Always Win 7 - Update failure, why ?

[Channel Hopper]

THis is the third machine I've had on the desk, first a clients, who went to Win 10, then the wife's business desktop, now this laptop. Each time I start the 'search for update, it just sits there, and six hours later it's found nothing. I can see failed updates in the history, but even oce I've downloaded them manually, they will not do what they are supposed to do.

All are working fine by the way so I shouldn't be too worried, but how do you get the official Windows updates to work reliably on Win 7 ?

 

[jeallen01]

I've not been having any noticeable problems in updating either Win 10 or Win 7 over the last few days
FWIW, are you sure that the MS website has not been blocked in some way on those machines?

OTOH, I have found that you sometimes have to simply stop the check for updates and then restart the machine because it may have just "stalled" - and then the machine does install the updates.
Also, it does depend on how fast the machine is - since I installed (and finally got working!) an SSD on the main laptop then that has been much, much quicker to download and install the updates.

 

[4wd]

something to play with ;0)

First try, do only 2. \ 9. \ 12. and see how it goes.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/971058/how-do-i-reset-windows-update-components

 

[moonbase]

This is a known issue, you need to apply two microsoft knowledge base patches manually to restore the Windows 7 update functionality.

 

[Channel Hopper]

something to play with ;0)

First try, do only 2. \ 9. \ 12. and see how it goes.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/971058/how-do-i-reset-windows-update-components

Thanks, I think.

 

[Topper]

This is a known issue, you need to apply two microsoft knowledge base patches manually to restore the Windows 7 update functionality.

It has always been a problem for me on Win8.1 and also since the upgrade to Win10, I just automatically do the check below now after any updates go in, I think it has something to do with there being 3rd party software interacting with the O/S updating system, in my case that is the (now defuncted) Sony software.

 

[Channel Hopper]

something to play with ;0)

First try, do only 2. \ 9. \ 12. and see how it goes.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/971058/how-do-i-reset-windows-update-components

Windows 7 and earlier versions: Press the Windows logo key + R, type cmd in the Run box, and then press Enter. Right-click cmd, and then select Run as Administrator.

Followed those instructions to the letter, after pressing enter the machine goes straight to the DOS cmd.exe screen.

 

[4wd]

^^^ do I get this right, it's trouble getting cmd to run as admin?
Try search, right click cmd.exe result > Run as admin
Or Programs > Windows System > right click Command Prompt > Run as admin

And yes, I remember there was a period of very slow (or not at all) updates with w7 after the w10 update harassements started. Had it on 8.1 also, usually came along after a loooong wait, now it's all quick, doing security updates only, all works perfect as will w7 when things are sorted.

If update resets don't help, google for 'windows 7 slow update' and the like.
Some have had success trying another dns server, disabling firewall, cleaning hosts file.

 

[Channel Hopper]

Not quite, once entering cmd in the box and pressing enter, the new window starts straight away, there is no option for the 'run as admin' though I am down as one in the profiles.

If I do enter the lines as suggested in the second part of the MS advice I get 'error 5' warnings.

I might slave the hard drive (again) to see if there is something nasty in there, but it passed all virus and spyware stuff a couple of weeks back.

 

[4wd]

error 5 = not in cmd admin mode.

Use any of the 2 options I posted above, and it'll work immediately.

Simply copy \ paste the lines one at the time from the microsoft page, press enter for each line.
Incl. the reboot, just a few minutes all in all :O)

If it fixes the update, good, if not then that is out of the way and one can investigate the other routes.

Picture left: normal cmd, right admin cmd

 

[Channel Hopper]

Thanks, I'll try your suggestions tonight.

 

[pontiend]

This is a known issue, you need to apply two microsoft knowledge base patches manually to restore the Windows 7 update functionality.

I often go back to an earlier macrium image.If I go too far back w7 will not update.I have to install two updates.I think that they are.
KB3020369
KB3172605.
These are for 64 Bit systems.
Edit I should say that the ones that I have in my downloads folder are.
Check to see if they are installed.

 

[Channel Hopper]

error 5 = not in cmd admin mode.

Use any of the 2 options I posted above, and it'll work immediately.

Simply copy \ paste the lines one at the time from the microsoft page, press enter for each line.
Incl. the reboot, just a few minutes all in all :O)

If it fixes the update, good, if not then that is out of the way and one can investigate the other routes.

Picture left: normal cmd, right admin cmd

I was able to get into Admin mode and managed the first two commands

The third however 'net stop appidsvc' come up with an error 'Application Identity service is not started' and 'help available with typing NET HELPMSG 3521'.

 

[Channel Hopper]

The fourth command does work however, but I still cant execute the qmgr delete instruction.

 

[Channel Hopper]

I often go back to an earlier macrium image.If I go too far back w7 will not update.I have to install two updates.I think that they are.
KB3020369
KB3172605.
These are for 64 Bit systems.
Edit I should say that the ones that I have in my downloads folder are.
Check to see if they are installed.

Neither of those are in the - long - list.

 

[4wd]

"Application Identity service is not started" = nothing to stop :O)
qmgr delete is in part 3. not 2.

Restart the services, 9. reboot 12. This process is just a very quick and simple refresh of the update services in case something got stuck. Test update (let it search for good while). If no luck, it's time to hunt for the kb fixes as mentionned by pontiend.

Also, there's a -vast- amount of win 10 telemetry related updates MS desparately pushes into w7. If wanting a clean w7 system, don't install stuff automatically, here's the list of kb's to ditch > http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...-windows-10-upgrade-disable-telemetry.780476/

 

[Channel Hopper]

Tried 9 and 12 and now on the 'check for updates' again, though I have let this run for about 6 hours previously.

I'm unsure if this is relevant but even after '9' , there is still the red cross against auto updating following the reboot, I had to manually request.

Ill have a search for the two KBs in an hour.

 

[pontiend]

This Microsoft page may have the answer.The two updates are there.
Windows 7 Update solution

 

[jeallen01]

Not quite, once entering cmd in the box and pressing enter, the new window starts straight away, there is no option for the 'run as admin' though I am down as one in the profiles.
....

Can you not log on at boot-up as the admin rather than a user?

I often go back to an earlier macrium image.If I go too far back w7 will not update. .

Is that because the earlier image is pre Service Pack 1, because you need that installed before any updating can be done?

I have to install two updates.I think that they are.
KB3020369
KB3172605.
.

@CH - if you haven't got those two updates,-> very easy = put the KB nos into a search engine and that will give you the links to the relevant MS download pages

 

[pontiend]

The link is in reply above jeallen01.