Windows 7 Update Service Not Running

Anytime you get the “Windows 7 Update Service Not Running” message when you try to update Windows 7 it can be frustrating but don’t panic. We just need to know how to go about getting the updates functioning again.

First before doing anything, I recommend backing up all your data before proceeding. There are several ways to jumpstart the windows 7 update service but I’ll mention the one that worked for me. If you wan tto see the other methods, check out: https://www.wintips.org/windows-update-cannot-check-for-updates-windows-8-7-or-vista-solved/.

1. Simultaneously press Windows key + R  to open run command box.
2. Inside run command box, type: services.msc and press Enter.
3. Search for Windows Update service, then right click on it and select Stop.
4. Leave the services window open and open “My Computer” and navigate to “C:Windows” folder.
5. Delete (or Rename e.g. to “SoftwareDistributionOLD”) the “SoftwareDistribution” folder. (I had trouble renaming and found that I had to stop the service again in step number 3.)
6. Go to Windows services again (the window we left open in step 4.) and “Start”the Windows Update service.
7. Try to update Windows again.

This is what worked fo me!