This can be a common problem and has varying reasons that can be the cause. After recently having the problem and investigating the issue I came across numerous blog posts, articles, forum threads each making different suggestions which ended up in a very lengthy trial and error process.
This post is intended to be as conclusive as possible.
The Problem – Checking for Updates
When opening Windows Update and clicking Check for updates
the status stays on Checking for updates
and when monitoring processes in Task Manager the SVCHOST.EXE process consumes a large amount of memory and utilises between 50-100% CPU.
The Windows Update Automatic Update Service WUAUSERV is the thread of the SVCHOST.exe that consumes the CPU and Memory, when the service is stopped the memory and CPU utilisation return to normal and Windows Update stops checking for updates.
When the windows update process is left for a long period of time (several hours) the status remains unchanged, windows updates is still checking for updates and CPU and memory utilisation are also unchanged. When investigating the windowsupdate.log no recent information is written to the log file.
The Solutions
As previously mentioned there are varying reasons that can be the cause of the issue and therefore there are multiple solutions. However, there is a logical order to each solution, with the first steps being the least invasive and most likely to resolve the problem.
1. The Basics
I call this the basics, because, well, they really are the basics.
You should perform a full system scan using your anti-virus program to rule out the possibility of malware causing the problem.
Continue to step 2 before checking for updates again.
2. Download the latest update for the windows update client
This should be the first step in the troubleshooting process, especially if your windows 7 operating system is a fresh or new installation and this is the first time you are checking for windows updates.
The Windows update catalog for windows 7 is now very extensive, the increased size of the catalog has introduced some problems for the windows update client which have been addressed in updates for the client. In normal behavior the Windows Update Client will usually download updates for itself before it begins to download other updates, however, with this problem this update does not always occur.
You should always download and install the latest update to the Windows Update Client for best results.
The latest available update (June 2016) is included in the following Rollup Pack:
Below are the direct links to Microsoft’s download centre for the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the update.
checking for installed updates
To stop windows from checking for updates, stop the WUAUSERV service using the task manager.
After successfully installing the update, run windows update again. If the status stays on “Checking for Updates” for an excessively long period of time and the CPU and memory utilisation for svchost.exe are still unusually high, continue to step 3.
3. Microsoft Fix It
Microsoft Fix It is a service Microsoft provided as a form of self-service. The tools are designed as simple wizards to resolve common problems with specific products or services.
You can use the following link to download the Microsoft Fix It tool for the windows updates service.
If you’d prefer to download the Microsoft Fix It tool from Microsoft’s website you can visit the following link:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/kb/971058
Once downloaded, run the tool as administrator and follow the wizard, the tool will attempt to detect and fix any issues with the Windows Update service.
After successfully running the Fix It tool, run windows updates again. If the status stays on “Checking for Updates” for an excessively long period of time and the CPU and memory utilisation for svchost.exe are still unusually high, continue to step 4.
4. Minor Reset
This is a minor reset of the Windows Update service, it removes any files that may be corrupted and causing issues with the update process. You should consider this before resorting to a full manual reset of the windows update service.
To perform a minor reset:
Run windows updates again. If the status stays on Checking for Updates
for an excessively long period of time (after a minor reset several people have reported the update check taking in excess of 8 hours) and the CPU and memory utilisation for svchost.exe are still unusually high, continue to step 5.
5. Full Windows Update Reset
This is an in-depth process and completely resets the Windows Updates components and it’s dependencies.
Microsoft has this process very well documented and you should follow the steps clearly outlined in the following knowledge base article:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/kb/971058
6. Repair Windows System Files
It’s possible that the Windows Update service cannot connect to Microsoft’s update services due to corrupted system files.
To repair Windows system files, you can either:
If after you have exhausted the list of solutions in this post, my final recommendation is that you consider re-installing Windows, after successfully re-installing windows, you should perform steps 1 and 2 in this post before checking for updates.
Thanks helpful
Step 4 + KB3135445 (as people in the comments mentioned) helped!
Hello,
Solution 4 worked for me, thank you very much!
Regards
I tried step2 with KB3172605 and I got an error stating that the update was not compatible with my win7 64 bit, I then tried step 2 with KB3135445, this installed and required a reboot. Once the Laptop rebooted hey presto I ran windows update “Check for Updates” and within 30 mins it told me there were 209 updates to apply. The laptop is currently installing the updates and is at 115 of 205.
Thanks to all for the hints/pointers
Kriss
I’ve used your tips above on my own windows 7 rebuild with great success (thanks so much for that).
I’m now trying to sort out neighbours laptop Win7 64 bit, which was suffering from the checking for updates problem. Step 2 appeared to sort it, many updates came thru and were installed correctly, repeated the check for updates, more came thru, installed correctly. Finally, having repeated check for third time, KB3177467 came thru, got the “preparing to install” text displayed, then system just stayed in that state for 40+minutes. I then repeated the check for updates, same KB3177467 reported, then “”preparing to install”, situation repeated.
Any clues please ??
