Mystery..WU hasn't run for 6 mos, can't connect download.microsoft.com

Hey all - just happened to notice that WU has not been updating. I built this PC a year and a half ago; it claims to have last checked for updates on Dec. 2, 2016. "Update history" claims "no updates have been installed yet." Hmm.

So I tried several of the suggested fixes here and elsewhere, including resetting WU, SFC command, and started poking in the registry, where I noticed that finally went to download the WU fix-it utility.....and I discovered that in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows, I don't have a "windowsupdate" folder like I should. I ran AVG and Malwarebytes and they claimed to have found and quarantined some malware, but no success. So I went to download the Windows Update Troubleshooter, and my brower (Chrome or IE) will not connect to download.microsoft.com.

SO

Is it possible a virus/malware (though they should all be cleaned up now, but the issue persists) has both removed Windows Update from my registry *and* is actively preventing me from connecting to Microsoft to fix this?? This really is a weird issue!

Thanks so much for reading all of this - I would greatly appreciate your expertise!!

If you've had malware then all bets are off, as dalchina suggests, and I totally agree that taking a backup image is your first step.

Just to share some of my experiences in trying to unblock Windows Update:

The windows update troubleshooter from Microsoft is a fairly small file (less than 200KB last time I tried it). If you have access to another computer you could perhaps email it to yourself if you don't have another way to transfer it?

The one which worked for me is Reset Windows Update in Windows 10. However I did have to manually disable the Windows Update service and restart the computer before that batch file would run for me, which is worth doing if the service didn't stop when you tried it?

Another thing which causes Windows Update to get stuck for me is the box within Advanced Options which says "Give me updates for other Microsoft products when I update Windows". I had to untick that to free up Windows Update, presumably because some other software (not Windows itself) was jamming up the works.

Open administrative command prompt and run these commands:

1) winver (view the pop up and post the windows version and build into the forum)
2) sfc /scannow
3) dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
4) chkdsk /scan

Right click on the top bar of the administrative command prompt box then left click edit then select all. Then right click the top bar again, then left click edit then copy. Then paste the results of the above commands into the forum.

Open the Microsoft easy fix and run the windows update troubleshooter:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...-fix-solutions

Alternatively open control panel > troubleshooting > left pane click view all > then run any of the troubleshooters to improve the performance.

Guys, thank you all so very much for taking the time to post these incredibly helpful posts. I think since I'm missing the entire WU folder from my registry, I may be wise to assume that malware has been up to no good. I think I'm going to start with the manual update as laid out above - will report back!!

This is very interesting especially given all the publicity of the recent ransomware attacks - it wouldn't seem out of the realm of possibility for those responsible to try in advance to suppress the very updates that would close the loophole in question. I'll sleep better tonight when this is hopefully working!

................so I can't complete the Macrium Reflect disk image because it wants to download a file from: download.microsoft.com :)

AND ALSO

.......I can't redownload Windows because it wants to download a file from: download.microsoft.com :)

So I'm going to try to download both of these things somewhere else and throw them on a USB drive. Man, frustrating!!

theTastyCat said:

................so I can't complete the Macrium Reflect disk image because it wants to download a file from: download.microsoft.com :)

AND ALSO

.......I can't redownload Windows because it wants to download a file from: download.microsoft.com :)

So I'm going to try to download both of these things somewhere else and throw them on a USB drive. Man, frustrating!!

It's perhaps not surprising that Windows Update doesn't work, as it will no doubt be trying to download from there too.
Is it possible that something on your Wifi box/ router/ etc. (rather than the computer) is blocking that URL?

Good question, David. Since I'm grandfathered into unlimited data on my phone and 4G is lightning fast, I connect through it and have for ten years. I've never had a problem accessing any other site, so I'd say I'd be surprised if that were the case. Tonight or tomorrow I'll see if I can get a laptop to access download.microsoft.com - ought to give a good answer on that. Thanks again for all the help! Will report back.

Which carrier are you grandfathered with? Unlimited data often comes with fine print (data is unlimited for phone use but throttling begins after X amount of data is used, or unlimited data is not unlimited for tethering and that is limited to 3 GB/mo). If you have unlimited data with no throttling and unlimited data for tethering then you have an amazing plan. If you download and install speedtest what speeds are you getting when you use the data plan?

What is the make and model of your computer?
Each computer manufacturer has a F key so you can boot to a device.
This would enable you to boot to the USB flash drive without having to change the bios boot order.
If you have a custom built computer then you would need to change the boot order.