Windows 7 Update freezes. What to do if your computer freezes while installing updates
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Despite the popularity of Windows 10, after the release of new system updates, users began to complain en masse that freezing occurs during the upgrade. Typically, the computer stops responding to anything at various stages of the system update. Loading happens quickly, but then the screen freezes - only the update icon continues to spin on the taskbar. Microsoft acknowledged the problem, but there is still no single way to solve it.
Reasons for Windows 10 update freezing at different stages and how to get out of the situation
It often happens that when preparing for installation, the update stops at certain values: 32, 71, 75, 91, 99%. This usually happens for the following reasons:
- conflict with antivirus software;
- the drivers installed on the computer are not updated;
- operating system build below 100041;
- There is not enough free space on the hard drive.
Sometimes the update is so slow that it seems like your computer is frozen. If the hard drive indicator continues to blink, the update process is most likely progressing, just very slowly. Typically, the user feels like “everything is gone” at the following moments:
- by 32% - as a rule, at the 30–39% stage the system downloads dynamic updates;
- by 96% - at this time data backups are created;
- on the message that the update will be ready soon.
Outputs for solving freezing problems
In any case, if you realize that the system is frozen at the update stage and does not respond to any actions, then there are several options for getting out of this situation:
- Officially, Microsoft suggests trying to start the PC in safe mode and dumping all the data onto one storage device (one disk).
- The company also offers to roll back to the previous version of the OS, but this will only work if less than 10 days have passed since the start of the update.
- Update the OS build if its version is lower than 100041.
- The update may get stuck due to disconnected connections or failures on the Microsoft server. Sometimes there is simply not enough space on the hard drive to install the update, or the computer is infected with a virus that slows down the system upgrade process. If the update is frozen, you need to restart the computer by turning off the power or using the Reset button, then clean the disk, check the PC for viruses and try installing the update again.
- Disconnect all USB devices, additional monitors, and generally any external devices except the keyboard and mouse. Remove third-party antivirus programs and completely clean out the $Windows.~BT folder. It doesn’t hurt to make sure that all drivers installed on your computer have received their update.
- You can try returning the Update Center components to their original state. To do this, you need to either run automatic diagnostics of the Update Center and follow the instructions, or restore everything yourself. Detailed instructions are available on the official Microsoft website.
- If this does not help, you can perform a clean boot of Windows. It is also advisable to remove programs and applications associated with changing the Windows screensaver, themes and user interface.
- If all else fails, you may need to update your BIOS. This is not a very simple procedure and is usually described on the motherboard manufacturer's website.
Video: Windows 10 update stuck at 99%
What to do if downloading Windows 10 updates is stuck
If the system freezes during the initial stages of downloading an update for Windows, running the upgrade troubleshooting utility may help. It can be downloaded from the Microsoft website, and once launched you just need to follow the instructions. Most often, the tool itself eliminates errors.
If the system is stuck downloading updates, running the Windows Update Troubleshooter may help. You can also manually clear the update cache. To do this you need to do the following:
What to do if Windows update preparation is stuck
If the system freezes at the initial stage of preparation, this is either due to insufficient disk space or a damaged distribution kit, or due to incorrectly set BIOS parameters. If in the first and second case everything is solved quite simply (the distribution kit needs to be downloaded from the official website), then in the latter case you should turn off the safe boot mode and, conversely, activate the compatibility mode with other systems.
To do this, you need to enter the BIOS: to enter there immediately after pressing the PC power button, you need to press a key or key combinations depending on the computer model - as a rule, these are Del, F2, F10, Ctrl+Alt+Esc and others (often they are indicated in the very bottom line at the beginning of the launch). In the BIOS, in the top menu, go to the section in problems arising in the “Update Center”.
When the system takes an endless amount of time searching for updates for Windows, it is usually due to problems with the Update Center. In order not to spend a lot of time correcting errors, you can disable it and thereby eliminate the problem. Here you need to restart the PC, press the Win+R key combination and enter msc in the window that appears. In the window that pops up, find “Update Center”, open this item by double-clicking and select “Disable”. Usually, when you try again, the download of updates starts without problems.
