Recently I’ve had the need to install windows 7 from DVD, once for a family member and a number of times well I test out different VDI solutions. Windows 7 has been out for a long time and has a LOT of patches even when you start with SP1, there are over 200 patches to apply just for the OS.
Somewhere along the patch cycle windows 7 started having issues with windows updates taking all the CPU or just gets ‘stuck’ searching for updates. Here are a few of the fixes I have found to help get around these issues.
First make sure you have SP1 installed for windows 7, next manually download and install IE 11. This comes with some updates that help get past the CPU maxed out issue.
The last two items are for when your stuck ‘searching’ for updates.
First try the Microsoft FixIt from https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2700567 most of the time this fixed my issue, only once did I have to use the third option, the Windows Update Automated Troubleshooter
I hope these items help you get your windows 7 fully patched. One last hint, when all is lost shut down. Not reboot shut down, some updates seem to only want to install during the shutdown process.
Let me know if you have any other fixes for windows updates in the comments below.