Updates after reloading Vista

[VosperD]

Had Auto Updates switched off for a while and HP laptop not been used for a couple of months.
Booted up to find 73 updates waiting. These took 24 hours to complete. On restart it's found 37 more which are downloading now.

I was thinking of cleaning off the laptop and reloading Vista at some stage anyway. If I do am I going to have to face all the updates from day one?

Regards

Don.

 

[townsbg]

I take it by reload you mean reinstall? If so then yes for the most part. I would install sp2 first through the manual download and then you will have to reinstall all of the updates not included in the service pack. I recently installed 2008 which is the server version of Vista and exluding office updates there where over 200 to install. Here is the download; you will have to download the appropriate version (32-bit or 64-bit). https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=16468 Also note that there is a ongoing thread about how long it has been taking many to find updates for Vista since about when 10 came out. As of now there is no solution except to let it run. http://www.vistax64.com/windows-updates/303992-windows-update-just-seems-hang-while-checking.html

 

[VosperD]

Thanks for the reply and the links.
It's just started installing the 37 updates after 10 hours so it looks like a full re-install will take some considerable time.
Might have second thoughts.
Regards
Don

 

[townsbg]

That's unusually slow.

 

[VosperD]

Before I started the updates svchost.exe was taking up 50% of the process time. I thought this would settle down but it didn't. That may account for the slow performance.
On completion of the installation of the updates the pc wouldn't boot up. it went through the Repair process and eventually did boot up. A number of the updates failed. svchost is still taking 50% of the process time. That looks like a subject for a new thread.
Cheers
Don

 

[Vistaar]

If you have a dual-core processor, then 50% CPU usage by wuauserv has been typical since August 2015: http://www.vistax64.com/windows-updates/303992-windows-update-just-seems-hang-while-checking.html

There have been claims that security update KB3145739 is the cure for this problem: Slow updates for Vista? KB 3145739 solves that, too @ AskWoody. I am not certain about that; there have only been two optional updates since Patch Tuesday and I haven't even installed those; but you might try manually downloading and installing the x64 version.

If you have Microsoft Security Essentials installed, extreme caution is advised regarding http://www.vistax64.com/windows-updates/304379-update-microsoft-security-essentials-4-9-218-0-kb3140527.html.

 

[VosperD]

I should have mentioned that although my main pc is 64 bit the laptop is 32.
I have just discovered that if I stop wuauserv the cpu usage drops to a sensible level but it starts up automatically on reboot.
I will check those updates to see if they are among the failed ones.
Is there any way of reinstalling those that failed or do they have to be done individually and manually?
Regards
Don

 

[townsbg]

You can google the KB number of the failed updates and get the Microsoft download however only download from the Microsoft website. The only other option is to use Windows update. If I where you with so many updates combined with an already failed attempt I would break the updates into groups. Perhaps do only the security updates, then the other windows updates, office updates, etc. until you have done them all. If that fails you can reset Windows updates as per this post. http://www.vistax64.com/windows-updates/304474-windows-vista-error-code-80072efe.html#post1406547 If you want to start over you can however you are looking at over 200 updates (excluding Office) plus the service pack which in itself could take an hour depending upon how powerful your computer is. Mine only took 15 minutes but I have a very powerful processor. I think that part of the problem is system resources. A computer with an older processor and a lower amount of ram is going to take longer than others. Now I only have 2 gb of ram dedicated to Vista since it is a virtual machine but I haven't had any issues with updates until the last round. Even then I had more problems with 7 than Vista.

 

[lmacri]

Hi VosperD:

Further to Vistaar's comments in post # 6, copiman just confirmed <here> that installing any missing Windows kernel-mode driver (Win32k.sys) updates listed on the webpage Search for Windows Updates takes forever? - A possible solution solved the problem with "Checking for updates..." running for long periods of time and consuming high amounts of CPU. From the author of that webpage:

"This HowTo is valid for Win7 SP1 and Vista SP2, which have been newly installed or haven't been updated for some time. It should also help on systems that were up-to-date last month - just install the missing updates from the list below in this case...The term "solution" might be a little bit exaggerated, since the following HowTo only tries to make sure that the Update Agent doesn't need to check all updates, so the check for new updates is done faster. Futhermore, it's only a temporary solution; most likely the issue will appear again with the next Patchday."

I've also noticed users in the Microsoft Answers community reporting that manually installing these suggested Win32k.sys updates solves the problem on their Vista machine - see SorinCas' 17-May-2016 reply in the thread Windows Vista won't install new updates after SP2 installed for one example.
------------
32-bit Vista Home Premium SP2 * Firefox v46.0.1 * NIS v21.7.0.11 * MBAM Premium v2.2.1

 

[VosperD]

Thanks for the replies.
The laptop does not get regular use, hence the problem with the amount of updates all coming at once.
As it's been rather time consuming, and having been assigned other domestic duties, I have not had a chance to finish sorting this out. Hopefully I'll get back to it soon.
What happens with these failed updates? Will Windows look for them again and try to install them next time, or just move on?
Don

 

[VosperD]

Tried installing windows update KB 3145739 but installer just hung on Searching for Updates.
I reset windows updates as instructed in the windows Error thread post and that has brought the processor usage down to 10 % or less.
However when checking for windows update it hangs on searching for updates and svchost is taking 50% again even thought I stop widows update searching in task manager.
Don

 

[townsbg]

There isn't really anything else you can do that is a proven solution except to wait.

 

[lmacri]

Tried installing windows update KB 3145739 but installer just hung on Searching for Updates.
I reset windows updates as instructed in the windows Error thread post and that has brought the processor usage down to 10 % or less.
However when checking for windows update it hangs on searching for updates and svchost is taking 50% again even thought I stop widows update searching in task manager.

