Windows 81 Taking Forever to Load Again

sdx15/Shutterstock.com

For the most part, Windows Update works silently in the background. It downloads updates automatically, installs the ones it can, and saves others to install when y'all restart Windows. But sometimes it breaks and stops working. Hither'southward how to fix Windows Update when information technology gets stuck or frozen.

1. Try running the Windows Update Troubleshooter, which you can search for in the Start menu.
2. If that doesn't help, you can try deleting Windows Update's cache by booting into Safety Style, stopping the wuauserv service, and deleting the files in C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution.
3. If all else fails, download updates manually using the WSUS Offline Update tool.

This can happen on Windows 7, 8, ten, or 11, only it's become peculiarly common with Windows 7. Sometimes updates will error out, or sometimes Windows Update may simply get stuck "searching for updates" forever. Here's how to fix Windows Update

Alarm: Windows updates are of import. No matter what troubles y'all're having, nosotros recommend keeping automated updates turned on — information technology's one of the best means to keep yourself rubber from ransomware and other threats. If you turn automatic updates off, you lot are leaving yourself vulnerable to new attacks.

Prepare Windows Update with a Troubleshooter on Windows 11

Windows includes a congenital-in troubleshooter that may be able to help ready a stuck update. Information technology'south the easiest method to try, and then go alee and run information technology kickoff. The troubleshooter will bank check for problems that could crusade Windows Update to fail — similar incorrect security settings, missing or corrupted files, or issues with services.

All mod versions of Windows utilise the aforementioned troubleshooter, but the process for accessing it varies slightly between Windows versions. In Windows 11, it can be constitute in Settings > Troubleshoot > Other Troubleshooters.

Click Kickoff, type "Settings" into the search bar, and and then striking Enter. Roll down until you run across "Troubleshoot" and click that.

Click "Other Troubleshooters" inside the "Troubleshoot" window.

Other Troubleshooters collects virtually of the troubleshooters Windows comes with into one location. We're looking for a troubleshooter labeled "Windows Update." If you've never used it before, you'll demand to scroll downwardly a bit to find information technology. Otherwise, it might be in your "Frequents" list. Once you discover it, click "Run."

Once the troubleshooter starts, follow the on-screen recommendations.

Set up Windows Update with a Troubleshooter on any Version of Windows

This troubleshooter is available on Windows vii, 8, 10, and 11. It is accessible through the Control Console in all versions of Windows equally of March 2022.

To run the troubleshooter, click the Commencement button, search for "troubleshooting," and and so run the "Troubleshooting" shortcut by clicking it or pressing Enter if it's highlighted.

In the Control Console list of troubleshooters, in the "System and Security" section, click "Fix problems with Windows Update."

In the Windows Update troubleshooting window, click "Advanced."

In the advanced settings, make certain that the "Utilize repairs automatically" check box is enabled, click "Run as administrator" and so click Next. Giving the tool administrative privileges helps ensure that it can delete files in the download cache.

The troubleshooter works through its process and then lets you know whether it could place and fix the trouble. Most of the time, the troubleshooter can successfully remove a stuck update from the queue. Go ahead and try running Windows Update again. Fifty-fifty if the troubleshooter says it couldn't identify the problem, it's possible that the actions of starting and stopping the service and immigration out the cache did the trick.

Fix Windows Update past Deleting Its Cache Manually

If you're still having trouble after running the troubleshooter (or if you're the type that just likes to practice things yourself), performing the same actions manually may assistance where the troubleshooter didn't. Nosotros're also going to add the extra step of booting into Rubber Mode showtime, just to brand sure that Windows can really let go of that cache of Windows Update downloads.

RELATED: How to Boot Into Condom Style on Windows 10 or 8 (The Easy Way)

Kickoff off past booting Windows into Safe Style. On Windows 7, restart your figurer and press the "F8" key on your computer while information technology boots to access the kicking options menu, where you'll detect a "Safe Mode" choice. On Windows 8, 10, and 11 agree down the Shift central every bit you click the "Restart" choice in Windows and navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Windows Startup Settings > Restart > Safe Mode.

