Windows 7 update problem
 

When I checked the Windows Update program on my Win7 computer a few days ago, I found that it was no longer working....:confused: Downloading and running the 'Fix Windows Update errors' program from https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/...-update-errors only worked partially, with 2 items stated as 'fixed' but one remaining 'couldn't be fixed'...

Sniffing around the Internet, it seems that several people have found the same thing. One suggestion was to change the computer date/time to some date before 3rd Dec 2017 and try again.

So I did that, then ran the 'Fix Windows Update' program again - this time it showed that all was 'fixed', so I tried Windows Update again and this time it worked, downloading and installing 3 updates. After the computer had restarted, I reset the date and the program is now working correctly once more.

Has anyone else had this problem? Win10 updates don't seem to have been affected.

Windows update for 7 and Vista has been broken for ages, the usual issue is it hogging 100%cpu for ages but never actually doing anything. Fortunately various fixes are available on the Internet, Microsoft seemingly aren't interested in solving it.
I had to use offline WSUS in the end to sort out my W7 laptop, and gave up with the Vista one full stop and put Linux Mint on it instead.

Same problem - fixed by turning off windows updates completely, rebooting and then turning updates back on again.

Yes, I discovered my primary Windows 7 machine with the same problem yesterday. Faffed around for the best part of an hour trying the various 'cures' on offer on the www and discovered that eventually it came good. I'm not sure which combination actually did the fix. On reflection it may well have been as simple as that described by Philoctetes above; I recall that was in the things tried ....

It had already been tardy in actually updating from the startup prompt for some months, and had to be manually sent to work from the drop down menu under the Start button.

I've yet to try the W7 laptop to see if it has the same challenge waiting for me.

Regards
FOR

MS might have been having server problems as I came across references to difficulties in activating MS Office installations earlier today as well.

+1 for WSUS - especially if you have a lot of updates to install. Windows seems to simply fail to work in the case of say 200 updates.

If you are having Windows Update problems it is also worth checking/repairing the Windows files with:-


if unfixable errors are reported then


You need to run the above in an Administrator command window.

Other than Ned Ludd, who's still running WIN7?

Anyone who wants proper control of computer the computer and software they bought?

They wouldn't be running Windows at all in that case :E

My thoughts exactly it's 2018 nearly :-)

Personally I far prefer Win7 to Win10, which seems to have been made for kiddies... Stupid nonsense such as 'Cortana' and the obsession with 'Apps' are absent (thankfully) in Win7.

Similarly, I prefer Office 2007 to later versions, particularly Office 365. I've just made a couple of screenshots for a friend - one using Word 2007 and the other using Word 2016. The earlier Word interface was much more professional than the later version...

I also use AutoRoute 2010, but that isn't supported by Win10 :rolleyes: . Because the Gates geeks think that everyone is always on-line with some eToy phone and at their mercy with tools such as Google Maps....

How do you determine its a 'WIN7' update.? My laptop is set for 3rd option.. 'notify me' when updates are available and I'll chose my time to install... yet. I'm still plagued by mysterious updates (Wi-Fi modem light going flat-out). When this occurs, all activity on my part is completely blocked. I thought the CPU might be saturated.. but NO, its not. I have a speedo type 'processor display'. It jumps around a bit, say 1%-40%, but no where near 100%. So, is it a 3rd party programme updated.? Regardless, it shouldn't, in principle, block me completely, whether its an hour or a day. Gnash gnash.

Me, on two separate laptops. Seems to work perfectly fine for me so I don't have any need to consider updating. Unless something else happens in the meantime, I'll think about it when MS announce they are non longer going to support it. Who knows. but perhaps at that point they may offer W11 free for a limited period!

From a post on another thread here:

So it looks like Mr Ludd is still the majority.

SD

Me, on two separate laptops. Seems to work perfectly fine for me so I don't have any need to consider updating. Unless something else happens in the meantime,
Is Win7 still supported? I had a problem recently which made me go back to Factory state. I slowly managed to get most things back working but some probs remain: The DVD doesn´t recognise discs when inserted and I can´t find a W7 driver to download. Some photos can´t be opened and photo viewer for W7 is not available.


I have a W8 disc that came with the laptop but can´t try updating due to the DVD problem.


Bit shy about getting into something too complex as not an expert:eek:

There was a set of instructions on How to Geek on making W7 do the updates.

I'll try to find it.

Back in December I mused:

Well I found out yesterday that it is cursed with the same issue. I don't know if I can really be bothered faffing around (again) to get to catch up.

This all came about because of the Windows 10 update thread elsewhere in this august group. I ran my W 10 laptop yesterday and away it went. Took about 90 minutes to download the update(s) and about another 90 minutes to install it. I wondered whether I would ever get it back. However it seemed happy enough at the end of the ordeal, Classic Shell was still there as the user interface, and there were no unwanted "extras".

Now to start the W7 laptop and see how simple this mightn't be....

FOR

FOR,

You sure Win10 didn't put Xbox and other games and stuff on your machine?
Check your installed apps..
If you have a big hard drive it doesn't really matter. But I only have 64 Gb ssd (only 59.9 Gb capacity though which I don't get, they should have called it a 60 Gb drive not 64?) so space is at a premium for me...

Shack, Win7 is in the final extended supported phase until 14th January 2020.

As to the DVD, go into the BIOS/firmware when you boot and set it to boot from the DVD drive. Insert the Win8 disc and see if it boots from it. If it doesn't the drive may be dead (assuming you configured the BIOS correctly).

A couple of suggestions to consider

1) So long as you have the license number you can still download a legal copy of Win7 for the license version you have from the Microsoft site. I did this last weekend for a machine I was setting up. This included SP1 and can be run from an external CD player (or with the correct formating software) from a flash drive. Just make sure your BIOS is set to allow you to boot from the device you are using.

2) Also if I recall correctly you can select how you treat updates - I think there is an option to download automatically which is best turned off to avoid the machine grabbing your Internet connection when you want to do something important on line.