Some Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 are experiencing a bug in Windows Update that prevents them from checking for new updates.
According to reports, the error first appeared on December 3rd and is likely a server issue, so users may not be able to do anything to fix it. Microsoft has not yet commented on the issue.
The system update check fails and the following message appears: "Windows could not search for new updates" while clicking on the "Get Help" option displays the following: "Windows Update cannot currently check for updates because the service is not running. You may need to restart your computer".
Restarting the system or pressing the “Try again” option makes no difference, and at present there are indications that at least two solutions resolve the problem.
A possible solution is to deploy older security codes as this is not the first time Microsoft has “broken” Windows Update in Windows 7. Also, to restore Windows Update functionality you can set the date to March 12, 2017 and the problem will be fixed.
It's worth noting that Microsoft's eternal rival, Apple, also recently faced an iPhone bug that could also be addressed by resetting the date.
We want to believe that Microsoft will already be preparing the appropriate software fixes and will present them to us as soon as possible.