It's a little more than cumbersome than it used to be on the latest versions of Windows, just information technology's still reasonably straightforward. Of course, if you lot desire, you could also take some time to add Safe Manner to the Windows boot card to brand information technology easier in the time to come.

When yous've booted into Safe Mode, the next step is to stop the Windows Update service, and the easiest way to do that is with the Command Prompt. To launch the Command Prompt in Windows vii, open the Beginning menu, search for "Command Prompt", and launch the Command Prompt shortcut. You'll too observe it under Start > All Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt. In Windows 8, 10, or xi you can right-click the Kickoff menu (or printing Windows+X), choose "Command Prompt (Admin)" so click Yes to allow it to run with administrative privileges.

At the Control Prompt, blazon the following command and and then striking Enter to cease the Windows Update service. Go ahead and leave the Command Prompt window open.

internet stop wuauserv

Next, open up a File Explorer window and navigate to C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution . Delete all the files in the folder. Don't worry. There's nothing vital here. Windows Update will recreate what it needs the next time yous run it.

At present, you lot'll restart the Windows Update service. Return to the Command Prompt window, type the post-obit, and hit Enter:

net start wuauserv

When the service has restarted, you can shut Command Prompt and restart Windows into normal way. Give Windows Update another try and see if your problem has been stock-still.

Windows 7: Update the Windows Update Service

RELATED: Where to Download Windows 10, eight.1, and 7 ISOs Legally

If you're installing Windows 7 from scratch, you'll notice that Windows Update will take a very long fourth dimension while checking for updates. This can also occur if you oasis't checked for updates in a while, even if you installed your Windows 7 arrangement long ago. This occurs fifty-fifty if you install Windows 7 from a disc or USB drive with Service Pack 1 integrated, which you lot should. Microsoft's official Windows seven installation media downloads includes SP1.

Microsoft has now provided official instructions about how to fix this problem. According to Microsoft, this trouble occurs because Windows Update itself needs an update, creating a bit of a catch-22. If the latest updates to Windows Update are installed, the process should work meliorate.

Here are Microsoft's official instructions for fixing the problem.

Beginning, open Windows Update. Caput to Control Panel > Organisation and Security > Windows Update. Click the "Alter Settings" link in the sidebar. Select "Never Check For Updates (Not Recommended)" in the dropdown box and and so click "OK".

Reboot your computer after you change this setting.

RELATED: How Do I Know if I'thou Running 32-chip or 64-flake Windows?

After the computer restarts, y'all'll demand to manually download and install ii updates for Windows vii. You lot'll need to cheque whether y'all're running a 32-scrap version of Windows or a 64-bit version and download the advisable updates for your PC.

For 64-chip editions of Windows vii, download these updates:

• KB3020369, April 2015 servicing stack update for Windows vii (64-bit version)
• KB3172605, July 2016 update rollup for Windows 7 SP1 (64-chip version)

For 32-bit editions of Windows 7:, download these updates:

• KB3020369, Apr 2015 servicing stack update for Windows 7 (32-bit version)
• KB3172605, July 2016 update rollup for Windows vii SP1 (32-bit version)

Double-click the "KB3020369" update to install information technology first.

Subsequently the first update finishes installing, double-click the "KB3172605" update to install it second. You'll be asked to restart the reckoner as part of the installation process. Subsequently it restarts, Microsoft says you lot should wait ten to twelve minutes to allow the process to terminate.

When you're washed–remember to wait ten to twelve minutes later restarting–caput back to the Windows Update dialog at Command Panel > Organization and Security > Windows Update. Click "Change Settings" and set it dorsum to Automatic (or choose your desired setting).

Click "Check for Updates" to accept Windows bank check for and install updates. According to Microsoft, this should have stock-still your problems and Windows Update should now work normally without any long delays.

Windows seven: Get the Convenience Rollup

RELATED: How to Update Windows 7 All at One time with Microsoft'south Convenience Rollup

Microsoft has likewise produced a "convenience rollup" for Windows 7. This is substantially Windows 7 Service Pack 2 in all but name. It bundles together a large number of updates that would have a very long fourth dimension to install unremarkably. This package includes updates released from February 2011 all the way to May 16, 2016.

