[Solved] Windows not updating

[Richard Wright]

My Windows 7 is no longer updating automatically.

When I try to change this the message is "Windows Update has been disabled by your system administrator".

However, this is a standalone computer, I am the only person who has ever used it and my user account says that I am an administrator.

So, why can't I change this and does anyone have any idea how to solve the problem?

[Plastic Nev]

Hi Richard, you are not the only one. Something has happened and possibly due to a previous Microsoft update which at the moment is unknown.

I have always had my windows updates set to manual using the setting "Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them" I used to then get the small bottom task bar notification that new updates were ready to be installed. However that has also stopped happening and I have to check the updates from the control panel now and then to see if there are any to install.

The problem is possibly down to some update previously installed that may have been part of the Free upgrade to Windows 10 business.

As yet there seems no way round.

 

Nev.

 

Nev.

[Richard Wright]

My problem is, I can't even check for updates from the control panel as I get a box which says "Windows Update cannot check for updates because updates on this computer are controlled by your system administrator". Although I am logged in as administrator (and mine is the only user account) it doesn't seem to recognise me as such. I haven't been able to update for several weeks. Neither can I change the settings for how I receive updates.

[Plastic Nev]

Hi Richard, firstly lets see if this Windows trouble shooter can sort the problem for you.

 

Click on the one for Windows 8.1, 8 or 7

 

https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/kb/971058

 

Nev.

[Richard Wright]

Apologies for the delay in replying, very busy time at present.

I tried the automatic troubleshooter but it did nothing.

Should I try the manual instructions that follow it? Don't want to risk making things worse .................

Richard

[Plastic Nev]

Hi Richard, there is another fix it available which might work and is an update for the update agent, try this first.

 

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/949104

 

Scroll down till you find the right one for your system.

 

If still no access and can't alter anything it may be a permissions problem, but we will look into that later.

[Richard Wright]

Hi Nev

I'm getting the same answer, can't do it because I'm not logged in as administrator, though User Account says I am.

Richard

[Plastic Nev]

OK Richard, it is a permissions thing, so lets try the simple one first.

Click on the start orb, then type in the search box :-

 

Windows update

 

It should be top of the list that appears, right click on it, then click on "Take ownership"

 

You should get the usual UAC box asking if that is what you want to do, just click yes.

 

Very briefly you may see a DOS type box open and disappear again.

 

See if that gives you permission to go further.

 

Nev.

[Richard Wright]

I followed the instructions up to the right click on Windows Update, but the option "Take ownership" wasn't there.

From the options available, I did try "Run as administrator" but that had no effect.

Richard

[Plastic Nev]

Hi Richard, that is a bit of a puzzle to me as things seem the wrong way round, however the option to run as administrator should have given you the access.

I have asked one of our other staff to have a look and see if he has any idea's.

 

Nev.

[KenB]

Hi Richard

 

Try the following:

 

1. Start > type in .......services.msc ......Enter

 

2. Scroll down to "Windows Update Service" ......right click on this and select "Stop"

 

3. Now go to Start > Computer > C: > Windows and scroll down to "SoftwareDistribution" folder

Right click on this and select "Rename"

Rename it .......SoftwareDistribution-old

 

4. Now go back to "Windows Update Service" and right click on it .....then click on "Start"

 

5. Restart your computer.

 

If this doesn't let your system run updates then go back to SoftwareDistribution-old folder and rename it back to Software Distribution.

[Richard Wright]

No success again, I'm afraid, tried this but no effect.

Richard

[RandyL]

Hi Richard.

 

To the helpers on this thread:

 

Could a AV suite be blocking Windows updates? Just curious.

 

Could a previous infection changed something?

 

Richard what protection do you have? Have you recently been infected?

[Richard Wright]

Hi Randy

I just have Microsoft Security Essentials and Firewall.

I ran a full scan to check for infections and it didn't find anything.

Windows stopped updating in July and I hadn't had any infections at that time that I know of. I did recently start getting ads, but stopped them with Adblock Plus and the ads appeared well after Windows stopped updating.

What seems so strange is that I seem to be able to do everything as administrator except for changing the Windows Update settings.

