Windows Update cannot currently check for updates because the service is not running you may need to restart your compter
Original title: Windows Update not working — guve error message below — Microsoft fix does not work
I’m trying to run Winndows Update on my PC — Control Panel is set to update automatically — Windws update says it cannot check and gives the errror message below
Windows Update cannot currently check for updates because the service is not running you may need to restart your compter
I have tried rebootiing as well as turning completely ff and then restarting and running the Microsoft Fix program — none of it works — please help!
Hi Simonjames1,
Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community Forums. As you are not able to start the Windows update try these steps and check.
Method 1:
Error: Windows Update Cannot Check For Updates, Because the Service Is Not Running
Method 2: Check if you are able to access Windows Update service and also make sure that the following services are started. If it is not started follow these steps:
a. Click on Start, type services.msc without quotes and hit Enter.
b. Locate Windows Update.
c. Right click on the service and select Properties.
d. In Start-up type, select Enable.
e. Click Start under Service status.
f. Click OK.
g. Repeat the steps c to f for the following services also:
Background Intelligent Transfer Service
Cryptographic Services
Method 3: If the above methods do not help, you may reset Windows Update Components.
Important: This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Back-up-the-registry
Method 4: Run the System Update Readiness Tool.
System Update Readiness Tool that fixes Windows Update problems is available for Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 R2, and Windows Server 2008
To fix errors that occur when you use Windows Update, install and run the System Update Readiness Tool. The tool scans for inconsistencies on your computer and fixes them as it’s being installed.
Method 5:
Disable the security software installed on the computer.
Disable antivirus software
Important : Antivirus software can help protect your computer against viruses and other security threats. In most cases, you shouldn’t disable your antivirus software. If you have to temporarily disable it to install other software, you should re-enable it as soon as you’re done. If you’re connected to the Internet or a network while your antivirus software is disabled, your computer is vulnerable to attacks.
Hope this information helps. If you have further questions feel free to reply and we would be glad to assist.
Solution to ‘Windows Update cannot currently check for updates, because the service is not running. You may need to restart your computer’. Dec 2017
I have seen many people experiencing the problem of ‘ Windows Update cannot currently check for updates, because the service is not running. You may need to restart your computer’.
Today, 11th Dec 2017, I have had exactly the same problem with going in to Windows Update on Win 7 PC’s and getting this same scenario when I try to update windows. I go in to Control Panel and Windows Update. There is a red X in the box and when I click ‘Check for Updates’ I get the message
‘Windows Update cannot currently check for updates, because the service is not running. You may need to restart your computer’.
I restarted the PC and still had the same the same problem and I also checked the Update Service was running and it was.
I have One laptop and 4 PC’s at home all running Win 7 so I tried the same procedure of updating and all but one had the same issue as above. I contacted a few friends whom I know have PC’s running Win 7 and when I asked them to try updating Windows they had the same problem I had. The settings in Windows Update varied from ‘Download updates but let me choose when to install them’ , ‘Install updates automatically ( recommended)’, ‘Never check for updates ( not recommended)’ . Ironically, the only PC I found I could check for updates was the one set to ‘Never check for updates ( not recommended)’. So we changed the settings on all the PC’s to ‘Never check for updates ( not recommended)’ and then rebooted & then tried to check for updates and we could in all instances. We then changed the settings back to our preference of either ‘Install updates automatically ( recommended)’ or ‘Download updates but let me choose when to install them’ and all is well again. So, it looks as though there has been a common problem with a previous Windows 7 Update that caused this update problem recently.
Can anyone from Microsoft please look in to this as there may be many people thinking their PC’s are being updated and they aren’t!
Since posting this a year ago it’s obvious from the responses that the above fix doesn’t work for everyone but it’s certainly worth giving the above solution a shot as it’s so simple, if it doesn’t then follow one of the other solutions mentioned further on in the discussion. Once you have the updates working again the problem does not reoccur so obviously Microsoft fixed the problem in a subsequent update. I also notice that one year on and some people are still only just discovering Windows has not been updating all this time, so guess it pays to check updates are being installed occasionally!
Windows Update cannot currently check for updates, because the service is not running. You may need to restart your computer
Original title: Windows 7 update not working on a new install
I cant seem to get my update program to run right. I start it from the «Start» button as suggested. A box comes up with nothing in it and the «timer» running on the pointer arrow. It has been known to stay like that for several minutes. (5 to 10 minutes) Then the «Updates»window opens and I click on check for updates. I get the error message that the «Windows Update cannot currently check for updates, because the service is not running. You may need to restart your computer.»
The frustrating part is this is a new install of the operating system. I have checked for viruses with Malware Bytes, Microsoft malware removal and Microsoft security essentials. None of them shows any viruses.
Also I have tried all of the microsoft «fix it» files I could find and I checked to see if the service was actually running and it was.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Replies (10)
I would suggest you to refer the article and try to run the troubleshooter:
Open the Windows Update troubleshooter
Restart the computer in clean boot and check if the issue persists.
How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows Vista or in Windows 7
Also, see the section on how to return your computer to a Normal startup mode by following the steps under “Reset the computer to start as usual”.
Refer the article and check if it helps:
Troubleshoot problems with installing updates
Let us know if it helps.
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Refer the link and try to reset Windows update components:
How do I reset Windows Update components?
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I tried the link above and ran the fix it program. It did not work so I started running the steps mannually and got an error.
When I tried to run «regsvr32.exe mshtml.dll» I recieved the following error.
«The modules «mshtml.dll» was loaded but the entry-point DllRegisterServer was not found.
Make sure that «mshtml.dll» is a valid DLL or OcCX file and then try again.»
I really don’t understand why this printer will not install on my computer but it had no issues on the other windows 7 based computer.
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1. What is the make and model of the printer and the computer?
2. How are you trying to connect the printer?
I would suggest you to install the printer drivers by downloading it from the manufacturer’s website and check if it works.
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The computer is a dell lattitude 610 laptop running windows 7 ultimate 32 bit, the printer is an HP Color Laserjet 8500. Connection is over the network so I have created an IP port for it.
The first place I went to solve the problem is HP and they don’t have drivers for it becasue windows 7 has native drivers that work. So unfortunately HP is not an option.
Also I went to the microsoft site where the beta drivers are and none of them will work.
Also I have a Dell desktop running Windows 7 enterprise (I think) 64 bit and when I connected the HP 8500 it went out to the microsoft site found the driver and installed it in about 30 seconds. Finally all of my old XP machines connect as well as my server running server 2008.
My issue is that for some reason my computer is not connecting with the microsoft site to download any updated drivers. As a result I can’t get the 32 bit drivers.
Rohit, I appreciate the help.
Added information, I have a friend who is a Cisco Engineer and he was able to find the windows 7 HP update file with the correct printer drivers but they still would not install. Keeps throwing errors and I’m convined it is caused by me aborting an earlier printer update.
Can anyone tell me how to reset the registry entries on the printer updates?