4 Ways to Fix Error Not Being Able to Update Win 7

Turn off all update modes on Windows 7

To upgrade to patched versions, you must first turn off all update modes on Win 7.

Step 1: Click Start -> Select Control Panel .

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Step 2: In the Control Panel interface -> Select Windows Update .

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Step 3: In the Windows Update interface -> Select Change Settings . Then, the Choose How Windows can install updates dialog box will open.

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Step 4: At Important updates , select Never check for updates (not recommended) -> Click OK .

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1. The process of turning off update mode on Win 7 is complete.

Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

After turning off all update modes of Win 7, you continue to run Windows Update Troubleshooter . This version is capable of handling update errors such as not being able to update Win 7.

Step 1: Rename the folder C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution to C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution.old . This step is necessary to clear the temporary download memory (also known as download cache) on Win 7 Update.

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1. Then click Start -> type the keyword Troubleshooting in the search box. Click Troubleshooting in the list of results.

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Step 2: The Troubleshooting interface appears, Select System and Security -> Click Fix problems with Windows Update . 

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1. A new interface opens, click on Advanced .

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Step 3: Check Apply repairs automatically -> click Run as administrator -> Select Next .

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This step is to grant administrative rights to the processing tool, to ensure it deletes the download cache files.

After selecting Next, the tool will do its work. It will tell you whether it found and fixed the problem. In most cases, the tool will successfully remove the faulty updates. You should try running Windows Update again.

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In case it says that the error cannot be determined, perform the operation of starting (press start), disabling (press stop) the service. Then, clearing the cache will increase the possibility of helping Windows Update work normally again. You have fixed the error of not being able to update win 7!

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Fix Windows Update errors by manually clearing the cache

Run the troubleshooter as above but still get the problem. Or if you prefer to do everything yourself, then manually perform the same operations to fix the problem that the troubleshooter fails to do.

This way helps us have an extra step in the Safe Mode boot process, to make sure that Win 7 really deletes the Download cache on Windows Update.

Step 1: Start Safe Mode.

Press F8 while your computer is booting. This will bring up the boot options menu, which contains the Safe Mode option.

In the Safe Mode interface, you turn off Windows Update by using Command Prompt . First, open Start, type the keyword Command Prompt . Then, launch Command Prompt .

Step 2: At Command Prompt, type the command ' net stop wuauserv ' -> press Enter . Note, keep the Command Prompt window open there.

Next, open the File Explorer window -> access the path C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution -> Delete all files and folders.

Go back to the Command Prompt window , type the command ' net start wuauserv ' and press Enter

Once the service is restarted, close Command Prompt. Next, restart Windows in normal mode. To be sure, try running Windows Update again and see if the problem is resolved.

Using Microsoft FixIt Tool

This tool is quite simple and suitable for those who are not familiar with computers. Because it automatically fixes many errors with FixIt Portable software, including the error of not being able to update Windows 7.

After downloading successfully, double-click the Launch Fixit.exe file in Fix it Portable to run the program. Above, the computer will display error topics (such as errors with connected devices, common errors with sound or video, errors with desktop, .).

Below, show errors related to the categories you select. To display the entire troubleshooting tool, select All problems areas. Or if you want to be faster, click Run Now on the errors that appear to let the program scan. Finally, follow the instructions to fix.

Lesley Montoya

Update 17 January 2025