Windows 7 may be dead (at least according to Microsoft), but I have found myself still working on many Windows 7 machines. I also still end up with the occasional new computer that I am tasked to bring up to date and deploy for a client.
One particular issue I have found with either new Windows 7 computers or fresh Windows 7 installs is when I begin the computer’s first check for updates. Often it will take between one to three hours for the computer to go from Checking for Updates to actually having updates to install.
However, there have been a few times (including a machine I am working on now) where Windows 7 Updates is stuck on ‘Checking for Updates’. It doesn’t seem to matter how long it runs for, it will always stay at ‘Checking for Updates’.
The first time I ran across this mess I ran it for three days before calling it quits. I have had computers take a few hours to find updates before, but after three days then you know it’s a lost cause.
Thankfully there are a several ways of fixing this, but for now I will just cover the two that has consistently worked for me.
Update Windows Update Agent
This one can be a fairly quick fix. Simply download the update agent and run it. This has worked a couple of times for me, however if that fails then it’s time for the Windows Update Readiness Tool.
The Windows 7 Update Readiness Tool
This tool isn’t the easiest to find. As a matter of fact, it’s buried below all the other Microsoft support pages for Windows 7 Update issues. Despite the various standalone FIXIT programs they offer, this tool has worked every time where the others fail.
Simply download the tool and run it. Be warned – this will take a very long time as the software scans the updates on the system and searches for updates that are needed. Even on a machine with 12GBs of RAM and a speedy SSD, it took over an hour for the scanner to do its job. Worst case, you can probably run it overnight.
Once the tool does its job, simply follow the prompts and install the updates.
It should be as simple as that! Granted there might be a different update issue you are having than the one I listed here. Unfortunately I do not have the answers for them all I’m afraid, but this one is one that hopefully helps for those whose updates get stuck on ‘Checking for Updates’.
Do you have any questions or tips? Comment below!