Windows update could not check for updates because the service is not running. You may need to restart your computer.

Question

I restarted my computer but still have this issue.
I changed the setting from "install updates automatically"  to "never check for updates". clicked ok and then changed back to "install updates automatically". Tried to check for updates and still receive the same error.
Windows defender was turned off. I turned it on updated it but still receive the same error message.
The background intelligent transfer service and windows update are set to "automatic delayed start" and the status for both is "started".
I'm running windows 7 home premium 64 bit
I ran the MGADIAG tool and here is the report (windows tab)
Diagnostic Report (1.9.0027.0):
Windows Validation Data-->
Validation Code: 0
Cached Online Validation Code: 0x0
Windows Product Key: *****-*****-QCPVQ-KHRB8-RMV82
Windows Product Key Hash: +Rj3N34NLM2JqoBO/OzgzTZXgbY=
Windows Product ID: 00359-OEM-8992687-00095
Windows Product ID Type: 2
Windows License Type: OEM SLP
Windows OS version: 6.1.7601.2.00010300.1.0.003
ID: {22D605EF-8B21-4E2C-A111-AC15534A1805}(1)
Is Admin: Yes
TestCab: 0x0
LegitcheckControl ActiveX: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Product Name: Windows 7 Home Premium
Architecture: 0x00000009
Build lab: 7601.win7sp1_gdr.130318-1533
TTS Error:
Validation Diagnostic:
Resolution Status: N/A
Vista WgaER Data-->
ThreatID(s): N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Windows XP Notifications Data-->
Cached Result: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
File Exists: No
Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
WgaTray.exe Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
WgaLogon.dll Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
OGA Notifications Data-->
Cached Result: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
OGAExec.exe Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
OGAAddin.dll Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
OGA Data-->
Office Status: 100 Genuine
Microsoft Office Enterprise 2007 - 100 Genuine
Microsoft Office Project Professional 2007 - 100 Genuine
Microsoft Office Visio Professional 2007 - 100 Genuine
OGA Version: N/A, 0x80070002
Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Office Diagnostics: 025D1FF3-364-80041010_025D1FF3-229-80041010_025D1FF3-230-1_025D1FF3-517-80040154_025D1FF3-237-80040154_025D1FF3-238-2_025D1FF3-244-80070002_025D1FF3-258-3_E2AD56EA-765-d003_E2AD56EA-766-0_E2AD56EA-134-80004005_E2AD56EA-765-b01a_E2AD56EA-766-0_E2AD56EA-148-80004005_16E0B333-89-80004005_B4D0AA8B-1029-80004005
Browser Data-->
Proxy settings: N/A
User Agent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 8.0; Win32)
Default Browser: C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
Download signed ActiveX controls: Prompt
Download unsigned ActiveX controls: Disabled
Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins: Allowed
Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe: Disabled
Allow scripting of Internet Explorer Webbrowser control: Disabled
Active scripting: Allowed
Script ActiveX controls marked as safe for scripting: Allowed
File Scan Data-->
Other data-->
Office Details: <GenuineResults><MachineData><UGUID>{22D605EF-8B21-4E2C-A111-AC15534A1805}</UGUID><Version>1.9.0027.0</Version><OS>6.1.7601.2.00010300.1.0.003</OS><Architecture>x64</Architecture><PKey>*****-*****-*****-*****-RMV82</PKey><PID>00359-OEM-8992687-00095</PID><PIDType>2</PIDType><SID>S-1-5-21-3546321622-335202686-625851561</SID><SYSTEM><Manufacturer>Dell
Inc.</Manufacturer><Model>Inspiron 1545                   </Model></SYSTEM><BIOS><Manufacturer>Dell Inc.</Manufacturer><Version>A14</Version><SMBIOSVersion
major="2" minor="4"/><Date>20091207000000.000000+000</Date></BIOS><HWID>A27B3407018400F8</HWID><UserLCID>0409</UserLCID><SystemLCID>0409</SystemLCID><TimeZone>Eastern Standard
Time(GMT-05:00)</TimeZone><iJoin>0</iJoin><SBID><stat>3</stat><msppid></msppid><name></name><model></model></SBID><OEM><OEMID>DELL  </OEMID><OEMTableID>WN09  
</OEMTableID></OEM><GANotification/></MachineData><Software><Office><Result>100</Result><Products><Product GUID="{90120000-0030-0000-0000-0000000FF1CE}"><LegitResult>100</LegitResult><Name>Microsoft
Office Enterprise 2007</Name><Ver>12</Ver><Val>64BC76978749586</Val><Hash>GW6PzcEVEDTVKeO5Ym5UUm41dBk=</Hash><Pid>89388-707-0441865-65517</Pid><PidType>14</PidType></Product><Product
GUID="{90120000-003B-0000-0000-0000000FF1CE}"><LegitResult>100</LegitResult><Name>Microsoft Office Project Professional 2007</Name><Ver>12</Ver><Val>3AB862DE70D8D86</Val><Hash>UfpXsJvSSVcPufbDdjd0NK73+ug=</Hash><Pid>89403-707-4159871-63552</Pid><PidType>14</PidType></Product><Product
GUID="{90120000-0051-0000-0000-0000000FF1CE}"><LegitResult>100</LegitResult><Name>Microsoft Office Visio Professional 2007</Name><Ver>12</Ver><Val>3AB862DE70D8D86</Val><Hash>UfpXsJvSSVcPufbDdjd0NK73+ug=</Hash><Pid>89405-707-4159871-63071</Pid><PidType>14</PidType></Product></Products><Applications><App
