I can't get Windows updates to install, even after letting it run overnight. I read the post from July about the problem, but am wondering if there is any new information available.

http://www.gameboomers.com/forum/ubbthre...ate#Post1074895

I would like to know, too. I am running Windows 7 Pro and the last time I was able to get updates to download was the end of August. We were thinking of doing a reformat, trying to fix the problem, but haven't done so yet. This computer was purchased this year and doesn't even have that much on it. Prior to August, I had downloaded 95 updates or so with no problem.

I've done a lot of searching and found that some people just stopped trying to update. Maybe it is a plot to get us all to switch to Win 10.

Yes, Microsoft has messed up Windows updates for Windows 7 again. They actually provide "rollups" now instead of individual updates, but you need a recent update to get Windows 7 to connect.

You can try following the information here
http://plugable.com/2016/06/08/windows-7-wont-update-what-to-do/

I've given up trying to update Windows 7. I avoid using Windows 7 online, and if I have to use it for a particular website, I go directly to that website and don't "browse" to unknown websites. I use a version of Linux for looking things up on the Internet -- something that takes less than 30 seconds to update (when it has an update) and doesn't give me a bunch of BS like Windows does -- sitting there overnight doing nothing.

IMO Microsoft has reneged on their agreement to support Windows 7 with security updates until 2020. They're trying to push everyone over to Windows 10, where they can force ads and "telemetry" on home users and sell the information.


It would be a waste of time. In fact, fresh installs of Windows 7 will have even worse problems -- more to catch up on with no way to do it through Windows Update because Microsoft has changed their update servers (and continues to do so).

How-To-Geek has an article on how to update Windows 7 starting from a fresh install
http://www.howtogeek.com/255435/how-to-u...enience-rollup/
Microsoft has made the process too difficult to understand for the average home user.

Thank you as always for all of that useful information, Jenny. We won't waste our time with a reformat, then. Much appreciated.

A Windows 10 install CD came with this computer and eventually that is what we will do - there really won't be any other choice as far as Windows is concerned.

My system installed 3 updates 2 days ago, 2 of which were some "roll up" type.

I haven't had any issues with Windows 7 updates either. But then I haven't booted that drive up in about 3 or 4 weeks. I will try and see what happens.

Thanks, Jenny. That makes the situation a bit clearer. Microsoft has left us with a mess. I don't think I want to try to fix it now, but will wait and see if anything develops. I am a careful browser, though I am missing my WOT, which was some help.

We have two computers using Win 7 and both have the update problem.

You might want to consider uBlock Origin if you don't have it already.
NoScript is also good if you don't mind training it which websites you want to allow scripting on.

Perhaps this will help : Windows Update Agent

I booted up my Windows 7 drive and all the updates - more than I thought as it has been longer than I remembered since I booted to this drive - went perfectly. I still wonder if something else Jenny mentioned in another thread has anything to do with it - my operating systems are all from original Microsoft disks in computers I built.

Draclvr, would you mind checking your installed updates and see if you have KB3172605, which should have been installed in July? It is supposed to be an important update and I don't see it on my installed list.

Windows Updates are behaving normally for me ....
But I have "Windows 7 Enterprise 64-bit SP1" so maybe that's why ??
[KB3172605 was installed on my Win7 machine September 15th.]

I mostly use my PCs for game playing and have no intention (at present anyway) of EVER having a machine with a Win10 OS - unless my Son in Law can somehow tweak one for me so splendidly that I don't notice it's Win10 !!

And with that in mind I've been keeping up with garnering games that will play on Win7, WinXP and Win98 (the latter from GOG).
So, with the stuff I already have in my permanent game collection and what else I might still be able to find, plus what I can play on my iPad, I think I will be able to manage games-wise for the rest of my game playing days

When I go back to Windows 7, it feels so primitive. I could never go back permanently. Windows 10 certainly has it's issues, but I love it. In less than 3 years you will have to take your Window 7 computer off the internet as it will no longer receive security updates.

I will check for that update, Pokey.

Mad, thanks for checking. I believe that is the update I need to get updates working. It should have been installed on July 30, when I updated,

Last night, when I shut down my computer,I got the notice that an update was installing. I don't have auto updates selected, so that is strange. It was KB3177186, It addresses a Windows Journal note-taking app that Microsoft wants to get rid of as it is a security risk.

"When I go back to Windows 7, it feels so primitive. I could never go back permanently. Windows 10 certainly has it's issues, but I love it. In less than 3 years you will have to take your Window 7 computer off the internet as it will no longer receive security updates."

Yes. I realise that, Draclvr, which is the reason why I'm continuing to amass games that I'll be able to play (on all three of my machines) without requiring internet connection.

Plus I don't in the least mind "primitive".

And there are other ways of gaining internet access if my Son in Law can't tweak Win10 to my satisfaction

Do you have "never check for updates" selected? Because in the past Windows Update has been known to download and install updates without notifying the user if one of the other options was selected.

***Picture showing Windows Update options***

I have "check for updates but let me decide whether to download and install". Why is that update coming through when I am not able to initiate them?

Even years ago, before this mess with pushing the Windows 10 GWX junk and forcing it onto peoples' computers, Windows 7 was known to automatically download and install certain updates if any option other than "never check for updates" was selected. I doubt either of the "let me decide" options work at all anymore. Microsoft is trying to turn Windows 7 into Windows 10, where users have no choice when or if to install updates, security-related or otherwise.

People who try to run security updates manually (using "never check for updates" and then checking for them manually, when it's convenient for them, and making sure they're actual security updates) are the people who have the most problems with security updates. People who use automatic updates get all the telemetry and tend not to see problems because they don't see what information is being sent to Microsoft. But they also risk their computer automatically rebooting when they're in the middle of doing something that is time critical on their computer.

When I was booted up in my Windows 7 drive, I was reminded of how much I absolutely HATED the restarts when I didn't want them... yes, it said it would reboot in 10 minutes or whatever it was, but still, it drove me nuts back then and it still drives me nuts. One of the good things Microsoft did with Windows 10 was to get rid of that horribly aggravating annoyance.

Pokey, I did not find that KB update you asked about, but I got numerous updates just fine. I will boot up to it again to make sure.

Thanks for checking. There may have been another similar update released in August.

Really? Your Windows 10 computer is behaving better than the one I had to use -- which never failed to tell me it was about to update right after I'd started an online test.


I suspect there was one in October or November.

I've been running Windows 10 Pro for a year and a half now and I've never seen it once. It gives you 3 days to reboot and will tell you if it gets close, but I reboot my computer twice a week and I've never even seen that. Sometimes, the Shut Down option will say Shut Down and Update so I know it's going to update. I check for updates each morning and set the ones I want to download, then go about my business..

Not one single nag like Windows 7 used to do constantly.

Windows 7 on my home computer never nagged me because I had "never check for updates" checked and ran Windows Update manually at my convenience. That's no longer possible now that Microsoft has messed up Windows 7, so my computer has seen its last Microsoft update.

The Windows 10 computer was in a classroom where the class met once a week -- and it would ALWAYS be nagging for an update. The day I had my exam I let the update install and reboot ahead of time so it wouldn't be trying to do it during the exam. And guess what -- after 10 minutes of waiting for it to finish so I could get on with the exam, it immediately wanted to install ANOTHER update. If it had its way it would be updating and rebooting all day long.

What a huge PAIN!