Windows 10 setup: hangs on Checking for Updates

Thanks Dude! Now I Have Windows 10!

MaskMarvl said:

Note: I know the above is an old post but perhaps other people can benefit from this.

Leave the Windows 10 Setup window as is and try this:

1. Go to Services (Press Windows+R. This will prompt run dialogue box. In here, type services.msc) and stop the Windows Update Service.

2. Go to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution and delete all of its contents.

3. Restart the Weindows Update Service.

4. Go back to the Windows 10 Setup window and you should see the process continue.

Hope this works for you!

MaskMarvl said:

Note: I know the above is an old post but perhaps other people can benefit from this.

Leave the Windows 10 Setup window as is and try this:
1. Go to Services (Press Windows+R. This will prompt run dialogue box. In here, type services.msc) and stop the Windows Update Service.

2. Go to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution and delete all of its contents.

3. Restart the Weindows Update Service.

4. Go back to the Windows 10 Setup window and you should see the process continue.

Hope this works for you!

Restarting the service kick started the updates but now it's stuck at 11%....Gah! Maybe I need to stop and start the service again...?? I'll give it a try!

I did this during the Windows 10 "hanging" on Getting Updates
Go to Services (Press Windows+R. This will prompt run dialogue box. In here, type services.msc) and stop the Windows Update Service.

And 20 seconds later it moved on to the next screen. You don't need to stop the install. I found it hung on cleaning up files. So on the third attempt I tried what I just posted :)

Here's a trick that got me past it: Wait until you get to the accept the EULA screen for the MCT - then disable your Internet connection. When the "Downloading Windows..." screen appears turn it back on. VOILA!

I had all kinds of problems - my Win7 wouldn't update either so I wanted to leapfrog to 10...now it's working!

I have another problem i downloaded the windows to 66% and i slept.Then I saw it says checking for update.I restarted my computer and it came from first what should I do?

Johnjohnjohnjoh said:

I have another problem i downloaded the windows to 66% and i slept.Then I saw it says checking for update.I restarted my computer and it came from first what should I do?

A couple of things (most were recommended here already, so I can't lay claim to discovering them...):

-Try stopping the Windows Update service for about 30 seconds - monitor the network connection you are using to get to the internet to see if suddenly there is activity again. If it does magically start working you can restart the service (I suspect the Windows 10 installer might be butting-heads with the Windows Update service).

-Use a USB or CD image for the install of Windows 10 - that seems to negate a lot of the issues - use the MCT.

-Remove **ALL** un-needed hardware and uninstall/disable the drivers from the device manager. This was a big one for me as I had an obscure USB device that might have been causing some of the problem.

-Shut-down all un-necessary services **HOWEVER** keep the ones for Windows Update running: "http://www.sevenforums.com/windows-updates-activation/291508-windows-update-service-not-running.html"

-Turn off/suspend your Anti-virus software...and maybe consider un-installing any programs that are not needed. Kill all of the processes from Task Manager that are non-Windows required.

By the way, back up your entire system beforehand in-case there are problems - you can get into a bootloop and wish you had!

Hope that helps - again I can't/won't lay claim to discovering the fixes above - those worked for me and it took half a dozen passes to get it right.

Now that I updated this particular home-built PC (was Win 7 Pro x64 with an ABit AWD9-Max2 MB, 8GB Ram, NVidia GT-650 vid, Intel E6600 DC proc OC'd to 3Ghz, 1TB WD 72k HD) to Win10 it's like a new machine!

Although what I provide here works on all devices, it worked very nicely in upgrading from win 8.1 to 10 free on my Dell Venue 8*Tablet.
I searched the internet and the solution is combination of couple of posts which I provide direct link to here. This upgrade worked past Microsoft's free upgrade date for Windows 10 long after it expired.

The way I did this was pulling up the instruction on a different PC (for reference PCX) and following it on the Dell tablet.

1. Go to Microsoft's site* Windows 10, click "Download Tool now" and download it*into a folder in PCX. Once it is downloaded, The file*name will become "Windows 10 MediaCreationTool.exe"

2. Get a minimum of 8GB USB flash drive and insert it in your PCX. Go to the folder where you downloaded "Windows 10 MediaCreationTool.exe" and click on it. When prompted, choose "Create installation for another PC" and click next. The default will popup for Language(English) , Edition (Windows10), Architecture (32*or 64 bit).*If the architect shown is not*correct for Tablet you are upgrading, then uncheck the "use the recommended option for this*PC*and select either 32 bit 64 bit, or both.* I recommend choosing one of the 32 or 64 bit. Click next. "USB flash drive" should be selected. Click next and choose your USB flash drive and click next. Let the process complete. It usually takes about 15 minutes. This is your windows 10 upgrade media now.

3. Turn on your Tablet. right click on the "Start" icon, choose "Run" and type in services.msc. Go down on the list and*click on "Windows Update" and stop*the service. Then Go to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution and delete all of its contents. There will be many subfolders and stuff. Delete them all.
Restart the Windows Update Service. This step was borrowed and modified from Windows 10 Forums)

4. Turn off the tablet's Wi-Fi. Just click on it and turn it off.

5. Turn your tablet off and back on

6. On your PCX follow steps 1,2, and 3 only from http://www.afterdawn.com/news/articl...-10-upgrade*on your tablet.

7. Turn your tablet off and back on again.

8. Inset your flash drive in your tablet and follow the prompts. It will upgrade your windows 8 to windows 10 while keeping your personal files and apps.

9. After all is done, turn on the Wi-Fi on your tablet*and resume using it.

texware said:

And the MCT told me windows was not activated. I was forced to activate Windows 7 (again) and restart the Windows 10 upgrade process from scratch. Anyone using this process might want to consider double checking the status of Win7 before restarting the Windows Update Service

i don't think you were supposed to delete SoftwareDistributions, just delete its contents. remember, the folder is still a needed Windows file. deleting the folder will reset Windows Updates, and Microsoft more than likely placed safeguards to make sure no one does that in an attempt for the updates to not recognize they're using a deactivated version of Windows.

MaskMarvl said:

Note: I know the above is an old post but perhaps other people can benefit from this.

Leave the Windows 10 Setup window as is and try this:

1. Go to Services (Press Windows+R. This will prompt run dialogue box. In here, type services.msc) and stop the Windows Update Service.

2. Go to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution and delete all of its contents.

3. Restart the Weindows Update Service.

4. Go back to the Windows 10 Setup window and you should see the process continue.

Hope this works for you!

I did it but still stuck at getting updates.what i need to do?

Coa111 said:

I did it but still stuck at getting updates.what i need to do?

after calling Microsoft on it, giving them your email will allow them to unlock the Media Creation Tool for you. once you redownload the Media Creation Tool again and start the download, it will give you the option to either scan for updates then or to do updates when you are done installing Windows 10. it worked fine for me.