Unfortunately, there are quite a lot of situations where Windows freezes at various stages of updating. Correcting them takes time. The main thing is to find out the cause of the freeze and eliminate it, if possible. If nothing helps, it’s easier to roll back the system to the previous version and wait until Microsoft improves the update mechanism.
Some Windows 7 users are experiencing problems with the standard Update Center operating system. Windows 7 searches for updates endlessly, cannot download them, and continues to look for others.
A problem like this can cause a lot of trouble. Firstly, the latest patches will not be installed on your computer, which may reduce work efficiency OS. Secondly, while the search is ongoing, CPU and physical memory are heavily loaded. This may not be very noticeable on powerful PCs, but on “weak” ones it is very unpleasant. This article describes what to do if Windows 7 Update can't complete searching for updates.
Setting up automatic search
Firstly, you need to completely disable Windows update, which loads the operating system as it goes on endlessly. Subsequently, you will be able fix the problem and activate it back, if you want. But even without updates, Windows still works stably. Many users disable them on purpose and do not experience any problems.
You will need to do the following:
This is followed by to restart a computer to stop searching. Now your system will not try to search for new updates. If you need to enable this function, you can do this in the same menu.
Stopping a service
In some cases, the above method may not work. For example, when you try to reboot, the computer will try for a long time to download and install some kind of patch. And after turning it off and on manually, all settings return to their original state. And accordingly, the endless search for Windows 7 updates will begin again. To fix this problem, you need completely disable the service responsible for the work Update Center.
After these steps, the search for updates will be completed. To run it, you must return the service configurations to their original state.
In some cases, stopping the service and starting it again may solve the problem. Try this before resorting to more complex methods if your computer takes a long time to search for new patches.
Correcting errors in system files
Often such problems arise as a result damage to important system files. This may occur as a result system failures, actions of virus programs, incorrect installation of previous updates and so on.
In Windows OS there is special utility, with which you can automatically find and correct such errors. It does not have a GUI, so users need to launch the system command prompt to use it.
This is done as follows:
If you want to copy this line, you must use the context menu by right-clicking inside the window. The Ctrl + V combination in the console does not work.
After that Windows will scan all system files. All detected errors will be corrected. After this, you should restart your computer and start searching for updates again. If the process is still too slow- need to search other ways to solve the problem.
Microsoft has released special update for their operating systems, patching Windows Update, which endlessly searches for updates. Download links are located on the official website of the developer, so you can download the patch without resorting to services Update Center.
- For owners 32-bit version Windows - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=49542
- For Windows with 64-bit architecture - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=49540
You need select the interface language of your OS and click on the red Download button. Then just run the downloaded file, wait for the installation to complete and restart your computer. In most cases, this patch solves all problems that arise.
Updates KB3020369 and KB3172605
If the previous solution did not help, then you should update the seven by installing two more updates, rebooting the computer between their installations. This method was suggested by several of our readers and it really helps.
Microsoft Troubleshooter
Another way to solve the problem is to use the Microsoft Troubleshooting Tool. Its action is somewhat similar to “sfc /scannow”, with the difference that it was created specifically for Update Center and can solve a significantly larger number of problems. Besides, it has a graphical interface, which makes it easier for users unaccustomed to working in the console.
Do the following:
Wait until the operating system scan is completed. If the utility detects any problems, it will report it and automatically apply fixes.
We hope this article helped eliminate the endless search for updates to the seventh version of Windows, significantly speeding up your computer and making it much more stable.
Video on the topic
With a certain frequency Windows 10 freezes in the process of updating. The problem first appeared back in 2016, but in subsequent releases it was somehow fixed, now there is a new wave of complaints from users about downloading updates. Today, over 60 million users have already downloaded and installed Windows 10, and accordingly, the number of errors also reaches colossal numbers.
Why does my Windows 10 computer freeze when updating?
Windows 10 is stuck, what should I do? – Initially, you should find out about the real problem that caused the freeze. In this case, you will have to restart the PC by long pressing the power button or pressing reboot. After restarting, the update will be removed, but the computer will work.