I did consider setting up a new user account with administrator privileges and trying to log on with that but wasn't confident enough to try it..

Richard

[KenB]

Hi Richard,

 

It is easy enough to set up a new User Account - and worth a try :)

click here

[Richard Wright]

When following the link above for setting a new User Account I found this on the same page

 

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/enable-disable-windows-administrator-account/

 

I was wondering if this might relate to my problem as it says : "The built-in Administrator account is disabled by default in Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista. It is disabled to enhance security as this is a common account targeted by hacking scripts and hackers when they try and access your computer without your permissions."

 

I may be talking nonsense but I wondered if this might have been enabled by some malware?

 

However, when I try to follow the instructions provided and the Computer Management screen opens and I expand the System Tools folder, the folder "Local users and groups" isn't there.

This might not be relevant but .......................

Richard

[Richard Wright]

Well, I think my conjecture above must be wrong. I've run the applications as described in the sticky thread "Before posting for Malware Removal help." to remove any Malware. The Additions log from Farbar Recovery Scan Tool includes the following :

==================== Accounts: =============================

Administrator (S-1-5-21-4239949622-3236995968-1435575603-500 - Administrator - Disabled)

Guest (S-1-5-21-4239949622-3236995968-1435575603-501 - Limited - Disabled)

HomeGroupUser$ (S-1-5-21-4239949622-3236995968-1435575603-1005 - Limited - Enabled)

Richard Wright- (S-1-5-21-4239949622-3236995968-1435575603-1000 - Administrator - Enabled) => C:\Users\Richard Wright-

 

Running the Malware applications has also had no effect on the update problem, though they did find and remove quite a few things ......

 

Richard

[KenB]

Hi Richard

 

The hidden Administrator account will be disabled.

If it was enabled you would see it on the login screen when you switch on.

 

Did you manage to create a new account ?

If so - what were the results ?

[Richard Wright]

Hi Ken

Yes, forgot to say I tried the new account with administrator privileges but again no change when logged in with that account.

Richard

[Plastic Nev]

Hi again Richard, perhaps there is only one thing left now and that is to get you into the hidden administrator account, once in that account you should have full control of everything and be able to alter the settings for Windows updates from that account.

It is easy enough to get into, though because of security I was reluctant to go there till other ways had been tried.

Here is how to access the hidden account.

 

First click the start orb, then type in the search box CMD.

You should then see at the top of the list a small oblong black icon and cmd.exe

Right click on it and then select "Run as administrator"

You may get the UAC box open, just click "Yes"

A black DOS like box should open.

Either type in or copy and paste :-

 

net user administrator /active:yes

 

Then hit the enter key on the keyboard.

 

It is best to fully shut down the computer then reboot, you should then see the new "Administrator" button to log on.

There will be a short wait of a few minutes while Windows configures settings for that account.

Once the account fully opens, see if it is then possible to change those Windows update settings.

 

Make sure you re-hide the hidden account once you are done working with it by re opening the CMD as previously and then type or copy and paste :-

 

net user administrator /active:no

 

The hidden account should then be inactive again and not show up on the log in screen.

 

Nev.

[Richard Wright]

Well, I've done all that, everything went as expected, logged on with the new Administrator but still no change. Very peculiar

Richard

[KenB]

Hi Richard

 

Go back to "Services" and check the following:

Check the “Cryptographic Services”, “windows update” and “background intelligent transfer service” services are all running and set to "Automatic"

[Richard Wright]

Hi Ken

The first two are OK. However, the BITS does NOT say "Started" and is set to "Manual".

Richard

[Plastic Nev]

Ah, that explains something for me as well, as my BITS is also set to manual although it does say it is started. Probably why I am not seeing the usual "Updates are available for your computer" Pop up window.

 

Right click on the BITS service, then click on "Properties" in that box you should see the start up type drop down menu for "Manual, Automatic, disabled, Automatic (Delayed start)" and set it to Automatic.

Click Apply, and then OK.

 

Let's see if that works. :D

It might need a reboot so that Windows sees the change.

 

Thanks Ken for finding that odd anomaly.

 

Nev.

[Richard Wright]

Another thing I've tried, still no change.

Richard