Hi VosperD:

Vistaar and I have both suggested a temporary workaround to pre-install any of the five Win32k.sys updates listed on Dalai's webpage Search for Windows Updates takes forever? - A possible solution if they are missing from your system. If you're interested in trying this workaround additional instructions are posted in post # 171 of ScousaJAY's thread windows update just seems to hang while checking. You will not be using Windows Update to install any missing Win32k.sys updates - you will need to download the standalone update packages (.msu files) from the Microsoft Download Center to your Windows desktop and install them manually as described in those instructions.

Here's a few examples of users who reported that the "Checking for updates..." phase of Windows Update decreased from hours to minutes after pre-installing those missing Win32k.sys updates:
copiman: Current tips on updates
Ichabod22: Vista Windows update hangs with "checking for updates"
SorinCas: Windows Vista Won't Install New Updates After SP2 Installed
Diamondspearls: Windows Update will not work - Vista Business 32-Bit Operating System
sheldon3: windows update just seems to hang while checking
desertado: Any recent, successful fresh installations of Vista using installation disks/Windows update?

KB3145739 (MS16-039: Description of the security update for Windows Graphics Component: April 12, 2016) was released during the April 2016 Patch Tuesday updates. If you were able to successfully install your March 2016 Patch Tuesday updates and haven't performed a clean re-install of Vista since then, it's likely you'll only find two of the Win32k.sys updates listed on Dalia's webpage - KB3145739 (rel. 12-Apr-2016) and KB3153199 (rel. 10-May-2016) - are missing from your list of installed updates and have to be pre-installed before you run your next Windows Update. If you've performed a clean re-install of Vista SP2 and are missing the ~200 or so updates that have been released since 2009 then you are likely missing all five Win32k.sys updates listed on Dalai's webpage.

And no, this isn't a permanent solution. It's possible that the slow Windows Updates will return after the June 2016 Patch Tuesday updates are released on 14-Jun-2015. You will have to check Dalai's webpage after that date to see if a download link for a new Win32k.sys update is posted and has to be pre-installed before running Windows Update to install your remaining dozen or so June 2016 Patch Tuesday updates.
------------
32-bit Vista Home Premium SP2 * Firefox v46.0.1 * NIS v21.7.0.11 * MBAM Premium v2.2.1

 

[lmacri]

Tried installing windows update KB 3145739 but installer just hung on Searching for Updates.
I reset windows updates as instructed in the windows Error thread post and that has brought the processor usage down to 10 % or less.
However when checking for windows update it hangs on searching for updates and svchost is taking 50% again even thought I stop widows update searching in task manager.

Hi VosperD:

Just checking in to see if you've had any success speeding up your Windows Updates.

If you're still having problems installing any of the standalone update packages (.msu files) for the Windows kernel-mode driver (Win32K.sys) updates listed on Dalai's webpage at http://wu.krelay.de/en/, try following the step-by-step instructions posted 16-Jun-2016 in m#l's thread Updates not working, it has been searching for updates for hours. These instructions are based on Dalai's workaround but include a few hints that should prevent these types of installation hangs. These .msu installers will usually run to completion in a few minutes if you follow those instructions and a) disable automatic Windows Updates and re-boot (Step # 1), and b) temporarily disconnect from the internet while running the .msu installers (hint for Step # 5).

Note that Microsoft released new Windows kernel-mode driver (Win32K.sys) updates for the July 2016 Patch Tuesday updates on 12-Jul-2016 so the list of recommended Win32K.sys updates on Dalai's webpage at http://wu.krelay.de/en/ has been revised as well.
------------
32-bit Vista Home Premium SP2 * Firefox v47.0.1 * NIS v22.7.0.76 * MBAM Premium v2.2.1

 

[VosperD]

Hi,
I ran out of time I'm afraid, just switched off Windows updates and the processor time has gone down to about 5%.
If i switch it back on svchost usage goes back up to 50%.
I just didn't seem to be able to install any of the updates manually. When I get a chance I'll give it another go and report back.
Many thanks
Don

 

[lmacri]

I ran out of time I'm afraid, just switched off Windows updates and the processor time has gone down to about 5%. If i switch it back on svchost usage goes back up to 50%.
I just didn't seem to be able to install any of the updates manually.

Hi VosperD:

Good luck, and post back if you run into any problems. And that's my fault - I was just re-reading your post # 11 today and realized you were also getting hangs while you were manually installing a standalone update package (.msu file).

I've learned that these "Checking for updates..." hangs can also occur when you're manually installing these .msu installers if there is a Windows Update session already running in the background. Hopefully the step-by-step instructions posted 16-Jun-2016 in m#l's thread Updates not working, it has been searching for updates for hours will get you up and running again.

I've tried this workaround for my June 2016 and July 2016 Patch Tuesday updates and it seems to work. I don't have any problems running the .msu installers in Step # 5 of those instructions, even when I'm connected to the internet, but I think that's because I always have automatic Windows Updates permanently disabled [Windows Update | Change settings | Important updates | Never check for updates (not recommended)] and don't have to worry about a scheduled Windows Update automatically launching in the background. Vista updates are normally released in batches on Patch Tuesdays (the second Tuesday of each month) and it's very rare for Microsoft to release an out-of-band security update for Vista/IE9 outside of a Patch Tuesday, so I've decided there's no point having automatic Windows Updates launching each day and eating up my CPU - especially when there are so many problems these days with Windows Update.
------------
32-bit Vista Home Premium SP2 * Firefox v47.0.1 * NIS v22.7.0.76 * MBAM Premium v2.2.1