Updates are one of the most common, and most frustrating issues related to almost all versions of Windows. In Windows 7, when updates are initiated either by automatic updates, or manually, Windows Update returns Checking For Updates and gets stuck on checking, leaving the user baffled and clueless. There are numerous causes for this to happen, generally the message indicates that it is checking for updates, technically in the background, it is checking for updates and keeps trying until it times out and this is usually due to a glitch which could be network related or disk related. Some users were able to resolve this by booting PC into Safe Mode and some were able to resolve this by switching from Wi-Fi to Ethernet.
In this guide, we will walk you through all the methods that have worked.
Method 1: Run Disk Clean up In Safe Mode
Restart your computer and repeatedly tap F8 until you see the Advanced Boot Menu. If you do not see this menu, start over again and repeatedly tap F8 key on your keyboard until you see this. When you see this select Safe Mode with Networking. You will be able to login into safe mode fine.
On the Advanced Boot Menu, select Safe Mode using the arrow keys on your keyboard. Hit Enter to start computer in Safe Mode.
Once the computer starts up in Safe Mode, Hold the Windows Key and Press E. Right Click on C:\ and Choose Properties. Click the Disk Cleanup button. When it is done scanning, select and remove all the files/folders under Select Files to be removed and then Click OK. Once cleaning finishes, restart your system and boot into normal mode and test to see if Windows Updates are now working. If not, then proceed to Method 2.
Method 2: Switch to Ethernet From Wi-Fi
If you are running Windows Update on Wi-Fi, then disconnect from Wi-Fi and switch to Ethernet. (Wired) temporarily to test. Once it’s connected to Ethernet, run the updates and test.
Method 3: Run Windows Update Automated Troubleshooter
Run WindowsUpdateDiagnostics. Click here to download the the diagnostic file. Choose Windows Update and Click Next and simply follow the instruction on-screen to the last words.
Method 4: Run the SURT Tool
System Update Readiness (SUR) Tool is used to prepare your system for Windows updates by doing a checkup on it and repair update files.
If your Windows 7 is x86, then click this link to Download SUR Tool.
If it is x64, then click this link to Download Windows SUR Tool.
Now run the downloaded file. A Windows Update Standalone Installer will appear. Click Yes.
Close it when the installation is complete. And check if the issue resolved.
Method 5: Clear Update Cache
To clear Windows update cache, Download the ClearCache.bat file from this link.
Right click on the downloaded file and click Run as administrator. Confirm any warning messages.
The cache has been cleared. Check now if the issue resolved.
Method 6: WSUS Offline Update Tool
Although Windows updater is the recommended way of updating your Windows, but if there are issues with the updates, then you can run the WSUS Offline Update Tool. Download the WSUS Offline Update Tool from here.
Open the downloaded zip folder. Double click on UpdateGenerator.exe.
In the WSUS Offline Updater window, different version of Windows (Windows 7, 8, 8.1, etc) will be mentioned with their system type (x86 or x64). We know you are using Windows 7. To know if it is x86 or x64, Hold the Windows key and Press R. Type msinfo32 and Click OK.
Against system type will be your system type mentioned.
Select the appropriate system type in the WSUS Offline Updater window in the Windows 7 / Server 2008 R2 section. In the USB medium section just above the Start button, Put a check on Copy updates for selected products into directory. Then click the button with dots specify the location where you want to download the updates.
Click Start. Confirm any prompts that appears. A black window will appear showing you the downloading status. Be patient and let it complete. It can take some time. Once done, A message asking you to show you log will appear when the downloading is complete. Click Yes/No depending on your preference.
Navigate to the destination where you downloaded the updates. There will be a file named UpdateInstaller.exe. Double click it to start installing the updates. Click Start to begin the process.
Then reboot PC and TEST.
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