Hello all, let me start from the beginning. I was attempting to install a game that required an install of Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0. For some reason this would not install properly. After searching about for a while I found a few people saying that downloading the latest Windows update was necessary. "Oh great, a fix!" I thought, but to my dismay, every time I attempted to update I was presented with the following error message. "Windows update cannot currently check for updates because the service is not running. You may need to restart your computer." I tried restarting a few time to no avail. I tried switching to never update, restarting, and switching back to auto update. Didn't work. I thenk looked into my services.msc to see if it was stopped, but I can't even find it in the list. I know for a fact where it SHOULD be, I'm not overlooking it, it's just not there. I'll attach a screen cap to show you. I need some help here. I've tried the Microsoft fix it tool that many people have suggested also with no luck. I'm not exactly a computer expert, so replies in as-close-to-layman terms as you can would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, Mike

Hi Pathogenic, Similar thread Hope this help you. Thanks & Best Regards,Mohammed Imtiyaz Ali

Hi Pathogenic, Similar thread Hope this help you. Thanks & Best Regards,Mohammed Imtiyaz Ali

Hi Mike, I suggest you perform a system restore to check the result. If the issue persists, you can also try the following: 1. Try to take the step 5 in this KB to Register Windows Update engine files. 2. Use System File Checker tool to scan the system. 3. Startup Repair from the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) For detail steps: 1). Insert the Windows 7 installation disc into the disc drive, and then start the computer. 2). Press a key when the message indicating "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD ". appears. 3). Select a language, a time and currency, and a keyboard or input method, and then click Next. 4). Click Repair your computer. 5). In the System Recovery Options dialog box, choose the drive of your Windows installation and click Next. 6). At the System Recovery Options Dialog Box, click on Repair your computer. 7). Click the operating system that you want to repair, and then click Next. 8). In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click Startup Repair. Hope this helps Vincent Wang TechNet Community Support

Hi Mike, I suggest you perform a system restore to check the result. If the issue persists, you can also try the following: 1. Try to take the step 5 in this KB to Register Windows Update engine files. 2. Use System File Checker tool to scan the system. 3. Startup Repair from the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) For detail steps: 1). Insert the Windows 7 installation disc into the disc drive, and then start the computer. 2). Press a key when the message indicating "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD ". appears. 3). Select a language, a time and currency, and a keyboard or input method, and then click Next. 4). Click Repair your computer. 5). In the System Recovery Options dialog box, choose the drive of your Windows installation and click Next. 6). At the System Recovery Options Dialog Box, click on Repair your computer. 7). Click the operating system that you want to repair, and then click Next. 8). In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click Startup Repair. Hope this helps Vincent Wang TechNet Community Support

Download windows update agent from here and install it http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946928/en-us If it still doesn't work try "Fix it" http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058

Download windows update agent from here and install it http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946928/en-us If it still doesn't work try "Fix it" http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058