windows update issue

donnajunkie

i find windows update takes an absolute age to search for updates. whenever it eventually finishes and finds something the update does not work. it starts and then stops and it says update canceled. or it sometimes appears to be going through the motions but does not download or install. i cant help thinking it is something to do with my norton security because i have had all sorts of issues with it. is there a setting i can change to fix it? or is the only solution to get rid of norton? or do you think its nothing to do with norton?

Neil_Jones

Windows Update has been broken in Windows Vista and Windows 7 for months, the latter has a cumulative update you can get to avoid a large chunk of this, but the former you're out of luck. You're not the first and you won't be the last. It may clear after the Windows 10 Upgrade window ends next month but time will tell.

donnajunkie

Neil_Jones wrote: »

Windows Update has been broken in Windows Vista and Windows 7 for months, the latter has a cumulative update you can get to avoid a large chunk of this, but the former you're out of luck. You're not the first and you won't be the last. It may clear after the Windows 10 Upgrade window ends next month but time will tell.

I have vista. I was worried it was Norton blocking it. When I installed Norton it immediately forced Windows defender to turn off. No other security has done this.

Oblivion

donnajunkie wrote: »

I have vista. I was worried it was Norton blocking it. When I installed Norton it immediately forced Windows defender to turn off. No other security has done this.

The problem is nothing to do with Norton. This is a Microsoft issue and is being experienced by many users who have Vista or 7. My theory (call it conspiracy theory if you like) is that in their fanatical attempts to get everyone to downgrade to Windows 10, they are deliberately throttling access to the update servers for Vista and 7 owners.

Chrishazle

I've just upgraded to a new SSD (primary boot drive), done a clean Win 7 install - Win update does not work, I've Googled and tried a few suggested fixes but so far no joy. Managed to get a couple of updates to install, but most of the suggested fixes I download, when I try to run the I get a box "Searching for updates on this computer" - and nothing happens.

Lorian

Here is the Windows 7 Roll-up patch. Pick the right version.

Yes its quite big but after a clean install this will move you a long way towards being up to date.

http://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=KB3125574

Top one is for x86 versions, bottom for x64

donnajunkie

Oblivion wrote: »

The problem is nothing to do with Norton. This is a Microsoft issue and is being experienced by many users who have Vista or 7. My theory (call it conspiracy theory if you like) is that in their fanatical attempts to get everyone to downgrade to Windows 10, they are deliberately throttling access to the update servers for Vista and 7 owners.

I would rather get a new PC than mess about upgrading an operating system. My PC is almost 9 years old now anyway.

GunJack

Lorian wrote: »

Here is the Windows 7 Roll-up patch. Pick the right version.

Yes its quite big but after a clean install this will move you a long way towards being up to date.

http://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=KB3125574

Top one is for x86 versions, bottom for x64

these roll-ups are for post-Service Pack 1, download and install the stand-alone SP1 first

Sam_Fallow

I too have noticed the long wait time for W7 updates. I just switched off the updates and will leave them off until the W10 free window has closed.

Chrishazle

Update re mine. Having tried quite a few patches, links for manual downloads etc, I left my PC searching Windows Update from about 3pm yesterday afternoon, having set things so nothing went to sleep, screen saver would not kick in, and left the machine on (display off) overnight. Came down about 9.30 this morning to "261 updates available, 1798.6Mb"!! (OK, that's the clean install of Win 7 SP1 and MS Office). Thankfully I'm on fibre, so 2 hours later it's downloaded all the updates and is installing update 145 of 261.

donnajunkie

The updates that were not happening happened today but then the PC did its daily check for updates and it says there are new updates available but I am pretty sure they are the same as those that installed today.