Windows 7 will not update

windows 7windows update

I have just received my brand new computer, and have just installed Windows 7 Pro 64-bit with the necessary drivers, and all. Now I want to run Windows update, but it fails saying that the service is not running.

However, running services.mcs I can see that Background Intelligent Transfer Service and Windows Update are both set to Automatic (Delayed Start (as they should). I have tried reseting the "Windows Update Settings" and even running this scripts (and restarting… whatever). Nothing works and I always get the same error.

Any help appreciated.

** Edit **

If I change the Windows Update Settings (to any value), nothing happens when I click "Check for updates". After Windows restarts, it goes back to the "Service not running" error message.

** Update **

Here is a screen cap of the error message.enter image description here

NOTE: as I wrote, the services are running! Changing the "Windows update settings" to any value makes the error disappear… but also nothing happens. The error is displayed whenever I try to update after a restart.

** Update 2 **

Running MS WU did not find anything O_o

enter image description here

Best Answer

I encountered this once or twice. The solution for me was deleting the contents of C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution:

1) Stop BITS and Windows Update (and make sure they weren't automatically restarted).

2) Make backup of C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution.

3) Delete contents of C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution, the folder itself shall remain existing.

4) Start BITS and Windows Update.

5) Start update. (The first run will take a hell of a time, so don't panic.)

6) If everything is OK, you can delete the backup from (2).

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