Among the common ailments of Windows 10, the following characteristic manifestations can be identified:
- During the update process there is a freeze, the milestone is at 25%.
- When transferring user files, a failure occurs and progress stops at 84%.
- update progress is unable to cross the 44% mark.
- Freeze appears at 32% system load.
- The “Receiving updates” window appears and no changes occur.
Important! Do not rush and say that the computer is frozen, since weak PCs can simply install any files for a long time that are not displayed on the scale until the component is completely installed.
If Windows 10 still freezes, you will have to fix the problem with improvised means. Freezing at the specified boundaries indicates a problem; other problems are extremely rare.
When stuck at 25% and 84%
When the Windows 10 update is stuck, you have to look for a solution to the problem in a short time. Here the problem may lie either in the hardware or in the software. Mostly this malfunction is characterized by the appearance of errors with code 0xC1900101 - 0x20004. You can also determine the problem by stopping the LED light from blinking.
Experts have found that the listed problems are directly related to conflicts between the system update and individual components on the PC. Sometimes incompatibility is caused by a peripheral device. When installing more than 1 HDD or SSD in the system, the risk of an error increases several times.
For the reasons described, it is worth offering fairly simple and effective solutions:
- Disconnect all peripherals from the PC, you can leave only the necessary ones: mouse (if there is no touchpad), keyboard, monitor. To prevent incorrect interaction with various devices, you just need to disconnect them and connect everything back together after the update is complete. If there are problems, you will have to download the appropriate drivers.
- In a stationary device, it is recommended to disable the drives or at least leave only 1; perform the same procedure with drives and hard drives. The essence of the method is to maintain the connection with only the most important elements, and everything else is disconnected. To disable the listed elements, simply remove one side of the SATA cable.
- You can download the update to a removable drive from your current or another PC, which reduces the risk of errors. The main disadvantage of the technique is that the system may become unlicensed after installation.
Update stuck at 44%
This problem is typical for the Windows 10 build released in November. The update process stops at 44% and stops responding to anything else.
2 replies were sent from the developer's representative office:
- Some of the problem occurs on computers with a connected card reader and a card inserted into it. That is, just take out the card or turn off the card reader.
- It was confirmed that the problem occurs precisely because of the SD drive, but not all users can disconnect the device from the system, since it contains most of the free memory required to install the system. A solution to the problem is to clear enough space on your hard drive or SSD (3 GB for downloading and 20 GB for installation) or connect a USB drive to the system.
Failure at 32%
This problem is directly related to Windows software. The occurrence of a malfunction is typical after an attempt to update using the Update Center. In this case, it is possible to maintain the situation throughout the day without any changes.
To fix the problem, you must first download all previously released system update packages. You also need to install optional updates; to do this, check the corresponding box. Typically, a full update will install Windows 10 without any problems.
An auxiliary method is to diagnose the Update Center using a special utility built into the system. To launch this function, you must press Win + R together and enter the command msdt /id WindowsUpdateDiagnostic in the window that opens. Then press Enter and select “Advanced” in the window that appears. In the lines that open, you can enter “Automatically fix” and launch with higher rights.
By the end of the procedure, various errors will be eliminated, and the system will be ready for further updating to a modern version of the system.
Stuck when “Getting updates”
A situation where a freeze occurs even before the download/installation starts is also not uncommon. The process of searching for updates does not budge, no matter how long you wait for it.
The easiest way to solve the problem is to eliminate processes from this service, since it is the one that is frozen. You will have to postpone the update for some time. To disable the service you need to:
- Press Ctrl + Alt + Del and go to the “Services” tab;
- Find the item “Windows Update”;
- RMB on the component and “Stop”;
- If that doesn't work, you can select Go to Process and then close it from that tab.
The eternal confrontation between viruses and antiviruses can prevent the update, in which case you need to try scanning the system. If everything is in order, but the procedure still does not progress, you should disable the antivirus, or you can uninstall it, since it will not be transferred to the new system anyway.
