Update cannot search for updates. Resolving the error "Windows Update cannot currently search for updates because the service is not running." Correcting the error manually

Center Windows updates cannot search for updates.
What to do?

"Windows Update cannot currently search for updates because the service is not running."
This window may pop up even though the Windows Update service is running.

Reason: corruption of the "SoftwareDistribution" folder.

Necessary:

1. Stop the service automatic update Windows.
Click "Start" - select "Run" - in the window that appears, type services.msc- "OK".
The Services window will open.
Search for "Windows Update" (Automatic Updates or Windows Update) - click on the line right click mouse and click Stop.

2. Rename the “SoftwareDistribution” folder.
When the service is stopped, in “Explorer” find the C: drive - the “Windows” folder - in it the “SoftwareDistributio” folder
Rename it, for example, to SoftwareDistributionold.

3. Temporarily disable all anti-virus and anti-spyware programs, boot optimizers and other similar software.

4. Restart Windows Automatic Updates.
Return to the Services window.
Find “Windows Update” again (Automatic Updates or Windows Update) - right-click on the line and click “Run”.

5. Restart your computer.

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In some cases, a problem with Windows Update may occur even when the service itself is enabled. When this happens, the user receives the following errors: “Windows Update cannot currently search” or “Windows Update cannot currently be started.” What to do?

First and most importantly, check if the update service is enabled. In Control Panel, go to Windows Update, then to Settings. Here, select “Install updates automatically” or “Download updates, but I decide whether to install them.”

Next, go to the official Microsoft website and download a utility called Fix It. She helps in automatic mode restore operating system settings. Just download the utility, install it on your computer and run it. Then follow the instructions. The good thing about the utility is that it does everything automatically and you don’t have to do anything.

If the utility does not help or for one reason or another you cannot use it, then you can do some things yourself. (click “Start”, write cmd in the “Search programs and files” line, then right-click on the command prompt icon and select “Run as administrator”.

When the command prompt opens, you need to enter several commands (after each of them, press the Enter key):

net stop cryptsvc

ren c:\windows\system32\catroot2 catroot2old

net start cryptsvc

Try installing updates.

You can also try the netsh winsock reset command (necessarily as an administrator), it may also help.

Surprisingly, the problem can often be in the controller driver hard drive. The driver itself can be found on the website of your motherboard manufacturer.

One unusual method was found on the Internet. You need to run a bat file with the text:

net stop wuauserv
rmdir %windir%\softwaredistribution /s /q
regsvr32 /s wuaueng.dll
regsvr32 /s wuaueng1.dll
regsvr32 /s atl.dll
regsvr32 /s wups.dll
regsvr32 /s wups2.dll
regsvr32 /s wuweb.dll
regsvr32 /s wucltui.dll
net start wuauserv

To do this, create on your desktop Text Document(notepad), copy the text and save. Rename the extension from txt to bat. Next, click on the file, right-click and select “Run as administrator.” Restart your computer and then try to install updates.

If all else fails, download the System Update Readiness Tool for Windows utility from the Microsoft website. For different versions operating systems available different version utilities, all of them are on the Microsoft website.

ATTENTION! You perform all actions at your own peril and risk; the site administration is not responsible for the published material!

Installing the latest updates is an important condition correct functioning and security of the computer. The user can choose how to install them: in manual mode or automatically. But in any case, the service must be running "Windows Update". Let's find out how to enable this element of the system using various methods in Windows 7.

By default, the update service is always enabled. But there are times when, as a result of failures, intentional or erroneous actions of users, it is deactivated. If you want to be able to install updates on your PC again, you need to enable it. This can be done using various methods.

Method 1: Tray icon

The easiest and fastest way to launch is through the tray icon.

When you select the second option, the options window will open "Windows Update". We will talk in detail about what to do in it when considering the next method.

Method 2: Update Settings

You can solve the problem assigned to us directly by opening in the parameters "Update Center".

Method 3: "Service Manager"

Sometimes none of the above activation algorithms work. The reason is that the activation type is specified in the service properties "Disabled". You can start by exclusively using "Service Manager".

Open in "Control Panels" window "System and safety". The steps to move here were discussed in the previous method. Click on the item "Administration" in the list of sections.

A list of utilities opens. Click "Services".

You can activate "Dispatcher" and through the window "Run". Click Win+R. Enter:

Click "OK".

Launch in progress "Dispatcher". Find the name in the list of elements "Windows Update". The search task will be simplified if you arrange the elements alphabetically by clicking on "Name". A sign that the service is disabled is the absence of an inscription "Works" in column "State". If in the column “ Launch type" the inscription is displayed "Disabled", then this communicates that the element can be activated by applying a transition to properties, and in no other way.

To do this, right-click on the name (RMB) and choose "Properties".

In the window that opens, change the value in the list "Startup type" to any other, depending on how you want to enable the service when activating the system: manually or automatically. But it is still recommended to choose the option "Automatically". Click "Apply" And "OK".

If you chose the option "Automatically", then the service can be started simply by restarting the computer or using one of the methods described above or described below. If the option was chosen "Manually", then the launch can be accomplished using the same methods, excluding a reboot. But you can enable it directly from the interface "Dispatcher". Check in the list of items "Windows Update". Left click "Run".

Activation in progress.

The service has started. This is evidenced by a change in status in the column "State" on "Works".

There are situations when all statuses seem to indicate that the service is running, but still, the system is not updated, and a problem icon is displayed in the tray. Then perhaps a restart will help. Select from the list "Windows Update" and click "Restart" on the left side of the shell. After this, check the functionality of the activated item by trying to install the update.

