2) Windows Update Error 0x80070057
I ran it a couple more times and 1) got fixed. Still getting 2).

I then tried the Reset Script. Back to 1) and 2) again. GRRRR!!!!

Have since tried installing KB3075851 standalone. That now just sits there "searching for updates on this computer" and never finds any!

Shame that I'm ill and cannot drink! I'd have cracked a bottle by now....................................

[Glenn]

http://www.sevenforums.com/windows-updates-activation/375108-windows-update-service-registration-missing-corrupt.html

[sparky]

Well. I think I've fixed my Netbook!

I will give it a month before I try the same thing on my more important desktop, but I have at least got Windows updates working again on the Netbook.

I found and decided to give WSUS Offline Update a try.
http://download.wsusoffline.net/

I downloaded and unpacked it. On running it, seemed to hang on installing the first update which was an update to windows update. From task manager I stopped wusa.exe? (I think), then the command script re-started it and continued with updates and checking updates.

It took about 7hrs. I checked in the morning and found that the WSUS Offline Update script had completed and was telling me to re-boot. I did, then went back into windows update, checked for updates and found about 21. I unticked those in the list of W10 malware and installed the rest with no problems. I haven't yet hidden the four that I unticked, but will see how things work out next patch Tuesday. If all works again and I get no problems with the netbook, I'll do the same on my Desktop PC.

So far, so good.

[Simon]

 

[sparky]

 

Since my Reply #8 I have done nothing to try to fix my desktop.

Today, I turned Windows Updates back on (Tell  me there are updates and I will choose whether to download and install them) just to see what if anything would happen.  After about 2 hours of searching it found all the latest updates.

None seemed to be W10 malware, so I downloaded and installed them and it all seemed to work!!!

It's also recompiled my History of Updates that the Reset Script deleted.

Windows gets stranger by the day.................

[Clive]

That seems an excellent result to me!  I have two Win 7 machines that won't update, one hasn't done so since last June.  The other stopped updating earlier this month.  I might try turning automatic updates back on to see what happens. 

[Clive]

  I've turned auto updates back on on my Win 7 netbook and a search for updates says they are up to date.  Big green tick for being such a good boy.    Most recent updates? June 2015.       God and Windows work in mysterious ways. 

[sparky]

My Netbook running Windows 7 Starter had also given me grief for months.

I'm pretty sure its fixed now after running this http://download.wsusoffline.net/


It took most of the night to do so I had to make sure my netbook was set in the power options not to go to sleep or shutdown, but Windows update all started working properly afterwards.

My Desktop failed at the beginning of this month also. Maybe that was another issue, possibly something to do with Microsoft's servers or something and I overdid it by quickly trying to fix something that wasn't really broken.

[Clive]

Thanks Sparky, I'll have a go at that.  My netbook runs on Windows 7 starter too and although I like using it, it wouldn't be the end of the world if it came to grief.  I'll have another go with the Win 7 laptop, especially as you suggest it might be a glitch.  I have yet another Win 7 laptop which is updated until March.  I didn't bother attempting the April updates so perhaps I'll have a go with that one too. 

[Clive]

The laptop is downloading updates!  The netbook is just hung in a never ending loop.