If you still have questions on the topic “What to do if Windows 10 freezes during an update?”, you can ask them in the comments
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Every user of computers and laptops encounters automatic updating of the operating system, because the system itself initially recommends running this process by default. So, we already know that if, when you turn off your computer, the message “Updates are being installed” appears on a blue background and the device does not turn off, you just have to wait and it will automatically turn off. But what if this doesn’t happen, and the laptop or computer is stuck on one update and won’t move on?
What should I do if my computer freezes while installing updates?
Since completely shutting down the computer while installing system updates is not completed can damage system files, your possible options for action may be as follows:
- Don't jump to conclusions about restarting your computer. Better wait a little longer. Sometimes the system can continue the started process even after half an hour.
- If more than half an hour has passed, listen to the operation of the hard drive. When the laptop or computer is in complete silence, and the hard drive does not show any signs of operation, then it is indeed possible to force it to shut down. To do this, as you know, just hold down the Power button for a few seconds. If you hear that the hard drive continues to work, it is better to wait until it quiets down.
- After turning off the laptop, you can remove the battery and disconnect the power cable from the network.
- If the laptop or computer does not turn on normally, then it is better to perform a safe boot into Windows, during which the system should be rolled back to an automatically installed restore point.
- Try a clean boot of Windows. That is, in the system configuration window (msconfig command), disable startup items and all services not used by Microsoft (click “Hide Microsoft services” and “Disable all”.
- Check your hard drive for errors. If you do not know how to do this, it is better to contact a specialist to carry out such a check and diagnose the device. After all, freezing can be a signal of a lack of RAM or the presence of viruses in the system.
- Reinstalling Windows is also an option if your computer freezes while installing updates. This method is more radical and, if you have not done this before, it is better to turn to specialists.
If the actions taken do not produce results, and you decide to contact specialists, as, for example, it was indicated in paragraphs 6 and 7, or if your computer still freezes, the ITKEY service center will be happy to help you and advise you on the further use of the system.
The main thing is not to forget about the above rules, especially the first two. Remember that haste and rash actions are obstacles to the normal operation of the device! Do not create such obstacles, and if they arise, we invite you to eliminate them together with the ITKEY service center!
Windows 10 is an imperfect system and problems are common, especially when installing updates.
There are a lot of mistakes and ways to solve them.
First of all, it all depends on at what stage the problem arose and whether it was accompanied by code.
We will consider all possible cases.
The computer froze during the update process
If your computer freezes when updating Windows 10, you need to find the cause of the problem and fix it. To be able to do this, you need to interrupt the system update.
First you need to make sure that the computer is really frozen. If nothing changes at all within 15 minutes or some actions are repeated cyclically for the third time, the computer can be considered frozen.
How to abort an update
If the update starts to install, you most likely won't be able to simply restart your computer and return it to normal; the installation will retry every time you restart. This problem does not always occur, but it is very common. If you encounter it, you must first interrupt the system update, and only then eliminate the cause of the problem:
How to eliminate the cause of freezing
There can be many reasons for being stuck receiving updates. In most cases, you will see an error code message after 15 minutes of inactivity. What to do in such cases is described at the end of the article. However, it happens that no message appears, and the computer continues to endlessly try. We will consider the most popular cases of these.
Stuck at the “Getting updates” stage
If you've been seeing the "Getting Updates" screen for about 15 minutes without any progress, you shouldn't wait any longer. This error is caused by a service conflict. All you have to do is disable Windows Automatic Updates and start checking for updates manually.
Video: How to disable Windows Update service
Stuck at 30 - 39%
If you are upgrading from Windows 7, 8 or 8.1, updates will be downloaded at this point.
Russia is big, but there are almost no Microsot servers in it. Due to this, the download speed of some packages is very low. You may have to wait up to 24 hours for the entire update to download.
The first step is to run the Update Center diagnostics to prevent an attempt to download packages from a non-working server. To do this, press the Win + R key combination, enter the command msdt /id WindowsUpdateDiagnostic and click “OK”.
Press the Win + R key combination, enter the command msdt /id WindowsUpdateDiagnostic and click OK
Also try upgrading your current version of Windows (without upgrading to Windows 10). Once complete, try upgrading to Windows 10 again.
