No time for introductions.
I spent way too much time today trying for get Windows Update to work on a laptop. When the “Searching for updates” screen would come on, sometimes the progress bar would be empty, other times it would run and run until it failed.
I tried CCleaner and reinstalled the Windows Update Components. Multiple times. Still nothing.
C:\Windows\WindowsUpdate.log showed a “SendRequestUsingProxy failed” message. What? I’m not using a proxy.
I find bits of Norton around, so I run the Norton Removal Tool. I also end up removing Trend Micro’s PC-Cillin, thinking that it might be blocking the updates. No good.
HijackThis doesn’t even show a proxy being set anywhere. So what’s the deal?
FInally…Google returns this gem of a page: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=836941
Advanced Method B
8. Type the following commands. Press ENTER after each command.
a. proxycfg -d
b. net stop wuauserv
c. net start wuauserv
d. exit
And there it is. I ran proxycfg all by itself and saw this mysterious IP address for a proxy. SamSpade.org showed that it returns to BestBuy…hmm.
So finally: “Installation complete. You must restart your computer for the updates to take effect.” On to more important things.
Ugh.
One reply on “Windows Update Stalling/Stuck/Hang at “Searching for Updates””
I used to work at Geek Squad for Best Buy. Standard procedure was to configure a customer’s computer to use the BBY proxy server. Many times the technician, if you can even call them that with a straight face, would forget to remove it. I can’t tell you how many times this caused a problem when they took the computer home.