Manual Fix - (Advanced Users)
It is difficult and only recommended for advance computer users to trouble shoot and repair their own Windows Update errors. For everyone else the automatic fix is recommended. It is faster and easier to use Reimage Repair.
The Windows Update Troubleshooter is an effective option that can come in very handy when fixing issues concerning Windows Update.
The following is a rundown of how you can use it for solving your Windows Update problem:
- Open the Control Panel.
- Type the word “troubleshoot” in the search box.
- Click the Troubleshooting option when it appears in the search results.
- Click the System and Security option.
- Choose the Windows Update option.
The Windows Update Troubleshooter can help you in instantly fixing your updating issues, in the least time possible. You will only have to locate this tool in the Control Panel of your system and then navigate to the Windows Update option inside its menu, for troubleshooting your Windows Update service.
However, be sure that you choose the right option or the troubleshooter won’t provide you the desired results.
Downloading the latest Windows Update Agent
Sometimes the Windows Update errors plaguing the system are because of an outdated version of the Windows Update Agent. Thus, downloading the latest version of the WUA can fix the Windows Update issue you are facing.
However, checking whether you have an outdated version of the WUA before downloading a newer version is necessary. You can use the following step-by-step instructions for checking the version of the Windows Update Agent.
That done, you need to follow the steps below:
- Locate the wuaueng.dll file in the “system 32” folder of your PC.
- Right click on the file and choose the Properties option.
- Click the Details option in the Properties menu that opens.
- Check the version number that is mentioned in front of the title “File Version”.
The latest version of the Windows Update Agent for Windows 7 is 7.6.7600.256. If you find that the version number of the wuaueng.dll on your system is different from this then downloading this latest version of the Window Update Agent will certainly solve the Windows Update issue you are facing.
Do remember that only the latest version of the WUA will fix the Windows Update problem being faced by your PC, so don’t expect the issue to be solved if you end up downloading an older version of this file again.
Restarting the Windows Services
If the above two methods fail to solve the Windows Update issue you are facing then restarting the windows services is your next available option.
Here is how you can accomplish this task:
- Open the Search Box.
- Type in the word “services.msc”
- Locate and check the status of the Background Intelligent Transfer Service.
- Start the service if the status shows that the service has stopped.
- Locate and check the status of the Windows Update.
- Start the service if the status shows that the service has stopped.
- Locate and check the status of the Workstation.
- Start the service if the status shows that the service has stopped.
Restarting the Windows Services is often times a reliable method of fixing any issues being faced with Windows Update. However, it is to be kept in mind that the service needs to be restarted in the exact order as has been mentioned above.
Any mistakes made while restarting the services can result in further complications. Thus, it is essential that the task of restarting the services is handled very cautiously.
Removing Malware blocking Windows Updates
Many a times the reason for the failure of Windows Update to work properly is because a malware on your system is blocking its progress.
In such cases, the only way to fix the issue is to identify and remove the malware that is responsible for hampering the performance of the Windows Update service:
- Update the Antivirus program you have installed on your PC.
- Open the Antivirus program and scan you computer for threats.
- Weed out any malware or viruses that may be plaguing your system.
Removal of the malware that is causing your Windows Update service to malfunction is a sure-shot method of solving Windows Update issues. However, many times the antivirus you are using might not be able to completely dispose of the malware, resulting in the persistence of the Windows Update problem.
In order to stop this from happening, you must try to update your antivirus from time to time so that it has all the latest signatures required for combating all the new malware threats.
Installing Windows Updates Manually
Having exhausted all of the above-mentioned methods for fixing Windows Update issues, the only option left for you to overcome this problem is to install the updates manually.
Here is a rundown of how you can manually install an update that is causing you a lot of headaches:
- Open the Search menu.
- Type in the word Windows Update.
- Find out the KB number of the update that is causing the trouble.
- Using the KB number of the update download it from an external source.
- Install the downloaded file of the update on your system.
Manual installation of the update is the last resort for fixing issues with Windows Update. You must use it only when all the other options have been utilized but the problem still persists.
Do keep in mind that manual installation of the windows updates is not that easy; a lot can go wrong if the procedure of the installation is not followed in the right manner.
If you are still having issues with after following these detailed instructions it is highly recommended that you Download Reimage Repair.