Method 4: "Command Line"

You can also solve the issue discussed in this topic by entering an expression in "Command line". Wherein "Command line" must be activated with administrative rights, otherwise access to perform the operation will not be obtained. Another basic condition is that the startup type should not be in the properties of the service being started "Disabled".

Sometimes it is possible that after entering the specified command, information is displayed that the service cannot be activated because it is disabled. This suggests that the status of its launch type matters "Disabled". Overcoming this problem lies solely in using Method 3.

Method 5: "Task Manager"

The next launch option can be accomplished using "Task Manager". To use this method, the same conditions are required as for the previous one: running the utility with administrative rights and the absence of a value in the properties of the activated element "Disabled".

It also happens that when you try to start using the current method, even with administrative rights, information appears indicating that the procedure cannot be completed. Most often this is due to the fact that in the element properties the status "Disabled". Then activation is possible only according to the algorithm specified in Method 3.

Method 6: “System Configuration”

The following method uses a system tool such as "System configuration". It is also only applicable in the situation where the activation type does not have a status "Disabled".

Go to "Control Panels" to section "Administration". The algorithm for going there is described in 2 ways And 3 this manual. Find the name "System configuration" and click on it.

You can also call the utility using the window "Run". Click Win+R. Enter:

Click "OK".

"System configuration" activated. Move to "Services".

Find in the list "Update centre". For a more comfortable search, click on the column name "Service". Thus, the list will be built according to the alphabetical system. If you still do not find the required name, this means that the element has a launch type "Disabled". Then it will be possible to launch only using the algorithm described in Method 3. If the required element is still displayed in the window, then look at its status in the column "State". If it is written there "Stopped", this means that it is deactivated.

To run, check the box next to the name if it is unchecked. If it is installed, then remove it and then install it again. Now click "Apply" And "OK".

A dialog box appears prompting you to reboot the system. The fact is that for changes made in the window to take effect "System configuration", a PC restart is required. If you wish to make this procedure immediately, then save all documents and close the running program, and then click on the button.

If you want to postpone the restart until later, then click on the button "Exit without reboot". In this case, the computer will restart normally when you do it manually.

After restarting the PC, the required update service will be started again.

Method 7: Restoring the “SoftwareDistribution” folder

The update service may not function properly and may not fulfill its intended purpose if the folder is damaged for various reasons "Software Distribution". Then you need to replace the damaged directory with a new one. There is an action algorithm to solve this problem.

As you can see, there are quite a few options with which you can start the service "Update centre". This is the execution of operations through "Command line", "System configuration", "Task Manager", as well as through the update settings. But if the element properties contain activation type "Disabled", then it will be possible to complete the task only with the help of "Service Manager". In addition, there is a situation when the folder is damaged "Software Distribution". In this case, you need to perform actions according to a special algorithm, which is described in this article.

If you have been using Windows operating systems for a long time, then you have probably experienced this kind of error at least once, which did not allow your system to fully update and slowed down the entire OS workflow.

That is why today we will tell you how you can deal with the error updating Windows OS of almost any version, because not one operating system is immune from such an error. Let us immediately draw your attention to the fact that rebooting the system or “rolling it back” most likely will not help, so be prepared for this!

Method number 1.

You need to download a utility from the official Microsoft website that allows you to fix the error that has arisen. This utility called Microsoft Fix It. There are many versions of these utilities on the Microsoft website, so you can choose what you need for a specific OS:

Now you need to click on the “Next” button and wait until the system scan is fully completed, the error is detected and corrected. Most often, the error is hidden behind damage to the SoftwareDistribution folder.

Once the utility tells you that the problem has been resolved, you will need to close it and check for updates again. In some cases, you may need to restart your computer.
If the error " Windows Update is currently unable to search for updates...” continues to be present on your system, then you need to move on to the next step to fix it.

Method number 2.

We stop the “Windows Update” service using simple steps: press the hot keys Win + R >>> the “Run” window opens, in search bar you need to enter the command “services.msc” (without quotes) >>> press “Enter”:

Now you have to find a service called “Windows Update” and stop it:

After you have stopped the Windows Update service, you need to delete or rename the temporary update folder in the same window. This is done very simply: go to the folder called “Windows” on the disk on which the Windows operating system is installed >>> find a folder called “SoftwareDistribution” and simply delete it or, as stated above, rename it to something like “SoftwareDistributionOLD ":

Now all you have to do is restart the service called “Windows Update”, and then search for updates.

That's all, now you know how to deal with the error quickly and easily." Windows Update is currently unable to search for updates...”, which before that bothered you quite a lot and there was no escape from it.

Operating room users Windows systems 7 and 8.1 recently encountered an issue. When updating, the system displays the error: “Windows Update cannot currently search for updates because the service is not running. You may need to restart your computer." However, the system recommendation does not help solve the problem. Therefore, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with two current methods.

Solve the problem using Microsoft Fix It

In order to fix this error you can use system utility Microsoft Fix It. To do this, go to the manufacturer’s website https://support.microsoft.com/ru-ru/kb/2730071 and select software in accordance with your operating system.

We are waiting for the program to detect and fix the problem.

Reboot the computer. Go to “System Update” again and click update.

Correcting the error manually

To solve this problem It is worth disabling the Windows Update service. To do this, press “Win + R” and in command line enter the task “services.msc”. Click “OK”.

Find “Windows Update” (it’s at the very bottom) and right-click on “Stop”.

You need to delete or better yet rename the update folder. To do this, go to the “C” drive, select the “Windows” folder and look for the “SoftwareDistribution” folder. It needs to be deleted or renamed.

Now run “services.msc” again and turn on “Windows Update”. Reboot the computer. The error will be fixed.