Windows Update Problem

[Richard C.]

Windows Update essentially just says "checking for updates" forever even overnight and never finds any. While doing so the Windows Update Service is constantly eating 15-20% of my cpu resources.

 

I am concerned I will no longer get updates as a result of this

 

Things I have tried

1. Malware / AV Scan (nothing found)

2. Using Microsoft's Windows Update Troubleshooter

3. Using System Restore to a time it last worked

4. Re-installing the Windows Update Client

5. Re-registering the DLL files for the BITS service

6. Clearing out the Windows Update cache

 

none of these solutions seem to have helped, can anyone think of anything else that might work?

 

OS: x64 8.1 Pro

 

Note: Upgrading the machine to Windows 10 is not an option, or I would of done so.

[xendrome]

This a fresh install?

 

Could you have something blocking access to the WU servers?

[Richard C.]

The install is around a year old, I have a few entries in my hosts file but emptying it didn't help so I assumed they weren't a problem

[Barney T.]

I had this the other night. It said "checking for updates" overnight and then gave me a problem error when I looked in the morning. I re-tried that afternoon and it downloaded ok, albeit slowly. I wonder if it is on Microsoft's server side?

[Sszecret]

You could try some of the methods here. I solved the updates being stuck using method no 4. 

[+warwagon]

I think A few times With Windows 8 I have had it say checking for updates forever, but then after a restart (start / restart) I opened Windows update and then it displayed all the updates. That or after clicking check updates they showed up.

[cork1958]

8 minutes ago, Sszecret said:

You could try some of the methods here. I solved the updates being stuck using method no 4. 

I know OP said they have Windows 8.1 installed, but the fix #2.2 worked for me on Windows 7.

[+warwagon]

Have you tried installing this update?

 

http://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=3172614

 

Apparently, it has a fix for long update checks. Just remember before you try to install it, restart the Windows update service and disconnect from the internet.

[Sszecret]

29 minutes ago, cork1958 said:

I know OP said they have Windows 8.1 installed, but the fix #2.2 worked for me on Windows 7.

I also have 8.1 Pro x64, and have tried the other methods, but none of them worked. Finally, tried the 4th and after about 2 and a half hours of downloading / validating / installing the updates, WU was finally working again. That's why I pointed to that particular solution.

[Richard C.]

7 hours ago, Sszecret said:

You could try some of the methods here. I solved the updates being stuck using method no 4. 

This worked a treat, thanks a lot!

[Hum]

I've had long delays too.

 

And several 'tiles' have disappeared or do not function, as Updates have installed.

 

No idea why ....

[Marujan]

try over VPN connection

[Orange Battery]

I am having the same problem on my main system and in a VM.  I have reverted to a clean VM image and this is also having problems - just continuous checking.  I will run through some of the suggestions above but am thinking its a WU Server issue.

[restroom]

I found that updating the Windows installer agent, follows by installing IE 11, if not already installed fixes this for our image. I have now changed the "first logon" batch file to install both patches automatically, so on next restart all patches come through quickly from our WSUS server.