To speed up the updating of a new Windows vii system, download the convenience rollup and install it rather than waiting for Windows Update. Unfortunately, Microsoft doesn't offer the update rollup through Windows Update–you accept to become out of your way to get it. But information technology'southward easy enough to install if you know information technology exists and know y'all have to go looking for it later yous install Windows 7.

In that location will be much fewer updates to install via Windows Update after you install this, so the process should exist much faster. Check out our instructions on installing the Convenience Rollup here.

Windows vii, 8, or ten: Download Updates Manually WSUS Offline Update

Update, 3/11/22: WSUS Offline Update has removed support for Windows vii in Version 12. If you're however using Windows vii, older versions of WSUS tin can withal be downloaded. WSUS does non support Windows eleven.

If none of the official solutions stock-still your problem, we have another solution that's worked for united states of america in the by. It'due south a third-party tool chosen WSUS Offline Update.

This tool will download available Windows Update packages from Microsoft and install them. Run it in one case, accept it download those updates and install them, and Windows Update should work normally later on. This has worked for united states of america in the past when none of the other solutions did.

Download WSUS Offline Update, extract it to a folder, and run the UpdateGenerator.exe awarding.

Select the version of Windows you're using–"x64 Global" if you lot're using a 64-fleck edition or "x86 Global" if you lot're using a 32-fleck edition. After you exercise, click "Start" and WSUS Offline Update volition download updates.

Wait for the updates download. If it'southward a fresh install of Windows vii, at that place will be a lot of updates, so this may accept quite a while. It depends on the speed of your Internet connection and how fast Microsoft's download servers are for you.

Subsequently the updates are done downloading, open the "customer" binder in the WSUS Offline binder and run the UpdateInstaller.exe awarding.

Click "First" to install the downloaded updates. Later the tool finishes installing the updates, Windows Update should work commonly over again.

This should hopefully become a bit easier in the future. In October 2016, Microsoft announced that it was making changes to the style Windows 7 and 8.1 are "serviced", or updated. Microsoft plans to release fewer modest updates and more bundles of large updates. It will besides brainstorm combining previous updates into a monthly update rollup. This will mean fewer private updates to install, and updating newly installed Windows vii systems should become faster over time.

Download Updates from Microsoft Manually

If you lot're using Windows 11, or the other methods don't work for you for some reason, you lot can always download updates from Microsoft manually.

You starting time demand to find out what updates have been released for your operating organisation. A comprehensive listing of updates can be found on Microsoft'southward help site. For example, if you are looking for Windows xi's updates, type "Windows eleven Update History" into the search bar and hit Enter. The first result is probably the i you want — it should be exactly the same as your search term.

The update history folio displays every update that has been issued for the operating arrangement on the left-manus side. Clicking one will give you more detailed data about what precisely the update does, when it was issued, and if it has whatever installation requirements.

Note: The update proper noun will unremarkably be KB followed by some numbers, though that isn't always true.

Place the update(s) you desire to download, and then roll down the page until you lot find a section titled "Install This Update." In that location will be a section that contains a link to the Windows Update Catalog. Click the link, and you lot'll exist taken to the specific update you demand.

Look at the list and make up one's mind which version of the update y'all need — if you're using a desktop computer, it is definitely the one "for x64-based systems." If you take a laptop or tablet, you'll need to check what CPU you have. As of March 2022, there are no AMD or Intel ARM-based CPUs, and then if information technology is made by either of them, you can safely use the x64 update. If you see Qualcomm, you definitely need the ARM update.

Click "Download" for the correct update.

Note: If yous download the wrong update, you won't harm your estimator. It'll just refuse to install.

Click the file name in the popup to brainstorm the download, and then wait — Windows updates are regularly several hundred megabytes, so it might have a few minutes.

Striking Ctrl+j to open your downloads, and then click the file you just downloaded. It'll check your organization, and then offer you a prompt to let the installation; go ahead and click "Yep."

In one case the installation is complete yous need to restart your calculator for the update to take upshot.

If you're going to manually install updates, you lot'll need to be pretty diligent about it. At that place are new vulnerabilities discovered every day, and keeping Windows updated is one of the best things you lot can do to protect yourself.

mcduffieanall1979.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.howtogeek.com/247380/how-to-fix-windows-update-when-it-gets-stuck/

Share this post