microsoft [Guide + Tested Fix] Windows Update in Windows 8.1[x86+x64]: Slow/Not Checking for Updates - High CPU/RAM Usage - Internet Usage but no updates detected - Last Update stays Days Ago or Never - No Internet Usage - Slow Installation Issues

[vissha]

[Guide + Tested Fix] Windows Update in Windows 8.1[x86+x64]: Slow/Not Checking for Updates - High CPU/RAM Usage - Internet Usage but no updates detected - Last Update stays Days Ago or Never - No Internet Usage - Slow Installation Issues

 

Many people fed up with Windows Update issues and many sites/forums and even the Microsoft Support requesting for a refresh/reset/reinstall/clean installation of the OS[Windows 8.1]. However, it is unnecessary if you follow the below tested guide. Also, those who have already done refresh/reset/reinstall/clean installation of the OS can make use of the fix in the end of the guide directly to fix Windows Update Issues. Many wonder when they install Windows 8, windows updates work fine but after upgrading to Windows 8.1, the issue starts again.

 

Many of Windows troubleshooting guide including the Microsoft Support guides and everywhere ask users to Enable Automatic Updates and it'll download the necessary updates to fix the issue for recently installed OS devices[clean/fresh install]. However, this isn't working for most people. Also, the settings "Metered Connection", "Automatic Updates linked to Maintenance", Fast Startup and more settings hinder the normal fix on Windows 8/8.1 and later. Microsoft is really making things hard. If you wait for maintenance to fix, it won't. You'll either end up with maintenance completed but issue not fixed or maintenance doesn't run at set time.

 

FYI: In my context, Windows Update corruption is mostly linked with inbuilt background tasks like Maintenance, Automatic Defragmentation and some of our own/scheduled/set time for "Sleep" or "Hibernate" settings/config.

 

Note: Some sites/forums incl. Technet/Microsoft Support may recommend entering Audit Mode/OOBE Mode using Sysprep to check for updates and then boot to normal mode. However, it is currently reported by many that Windows Update doesn't detect any updates in this mode but stuck in checking for updates loop and also your OS may enter into Audit mode loop which mostly the tricks to come out doesn't work at all. It happened to me once. I had to re-install the OS completely again. Hence, please don't ever test it to fix Windows Update issues.

 

FYI: In this guide, I'm not mentioning KB2919355 since the newer windows installation ISO already include this update. If you have a much older ISO, then you should check in "Installed Updates". If not found, download and install this update from here: x86 or x64. Please read install instructions and install the updates in the specified order or you'll land in a new trouble. Read "Steps to Avoid Searching for Updates Issue while using Standalone Installers" in the end of this post for faster installation initiation of standalone installer.

 

Basic Steps:

Note: Not applicable to recently installed OS devices[clean/fresh install] or if you recently used refresh/reset. Please skip the basic step and move to the next step.

 

Others, follow the Basic Steps before proceeding to "Windows Update Fix - Tested".

 

In Windows 8.1, if you experience issues with Windows Update, please follow the basic steps one after another.

1. Check Connection Settings:
   1. Open "Internet Options" from IE or open Windows Explorer and copy paste "Control Panel\Network and Internet" and press enter.
   2. Click on "Connections" tab. Then click on "LAN Settings".
   3. Make sure "Automatically detect settings" is Enabled and others incl. Proxy are Unchecked.
   4. Now follow the further steps.
       
2. Check Windows Update is turned on with proper setting and you have a stable internet connection:
   Note: Make sure that updates are turned on for other Microsoft Products and Services.
   You can check this here: Open Windows Update, you should see that: You receive updates stating "For Windows and other products from Microsoft Update". If it states, "Windows only", then click on "Change Settings" and check the box under "Microsoft Update".
    
3. Inbuilt Windows Update Troubleshooter & Standalone Troubleshooter:
   1. Open Control Panel, Click "Find and Fix Problems". Alternatively, copy paste "Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Troubleshooting" in address bar without quotes in windows explorer. Or Open Action Center and click "Troubleshooting".
   2. Under "System and Security", Click "Fix problems with Windows Update".
   3. Click on "Advanced" and click "Run as administrator".
   4. Now, click Next. Optionally, if you want to know the issues detected before fixing, then uncheck the "Apply repairs automatically" and then click Next.
   5. Take note of the detected error codes, issues and the fixes done. It'd be helpful, if you still have trouble after applying all the steps.
   6. Now Reboot[make sure the fast startup is disabled] in power options. Power Options-> Choose what the power buttons do -> change settings that are currently unavailable.
   7. After reboot, open both the task manager[to check network usage and activity, CPU usage and RAM usage] and Windows Update.
   8. Now, click on Check for Updates. Max time to wait on an average internet speed is 1 hour.
   9. If it solves the issue, well done. If not, try the same using latest Diagnostic Windows Update Troubleshooter from here.
       
