Windows 7 update failure - success finally!

I posted a few months ago about a problem I was having trying to update a from scratch installation of Windows 7. I did get some feedback but still wasn't able to do any updates.
After countless hours of online research, I finally lucked out after following a thread on 'Sevenforums' posted by 'Mergatroid'. I'm not much good at posting links so I did a copy and paste instead. I hope that this isn't against this site's rules but the workaround worked for me on 2 different computers (a desktop and a laptop) so I thought that someone here might be helped by it too. Plus you guys have helped me a ton over the years and I can't thank you enough for that.
------------------------------------------------
Per Mergatroid on Sevenforums - all credit to him/her:

A fix for failed updates after installing windows 7
This problem had been driving me nuts over the last year.
I would do a fresh install of Windows 7 for a customer, and the updates would fail to function. This is for Windows 7 Pro or Home, with service pack two.

I tried everything. Hunted the 'net for hours. Finally, I had settled on downloading some 3rd party software that would force-feed Windows its updates. This would work, but it took a while and was a rather inelegant solution.

Then I stumbles across a webpage that has an answer that actually worked.

1. Disable Windows Updates (tell it to never check for updates).
2. Reboot.
3. Download and install Internet Explorer 11.
4. Download update KB3102810 and place it on your desktop (make sure you get the correct one, 64 bit or 32 (X86) bit). Place on your desktop.
5. Reboot.
6. Go into Computer Management (right click on Computer in Start Menu) and select Services.
7. Stop Windows Update service.
8. Start Menu, Computer, C: drive, Windows, delete the entire Software Distribution folder.
9. Double click on update KB3102810 and let it install.
10: Reboot (this will turn update service back on).
11. Go into Windows Updates and check for updates. Give it about an hour, it may take less time but be patient. It will start working.
12. After installing your updates, you can turn Windows Update automatic check for updates back on if you like.

I have tested this on four fresh Windows 7 Home Premium and 3 Windows 7 Pro fresh installs and it worked on all of them.

 

Why was IE 11 needed?
____________________

 

I'm not sharp enough on software to be able to answer that. Maybe there are updates associated with IE11 that make the process go smoothly. All I know is that it worked for me. Enough said. lol

 

Congrats!

I had a laptop that wouldn't update (and wouldn't work properly without the update) for about a week. Did everything from rolling back to a previous date to messing with system files.

I can't even remember the rabbit hole that got it to finally finish and work. But when it did, it was glorious.

And also maddening because I immediately thought of how much time I spent trying to get the thing to just work.

 

I won't touch Windows 7 updates again. Just turn it off. My PC crashed twice right after windows updates. Not worth the trouble.