For all systems of the Windows family, service packs are installed. And the seventh version, although it is considered the most stable of all existing ones, did not become an exception. However, and she first sets the search. Updating Windows 7 can go on forever for various reasons. Consider all aspects related to this. The solutions proposed below help to eliminate an unpleasant situation in 99% of cases. And they are all simple enough to be used even by the most inexperienced user in matters of setting up the system. But first things first.
Why is the search for updates endlessly (Windows 7)?
We begin our consideration of the main issue by clarifying the causes of violations in the operation of the update service. Among the main root causes, most experts point out malfunctions of the “Update Center” itself and the system services that are involved in this process.
Now situations with viral exposure will not be considered, since each user must take care of protecting his computer. Let's see how to fix the endless Windows 7 update on our own. There are at least three ways to do this.
Windows 7: endless update. Diagnostics of the “Update Center” by means of the system
Since the endless process of searching for update packages is associated with the Center, it is logical to assume that this service needs to be checked for operability.
If you use the software tools of the system itself, the problem of updating Windows 7 indefinitely is eliminated through the integrated debugger. You can call it from the Run console (Win + R) by entering the string msdt / id WindowsUpdateDiagnostic, after which a window appears in which you should use the link to additional settings. In the new window, first you need to install a “bird” opposite the permission to automatically apply corrections, click on the launch link as administrator and click the continue button. After that, it remains to wait for the end of the diagnostic process, go to the "Update Center" and set a manual search with subsequent confirmation of the installation.
Diagnosing problems using a special utility
If someone doesn’t like the method suggested above or just too lazy to delve into the debugger settings, you can go the other way.
A small program called WindowsUpdateDiagnostic should be downloaded from the official Microsoft website or any other proven resource. By the way, it is also suitable for more recent versions of the system.
After the first start of the utility, select the line of the update center and activate the troubleshooting. They will be displayed in the results, which may indicate problems with the drivers or with the hard drive. Please note: the program does not fix the problem in Windows 7. An infinite update is only determined and its possible cause is indicated. So you have to install the driver or check the hard drive yourself.
Drivers can be installed from the “Device Manager”, but this is too long a process. It is better to use automated tools like Driver Booster with automatic search and integration of drivers into the system.
Download standalone update package
If the problem persists, you still have to pay attention to the “Update Center” of Windows 7. You can fix the endless search in another way.
To do this, you need to download the so-called stand-alone package with the number KB3102810 to the computer, selecting the bit capacity (32 or 64 bits) when downloading the system. Download the package, again, you can either on the Microsoft website or on another resource. But this is only half the battle.
Stopping the Update Center service
In Windows 7, an endless update can only be fixed if the service itself, which is responsible for finding and installing updates, is deactivated. You can try to complete the active process in the "Task Manager", but, as a rule, this will not lead to anything, and the service will be activated again.
It can be completely disabled only in the corresponding services section, which is accessed through the services.msc command, which is entered in the corresponding Run menu bar.
Here you need to find the update center line, right-click to bring up the context menu and select the stop operation command.
In order not to rummage through the services directory, you can use the command line with administrator privileges (cmd in the Run console), where the net stop wuauserv combination should be written.
Installation of the package and manual search for updates
Now the most basic thing is installing a standalone package. We start it with the standard double click on the downloaded file and agree with the installation proposal.
After that, the installation process starts. Upon completion, you will need to restart the computer. If, however, errors occurred in the process of integrating the package into the system, it means that something was done wrong at the stage of disabling the update service. Repeat these steps and run the installer again. In addition, it is possible that the installation file for the stand-alone package was not fully downloaded (this also happens). In this case, as already clear, you need to repeat its download or download from another source.
When the package is successfully installed, and the system is rebooted, you should go to the “Update Center” and use the manual update search.
If all else fails
Finally, if none of the above helps, in Windows 7 you can remove endless updates by installing the UpdatePack 7 Live service pack (build version 07/31/2016).
Upon completion of its integration into the system, the search for updates will automatically start. It is very likely that a lot of them will be found (in some cases, their number can reach two hundred or more). You should not be surprised, because, in fact, after installing the package, the user receives an almost “clean” system in which updates were not installed.
Note: you can install this pack only on top of the existing Service Pack 1. If it is not there, the updater will not install. The way out is the installation of SP1 (at least even from the official Microsoft website).
Conclusion
As you can see, there is nothing particularly critical in this problem. It is eliminated quite simply by all the proposed methods. It goes without saying that such solutions apply exclusively to a system in which there are no potentially dangerous or active threats that can cause disruption to the Windows Update Service or block it. In all other cases, such solutions help. In the matter of preferences, the user himself decides what to do, although you can use comprehensive diagnostics first, and only then install a stand-alone package or service pack. Which of them to choose? Actually, absolutely no difference. Yes, and the opinions of users about installing either one or another update differ, so you have to decide for yourself.