Q&A for How to Check for Updates for Windows 7

Depending on your Internet connection speed and computer speed, it generally takes around five or 10 minutes.

If you are able to connect to your router via an ethernet cable, that may speed up the process.

Try checking your Internet connection, then try restarting your laptop. If that doesn't work, try entering the error code it gives you into Google to check for specific tips on resolving.

It depends on the type of update. If you are doing a version update (e.g. Windows 10 1903 to 2004), it may take about 25 minutes. Most other updates should take about 13 minutes. One time, I thought that an update was stuck because there was nothing on my display but my display driver was just disabled during the update.

To remove malware from your Windows 7 PC, you can use Microsoft Security Essentials by selecting the Start icon, typing Microsoft Security Essentials, pressing Enter, choosing the 'Full' option from Scan options, and selecting 'Scan now.' You can also use the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool to remove about 80% of known viruses and spyware.

Try canceling the update or consider resetting your operating system. Remember that support for Windows 7 ended in 2020.

Support for Windows 7 ended in 2020, so you may already have all the updates. Alternatively, you might have missed several updates like Service Pack 1, KB4474419, and KB4490628, which Windows Update needs to function. You can manually download these from www.catalog.update.microsoft.com. After installing them, Windows Update should be able to install any other missing updates.