If this doesn't help, you have 2 options:
- install the update overnight and wait until it finishes;
- use an alternative update method, for example, download a Windows 10 image (from the official website or torrent) and update from it.
Video: What to do with the endless update to Windows 10
Stuck at 44%
Update 1511 was accompanied by a similar error for some time. It is caused by a conflict with the memory card. The bug in this update package has been fixed for a long time, but if you somehow encountered it, you have 2 options:
- remove the SD card from the computer;
- update via Windows Update.
If this does not help you, free up 20 GB of free space on the system disk.
Computer froze after update
As is the case with problems during the update process, you will most likely see one of the code errors, the solution to which is described below. But this does not always happen. In any case, the first thing you need to do is get out of the frozen state. You can do this in the same way as if you get stuck during the update process: press F8 when you turn on the computer and select “Safe Mode with Command Prompt Support.”
If you haven't seen the error code, try all the following methods in turn.
Getting error information
Before fixing the problem, you should try to find out some information about the error that occurred:
Video: Event Viewer and Windows Logs
Resolving Conflicts
The most common cause of freezing is that Start menu and Windows Search settings were not transferred correctly from a previous version of Windows. The result of such an error is a conflict with key system services, which prevents the system from starting.
- Open the Start menu, type “services” and open the utility you found.
Open the Services utility
- In the window that opens, find the Windows Search service and open it.
Open Windows Search
- Select the startup type "Disabled" and click the "Stop" button if it is active. Then click “OK”.
Disable Windows Search service
- Open Registry Editor. You can find it by searching “regedit” in the Start menu.
Open Registry Editor from the Start menu
- Copy the path HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\AppXSvc into the address bar and press Enter.
Go to the path HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\AppXSvc
- On the right side of the window, open the Start option.
Open the Start option
- Set the value to "4" and click "OK".
Set the value to "4" and click "OK"
- Try restarting your computer normally. Perhaps the steps taken will help you.
Change user
Start menu settings and Windows Search are the most common causes of conflicts, but there may be others. There is neither the energy nor the time to search for and correct every possible problem. It would be more intelligent to reset all changes, and the easiest way to do this is to create a new user.
- Go to the "Options" window. This can be done through the Win + I key combination or the gear in the Start menu.
Go to the Options window
- Open the "Accounts" section.
Open the "Accounts" section
- Open the “Family and other people” tab and click on the “Add user...” button.
Click on the "Add user..." button
- Click on the “I don’t have data...” button.
Click on the “I don’t have data...” button
- Click on the “Add user...” button.
Click on the inscription “Add user...”
- Specify the name of the new account and confirm its creation.
Specify the name of the new account and confirm its creation
- Click on the created account and click the “Change account type” button.
Click the "Change account type" button
- Select the Administrator type and click OK.
Select "Administrator" type and click "OK"
- Try restarting your computer normally. If all is well, you will see a selection of accounts.
Video: how to create an account with administrator rights in Windows 10
Uninstalling an update
If changing the account does not help, you will have to roll back the updates. After this, you can try to update the system again.
Video: How to remove an update in Windows 10
System Restore
This is an extreme way to solve the problem. It is equivalent to a complete reinstallation of the system.
Video: how to reset Windows 10 to system settings
Black screen problem
The problem of the black screen is worth highlighting separately. If the display shows nothing, this does not mean that your computer is frozen. Press Alt + F4 and then Enter. Now there are 2 options for the development of events:
- if the computer does not turn off, wait half an hour to prevent a delayed update, and proceed to restore the system as described above;
- If the computer turns off, you have a problem playing back the picture. Do all the following methods in turn.
Switching between monitors
The most popular reason for this problem is incorrect identification of the main monitor. If you have a TV connected, the system can set it as the main one even before downloading the necessary drivers for its operation. Even if there is only one monitor, try this method. Before downloading all the necessary drivers, errors can be very strange.
- If you have multiple monitors connected, turn off all but the main one and try restarting your computer.
- Press the Win + P key combination, then the down arrow key and Enter. This is switching between monitors.
