Windows Update Install never finishes

I have a laptop with Windows 7 Home Premium, has been running fine for over a year. (I'm sending this from another computer)

Recently, Windows Update gives trouble. There are 7 updates to run, but Update runs interminably (over 24 hours on 'Installing update 1 of 7).

I've had to turn off power, but now it starts up with 'Installing 1 of 7 ...').

I was advised to use a command prompt to 'net stop wuauserv', rename Software Distriburion folder, and restart.

On Restart, it looked OK to me, in that it had lost reference to 7 updates, etc, and was searching for updates.

Now it's back to interminable 'Installing 1 of 7 ....'

If relevant, the update giving trouble, IMHO, is one with Reference KB2965301 - 32 bit edn.

 

KB2965301 is an update for Office 2010. Are you running Office 2010? If not, you don't need that update and can right click it and select Hide Update.

 

Thanks. I'll do that - I don't use 'Office' on the lap-top myself - (in fact, I don't use it much at all, but it will be handed on to my wife in the future, she does use Office. Her computer is approaching the end of its life, I think).

I use Libre Office, myself.

There's no way to recover the situation, I suppose? And, I'm guessing that that particular update will stay 'hidden', and whatever it is supposed to do may get superceded by some future update?

 

The update will remain hidden but, should it be needed in the future, you can always restore hidden updates from within the Windows Update dialogue box. It may not necessarily be superseded. If it was an optional update rather than an important update, I wouldn't even worry about it.