Id="15" Version="12" Result="100"/><App Id="16" Version="12" Result="100"/><App Id="18" Version="12" Result="100"/><App Id="19" Version="12"
Result="100"/><App Id="1A" Version="12" Result="100"/><App Id="1B" Version="12" Result="100"/><App Id="3A" Version="12" Result="100"/><App
Id="44" Version="12" Result="100"/><App Id="53" Version="12" Result="100"/><App Id="A1" Version="12" Result="100"/><App Id="BA" Version="12"
Result="100"/></Applications></Office></Software></GenuineResults>  
Spsys.log Content: 0x80070002
Licensing Data-->
Software licensing service version: 6.1.7601.17514
Name: Windows(R) 7, HomePremium edition
Description: Windows Operating System - Windows(R) 7, OEM_SLP channel
Activation ID: d2c04e90-c3dd-4260-b0f3-f845f5d27d64
Application ID: 55c92734-d682-4d71-983e-d6ec3f16059f
Extended PID: 00359-00178-926-800095-02-1033-7600.0000-3562012
Installation ID: 013283726900825816725312972325821572457642476266069113
Processor Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88338
Machine Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88339
Use License URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88341
Product Key Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88340
Partial Product Key: RMV82
License Status: Licensed
Remaining Windows rearm count: 4
Trusted time: 2/27/2014 11:12:34 AM
Windows Activation Technologies-->
HrOffline: 0x00000000
HrOnline: 0x00000000
HealthStatus: 0x0000000000000000
Event Time Stamp: 12:25:2013 15:59
ActiveX: Registered, Version: 7.1.7600.16395
Admin Service: Registered, Version: 7.1.7600.16395
HealthStatus Bitmask Output:
HWID Data-->
HWID Hash Current: LgAAAAEAAQABAAIAAAABAAAAAgABAAEA6GFwuHZK2jMchnYOKB9UbZombj1Gyg==
OEM Activation 1.0 Data-->
N/A
OEM Activation 2.0 Data-->
BIOS valid for OA 2.0: yes
Windows marker version: 0x20001
OEMID and OEMTableID Consistent: yes
BIOS Information:
  ACPI Table Name    OEMID Value    OEMTableID Value
  APIC            DELL          WN09   
  FACP            DELL          WN09   
  HPET            DELL          WN09   
  MCFG            DELL          WN09   
  SLIC            DELL          WN09   
  SSDT            PmRef        CpuPm
I also ran the following commands in an elevated command prompt
NET START BITS
NET START WUAUSERV
SC QUERYEX BITS
SC QUERYEX WUAUSERV
Here is the result
Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.
C:\Windows\system32>NET START BITS
The requested service has already been started.
More help is available by typing NET HELPMSG 2182.
C:\Windows\system32>NET START WUAUSERV
The requested service has already been started.
More help is available by typing NET HELPMSG 2182.
C:\Windows\system32>SC QUERYEX BITS
SERVICE_NAME: BITS
        TYPE               : 20  WIN32_SHARE_PROCESS
        STATE              : 4  RUNNING
                                (STOPPABLE, NOT_PAUSABLE, IGNORES_SHUTDOWN)
        WIN32_EXIT_CODE    : 0  (0x0)
        SERVICE_EXIT_CODE  : 0  (0x0)
        CHECKPOINT         : 0x0
        WAIT_HINT          : 0x0
        PID                : 400
        FLAGS              :
C:\Windows\system32>
C:\Windows\system32>SC QUERYEX WUAUSERV
Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.
C:\Windows\system32>NET START BITS
The requested service has already been started.
More help is available by typing NET HELPMSG 2182.
C:\Windows\system32>NET START WUAUSERV
The requested service has already been started.
More help is available by typing NET HELPMSG 2182.
C:\Windows\system32>SC QUERYEX BITS
SERVICE_NAME: BITS
        TYPE               : 20  WIN32_SHARE_PROCESS
        STATE              : 4  RUNNING
                                (STOPPABLE, NOT_PAUSABLE, IGNORES_SHUTDOWN)
        WIN32_EXIT_CODE    : 0  (0x0)
        SERVICE_EXIT_CODE  : 0  (0x0)
        CHECKPOINT         : 0x0
        WAIT_HINT          : 0x0
        PID                : 400
        FLAGS              :
C:\Windows\system32>
C:\Windows\system32>SC QUERYEX WUAUSERV
SERVICE_NAME: WUAUSERV
        TYPE               : 20  WIN32_SHARE_PROCESS
        STATE              : 4  RUNNING
                                (STOPPABLE, NOT_PAUSABLE, ACCEPTS_PRESHUTDOWN)
        WIN32_EXIT_CODE    : 0  (0x0)
        SERVICE_EXIT_CODE  : 0  (0x0)
        CHECKPOINT         : 0x0
        WAIT_HINT          : 0x0
        PID                : 400
        FLAGS              :
C:\Windows\system32>
I can't remember the last time updater worked correctly but it's been a really long time.
Thanks for any help you can provide

Answer 1

Hi,
Please try this
Stop Windows Update Service and BIT Service now.
Go to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution and delete all file under this folder.
Start Windows Update and BIT service now.
Then try to download windows update now.
If doesn't work, please reset the windows update componments 
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058/en-us
Yolanda Zhu
TechNet Community Support