Windows update has a red X and says service not running.

Hi,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community Forum. Please be assured that we would do our best to assist you.

Please answer the following questions which would help us to provide better solution:

1.        May I know the antivirus installed on the computer?

2.       Were there any changes made in the Computer prior to this issue?

I would suggest you to follow these methods and check:

Method 1: Try the Windows update troubleshooter and check:

Open the Windows Update troubleshooter

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Open-the-Windows-Update-troubleshooter

Method 2: Check if the following services are running. If they are not started try to start them.

Background Intelligent Transfer Service

Cryptographic Service

Windows Update

Windows Installer

a. Click Start, type "services.msc" (without quotes) and press Enter.

b. Double-click the service name in the Services list.

c. On the General tab, next to Startup type, make sure that Automatic is selected.

d. If the service is not running, under Service status, click Start, and then click OK.

e. Once the services are started and set as running, try to install the updates and check.

Method 3: Empty the software distribution folder.

a. Click Start, click Run, type services.msc, and then click OK.

b. In the Services (Local) pane, right-click Automatic Updates, and then click Stop.

c. Minimize the Services (local) window.

d. Select all the contents of the Windows distribution folder, and then delete them.

Note By default, the Windows distribution folder is located in the drive:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder. In this location,drive is a placeholder for the drive where Windows is installed.

e. Make sure that the Windows distribution folder is empty, and then maximize the Services (local) window.

f. In the Services (Local) pane, right-click Automatic Updates, and then click Start.

g. Restart the computer, and then run Windows Update again.

For more information you may also refer the following link and check:

Unable to install updates in Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2509997

CHKDSK Disclaimer:

While performing chkdsk on the hard drive if any bad sectors are found on the hard drive when chkdsk tries to repair that sector if any data available on that might be lost.

Registry disclaimer: This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry refer this link:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Back-up-the-registry

Hope this information helps. Please feel free to reply back, we would be glad to assist.