Windows 7 Windows Update - 'checking for updates' - never ends and seems to do nothing

[Laika_x695]

Windows Update process is stuck on ‘checking for updates’

1. Basic System Info: Win 7 Home Premium – SP1, 64 bit OS, i7-3770 CPU, 16gb Ram, 128gb SSD with 24gb free space, multiple other HDD’s – 8tb total / 4tb free space. Internet Connection speeds – average 48mbps Upload and 18mbps download and is stable – i.e. very rarely do we have a lack of service. I have tried Windows Update using both WiFi and LAN connection.
2. System has been working fine and no known changes or updates have been applied recently save for adding a new 4tb HDD a couple of weeks ago, applying Adobe Acrobat updates, and whatever updates Norton Internet Security adds automatically.
3. Last known use of Windows update to successfully download and apply both Windows and Office updates was 17/03/2016.
4. First signs of issues arose 16/10/2016 when I selected the Windows Update process from the Notification Area - selected Important Updates (IIRC there were 48 with a total size of about 580mb) from the updates list and then proceeded with the download and install process. After several hours the usual progress indicator still showed the same message as shown at the beginning of the process. Ordinarily there is some indication of which specific update is being processed as the process proceeds, however that was not the case this time.
5. I stopped Windows Update within the application – i.e. there is a cancel updates button option IIRC
6. Shut down PC (power off) and started again 17/10/2016. Using Windows Update now presents Windows Update checking for updates and it simply remains in that state with no apparent signs that it is doing anything.
7. I have followed the advice in https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/971058 and downloaded / ran WindowsUpdateDiagnostic.diagcab
8. The error shown and not fixed from the tool is ‘Windows Update error 0x80070057 (2016-10-17-T12_54_43P)’
9. However on accessing the Detailed Information option the same error as above is presented in the listing with the additional comment ‘Resetting Windows Update data store’ and shows as ‘Fixed’ – ‘Completed’ with a green tick. Scrolling down to the Detection details section presents this:

Error Report
RootCause: RC_DataStore
ErrorCode: 0x80070057
TimeDetected: 2016-10-17-T-12:54:43P

1. I can find no information that is particularly helpful in resolving this error. I have followed the advice in this KB - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/947821 and followed the process through to the Logging section where it says: The System Update Readiness Tool creates a log file that captures any issues that the tool found or fixed. The log file is located here:

%SYSTEMROOT%\Logs\CBS\CheckSUR.log

%SYSTEMROOT%\Logs\CBS\CheckSUR.persist.log

1. CheckSUR.log details are as below:

=================================

Checking System Update Readiness.

Binary Version 6.1.7601.22471

Package Version 26.0

2016-10-17 11:12



Checking Windows Servicing Packages



Checking Package Manifests and Catalogs



Checking Package Watchlist



Checking Component Watchlist



Checking Packages



Checking Component Store



Summary:

Seconds executed: 140

No errors detected

1. CheckSUR.persist.log

=================================

Checking System Update Readiness.

Binary Version 6.1.7601.22471

Package Version 26.0

2016-10-17 11:12



Checking Windows Servicing Packages



Checking Package Manifests and Catalogs



Checking Package Watchlist



Checking Component Watchlist



Checking Packages



Checking Component Store



Summary:

Seconds executed: 140

No errors detected

As you can see there are no errors reported.

1. Once again I shut down the PC, turned power off, left for a few minutes, powered up – checked Services and Windows Update Service had started.
2. In Control Panel – Windows Update shows with a Red Cross and comment ‘Check for Updates to your computer’ and additional text ‘Most recent check for updates – Never’ and ‘Updates were installed – Never’. This is plainly incorrect and contradicted by the Installed Updates listing accessible from the same screen as per screen below. It appears Windows Update has lost the plot somehow.
3. Select ‘Check for Updates’ button and the same ‘checking for updates’ is presented – i.e. same issue as originally.
4. If I view Installed Updates there are a number of MS Office Professional Plus updates which are stated as installed on 16/10/2016 but there are no MS Windows updates with an installed date > 17/03/2016 (except Hotfix for Windows (KB947821),10/17/2016 10:15:17 which is from Step 10 above).
5. If I leave Windows Update running and check Task Manager, ‘wuauserv’ is Running. Average CPU usage is 12.48 % for the service with all other services either at 0.00 or negligible (e.g. 0.02%).
6. After 2+ hours the process is still running – I checked the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download folder, there are no files (i.e. its an empty folder).
7. I Stopped wuauserv – Task Manager / Services / Stopped
8. I ran sfc/scannow from the command prompt – no issues reported
9. Re-ran Windows Update Troubleshooting tool – same result as in 8 & 9 above
10. There is a Zip file in C:\Users\Graeme Evans\AppData\Local\ElevatedDiagnostics\2560293460 latest.cab 29,113kb. It contains a number of xml files and a large zip file (approx 30-35mb) named ‘DataStoreAndWULogfiles’. One presumes there is information in these files that may be of some use in diagnosing the problem.
11. Powered down – restarted – at approx. 2000 hours on 17/10/2016, chose Windows Update from Control Panel and left to run over night. Checked at 0730 hours on 18/10/2016 – still ‘Checking for Updates
12. C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download folder, there are two files – ‘14d19c27b28cc3990260d7191f6e0ff6c7483623’ 15kb and ‘c3248eb572cb5f82e63ce9c6d73cfbf39b1052ae’ 39kb A number of other folders and files exist in C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\ - such as AuthCabs, DataStore, EventCache, SelfUpdate and WURedir. Most contain small log and cab files.
13. 18/10/2016 approx 0815 - Ran Windows Update Troubleshooter as per https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/kb/2714434 - output.txt file details shown below:

Proxy : Direct access (no proxy server).

Last Installed Update :Hotfix for Windows (KB947821),10/17/2016 10:15:17

Last Displayed Message :2016-10-18 08:34:01:921 1268 2234 Agent WARNING: Failed to add and register service 7971f918-a847-4430-9279-4a52d1efe18d to the data store 0x80240031

Language settings :en-US

bits : Running

wuauserv : Running

WORKGROUP :EVAHOME

Windows Update Agent Version : Not Found

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP: 1

CPU Type : x64

OS Architecture :64-bit

1. windowsupdate.log 18/10/2016 08:34 contains a number of references to ‘fatal’ – e.g.

FATAL: UH: 0x80070490: EvaluateApplicability failed in CCbs::EvaluateApplicability

FATAL: UH: 0x80070490: EvaluateApplicability failed in CCbs::EvaluateApplicability

WARNING: failed to access the auth cab, fatal error 0x80070003

WARNING: Failed to add and register service 7971f918-a847-4430-9279-4a52d1efe18d to the data store 0x80240031


What do you need from me to help advise on a way to resolve this issue?



Thanks in advance.

Graeme

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