Disabling Fast Startup
Accelerated startup involves delaying the activation of some system components and neglecting preliminary analysis. This may cause an "invisible" monitor.
Video: How to turn off Fast Startup in Windows 10
Resetting an incorrect driver for a video card
It might be Windows 10 or you may have installed the wrong driver. There can be many variations of errors with a video card driver. You need to try several ways to install it: by removing the old driver, manually and automatically.
- Restart your computer in safe mode (how to do this was described above), open “Control Panel” and go to the “Hardware and Sound” section.
Open Control Panel and go to Hardware and Sound
- Click on "Device Manager".
Click on "Device Manager"
- Open the “Video Adapters” group, right-click on your video card and go to its properties.
Right-click on the video card and go to its properties
- In the “Diver” tab, click on the “Rollback” button. This is driver removal. Try restarting your computer normally and check the result.
In the “Diver” tab, click on the “Rollback” button
- Install the driver again. Open Device Manager again, right-click on the video card and select Update Driver. Perhaps the video card will be in the “Other devices” group.
Right-click on the video card and select "Update Driver"
- First, try automatic driver updates. If the update is not found or the error persists, download the driver from the manufacturer’s website and use manual installation.
First, try automatic driver update
- When installing manually, you will just need to specify the path to the folder with the driver. The checkbox for “Including subfolders” should be active.
When installing manually, you just need to specify the path to the folder with the driver
Video: how to update the driver for a video card in Windows 10
Code errors, their causes and solutions
Here we will list all the code errors that are associated with updating Windows 10. Most of them can be solved quite simply and do not require detailed instructions. The last resort, which is not mentioned in the table, is to completely reinstall Windows 10. If all else fails, use it and install the latest version immediately to avoid a problematic update.
Instead of "0x" the error code may read "WindowsUpdate_".
Table: Update related errors
Complex solutions
Some of the methods listed in the table are complex. Let's look at those with which difficulties may arise.
Reconnecting the problematic component
To disable, for example, the Wi-Fi module, it is not at all necessary to open the computer. Almost any component can be reconnected through the “Task Manager”.
Clearing lists of scheduled tasks and startups
If an unwanted process is included in the startup list, its presence may be equivalent to the presence of a virus on your computer. A scheduled task to start this process can have a similar effect.
Standard Windows 10 tools may be useless. It's better to use CCleaner right away.
Video: How to disable autorun applications using CCleaner
Disabling the firewall
Windows Firewall - built-in system protection. It is not an antivirus, but it can prevent some processes from accessing the Internet or restrict access to important files. Sometimes the firewall makes mistakes, which can result in one of the system processes being restricted.
Video: How to disable the firewall in Windows 10
Restarting the Update Center
As a result of the Update Center operation, critical errors may occur that will interfere with the main processes of this service. Restarting the system does not always help solve this problem; restarting the Update Center itself will be more reliable.
Defragmentation
During operation of the hard drive, bad sectors may appear on it. When the system tries to read information from such a sector, the process may take a long time and freeze.
Defragmentation redistributes disk files to provide an uninterrupted sequence of clusters. It may last an hour or more.
Defragmentation of a hard drive includes searching for such sectors and prohibiting their use:
Video: How to Defragment Windows 10
Registry check
The registry is a hierarchical database that contains all settings, presets, information about all installed programs and system processes. An error in the registry can have a variety of consequences: from an undeletable shortcut to damage to key services and complete system crash.
Video: how to clean the registry manually and using CCleaner
Alternative update methods
Due to various circumstances, updating Windows 10 in the usual way may not be possible. Among the methods that can help in such cases, two can be distinguished:
DNS check
The cause of the connection problem with the Microsoft server is not always the Internet connection. Sometimes the error lies in broken DNS settings.
Activation of the "Administrator" account
An “Administrator” account and an account with administrator rights are two different things. There is only one “administrator” on the computer and it has more capabilities than an account with administrator rights. The Administrator account is disabled by default.
Video: how to activate the Administrator account in Windows 10
Windows 10 update freezing is a common event, but this problem can be solved quite simply. Not all cases are straightforward, but in extreme cases, everything can be fixed by simply uninstalling the updates.
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