Regards (and thanks again for your great tips)
Big thanks to downstairs for KB3135445,
minor reset + KB3135445 = problem solved
Step two also worked for me, with an additional step.
When running the standalone update executable it seems to hang on “Searching for updates” too. If you stop the Windows Update service and then run the executable it appears to skip the “Serching for updates” step, and proceeds with the install.
Bingo! Thank You so much I don’t recall seeing this valuable suggestion anywhere else, might have been done two days ago had I known this.
Thank you very much! This solved the problem and I learned a few new tricks.
Number 4 worked. Thank you. Dowlnloading updates now.
#3 Worked for me. I tried a lot of sites, with a lot of solutions. This worked. Great and thanks a lot!!!
#2 worked. Thanks! The hint to turn off the WUAUSERV was the key that other sites missed, but you nailed it
Thanks! step #2 did work for me.
Did a reninstall and couldn’t get updates to work. Tried #2 and it worked for me. I have been trying for months to get it working so a Big Thanks for the great help!
I just recently reinstalled Windows 7 on my computer and now I’m having this exact problem and I feel like I’ve been all over the internet trying to solve it and absolutely nothing has worked. I’m beginning to have a meltdown over here.
Step 2 and Step 3 did not work for me (even when downloading the correct file in step 2, it says that it isn’t applicable for my version of windows, and when trying to resolve step 3 it goes all the way through and tells me it resolves some issues but at the top it still says “Not Fixed” and “Windows update error 0x8024402C(2016-11-09-T-02_14_31A) , I’m following step 4 all up until I’m supposed to remove or rename those two folders, neither of which works because apparently files in them are occupied by all manner of processes, at least one of I can’t even close (That process is called “Group Policy Client”).
I’m going completely crazy here with no resolutions doing anything. I just want to windows update so my computer can work normally. Can someone please help?
I have to say steps two and three were the most helpful thanks for the info
[…] Windows 7 stuck on “Checking For Updates” […]
Thank you Kriss! Your recommended solution in step-by-step format is well laid-out and easy to follow. In my case I needed to run both steps 2 and 3 for my desktop and notebook and this worked well on both units. I tried several other suggested solutions and none were effective.
Thanks again! JC
Number 2 worked for me, thanks very much for your help. My PC is back to normal, phew! The PC installed a lot of updates, but one failed, and that was the October “rolled up” update. I tried a second time, but it still failed. Any ideas?
dude…
thank you so much for this. I’ve had this issue for awhile and tried other “solutions” but this got me sorted out. Downloading the updates as i type.
You the man.
After months of no updates and many attempted online “fixes”, your suggestions finally got things working. Thank-you!
You are a genius!!! I have been trying for 3 weeks to fix Window update without success. Finally step 4 worked. Thanks again.
Thanks, Kriss. I’ve been working on this on and off since May 2016. #2 seems to be the magic number! I can’t believe my laptop’s update is actually working again and found it’s 33 updates in just a few minutes. Kudos, You the Man!
Thanks a lot. Number 2 worked for me. You are a life saver.
Shame on MS.
Kriss,
I don’t know how to thank you enough. Perhaps if there is anything Kind that I can tell you, its this ~ ” Had you been in Microsoft, there would be a lot of people who wouldn’t have to suffer like me ”
Why is it that Windows 7 Owners have to suffer this ordeal every month ? Is it some kind of vengeance of Microsoft that we didn’t feel the need to upgrade to Windows 10 ? Gone are the days when Updates used to be a routine matter for us. And now its a nightmare ! Thank you for being around and helping us. For me #2 worked. Thanks once again Kriss
Thank you so much, I almost give up then I stumbled upon your blog it was a game changer. Step 4 worked for me except when I went back to step2 to update I was getting an error that the update was not compatible with my win7P64 bit then I just tried file KB3135445 then I saw a LIGHT.
Once again Thank you and be blessed.
Thank you so, so much. How/where can I send you a gift? seriously.
Windows Update kept searching for updates indefinitely and occasionally the error message 80080005 would appear. After trying several other suggestions from various websites (registry tweak, command prompt entries, MSCONFIG edits, trying to manually install Windows catalog updates, etc..), I followed Step 2 and now Windows Update is finally working. It’s difficult to say whether some of the previous steps in combination with this one, or just Step 2 of this guide solved the problem. Regardless, I’d recommend that people start with the solutions presented on this site first.
Thank you. step 2 worked fine for me, in both of my computers. Details: to stop wuauserv, the normal [services] section of Task Manager didn’t let me, I had to access the other [services] via the button at lower right corner.
A search for KB3172605 returned the news that MS has recently released a newer version, maybe you could evaluate it?
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3172605
Thank you again, very clear, concise and extremely useful.
Thanks for this Kriss. Found your advice after a bit of a search and after a few failed attempts to fix the problem. After section 2 above Windows Update now fit and working again. More power to your elbow!
Thanks!! Tried a lot of different alternatives on other sites before I stumbled upon your blog. Step 2 worked for me. 🙂