2017-06-10 Let's get to the point.
1. Use WSUS to fix Windows Update
2. I may make WSUS sound difficult - it is not.
3. Give WSUS time to update each section.
4.It will tell you when you need to reboot and if running again is needed.
5. It will tell you when updates are all done.
* If storing or not using a PC for long periods - turn Windows Update off. You do not want to get into a "reverting" loop. Then use WSUS before turning Windows Update back on.
2017-06-09 Download "Win7 SP2" which is a roll up to April 2016. I've had this not work when WSUS worked fine.
Here is a good site for fixing update options if you wish to fool with it.
Windows Update is mostly broken for Windows 7. On some machines, if they have been kept up to date, things may be fine but not always. If you grab a machine that has not been used and/or updated for awhile the thing is a boat anchor. Windows Update will grab resources and never make any real progress. Just grab WSUS Offline Update and your Win7 will be up to date in short order.
Whether you are installing a fresh system or trying to get beyond a hopeless update, WSUS is the answer.
Each time you want to update run the UpdateGenerator.exe file. The first time you run it in each session it may update the program and you will need to run it again.
Once the update is downloaded you will go into the "client" directory and run UpdateInstaller.exe. This may also need to be run more than once due to updates requiring a reboot before installing more. You will be given hints as to what to do but it does not hold your hand. Just run it until you get the completed successfully notice.
I may seem to hang on 6 of 9 updates or whatever. Give it a good amount to time (maybe even overnight) but if it does not complete, close the shell window and reboot. Then run UpdateInstaller.exe again. It should now say installing 1 of 4 (if 6 of 9 was were the numbers). Do this as many times as it takes to finish but sometimes it takes a long time. You can check if it is working by opening Resource Monitor from the Task Manager. But just because TrustedInstaller.exe is not showing does not mean it is stuck. If there is a lot of CPU or Drive activity it is probably still working.
But eventually you should get a completed notice