4. CHKDSK in command prompt:
   1. Open elevated command prompt, which means Command Prompt[Run as administrator]. Press "Ctrl + X" and press "Shift + A".
   2. Note: If your main partition is not "C:" drive, replace the "C:" with your main partition drive letter in the command "CHKDSK C: /F /R" without quotes and run it. It should ask for reboot(s).
   3. It should fix some Windows Update issues. If you still have issue with Windows Update, proceed to next step.
       
5. Inbuilt DISM Tool:
   1. Make sure that you have internet connection turned on. Also, make sure you keep a copy of the log file from "Main partition->Windows->Logs->DISM->dism.log" after running "ScanHealth" or "RestoreHealth" or "Start ComponentCleanup".
   2. Open elevated command prompt, which means Command Prompt[Run as administrator]. Press "Ctrl + X" and press "Shift + A".
   3. Now, run the command "DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth" without quotes. It should show no component corruption found.
   4. If it shows corruption found, run the command "DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth" to check if the corruption is repairable.
   5. If repairable, Run the command "DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth". Note: It'll take few mins to hours. It starts doing its work from 20%. However, it stops in 40% too.
   6. If it shows corruption fixed, then the DISM part is over and proceed with sfc scan step-7. However, if you get corruption not fixed, then proceed with the sub-steps below.
      1. You need a Windows 8.1 OS installation ISO with "install.wim" file located in "sources" folder. If you don't have one, you can get it from Tech Bench download ISO for Windows 8.1. Since the Tech Bench download page is blocked after Windows 10 upgrade offer ended, Please Reply to this thread and I'll provide the unique Microsoft download link in PM.
      2. Once you have the ISO, mount the ISO. No need of third party tools. Just right click the ISO and choose "Mount".
      3. Now, open elevated command prompt and run the command "Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:wim:D:\sources\install.wim:1 /LimitAccess"
         Note: Replace "D:" with the exact drive letter of the mounted ISO.
      4. It should fix the corruption. If you get error, run the command "Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup" and then run the RestoreHealth Command above.
   7. If corruption is fixed, then you should run the sfc /scannow. You can view the usage guide here. Make sure you keep a copy of the log file from "Main partition->Windows->Logs->CBS->CBS.log"
   8. Now Check for Updates in Windows Update and if still taking hours with no detection or no internet usage with more CPU usage, proceed to next step "Windows Update Fix - Tested".

Windows Update Fix - Tested:

Note: This fix is also applicable for clean install / refresh / reset / recently installed devices. This fix doesn't have any Windows 10 connection or telemetry which makes it trusted fix from Microsoft.

• Download using Microsoft Update Catalog:
  Note: If you use IE with Microsoft Update Catalog with addon, you can continue using IE. Or if you have other browsers, you can use it instantly without any addon installation.
  
  Visit this page and click "Download" according to architecture and OS installed. In the pop-up window, click the link to start downloading the .msu file.
• Download from Download Center:
  You can visit this KB Details page and locate the downloads according to architecture and OS installed.

Steps to Avoid Searching for Updates Issue while using Standalone Installers:

1. Change Windows Update Setting to "Never check for updates" and Disable/Disconnect Internet.
2. Install the update. Note: After installation started, change Windows Update Setting to "Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them" and enable Internet.

Note: If you are already in a search for updates loop in standalone installer, close the window and use end process tree in open task manager -> Details tab -> wusa.exe. Once done, open main partition in Windows explorer and delete the newly created folder named in a type of encrypted code. Then follow the above 2 steps to install again.

 

[Not-Recommended Fix] Alternatively, If you like to fix with Win 10 related update, you can manually install alternate fix KB3112336 or any newer Windows Update Client for Windows 8.1.

 

Source: My own article guide by personal experience.

 

Update - New Windows Update Client to fix if the above fix doesn't help:

 

[straycat19]

Source?

[DKT27]

Excellent work here.

[coua]

the title is so long, it makes me confuse  lol  

[vissha]

1 hour ago, coua said:

the title is so long, it makes me confuse  lol  

Every detailed topic makes you confused. Please read the title carefully and you'll understand perfectly.

 

If you still don't get it; here is the simple briefing:

The topic is about specific Windows Update Issues in Win 8.1. However, the specific issues/symptoms are listed with "-".

[silv3rdagg3r]

This is some piece of work, good job.

[vissha]

Update - New Windows Update Client to fix if the above fix doesn't help: