Fix Windows Update Standalone Installer getting stuck at "Searching for updates on this computer"

How to fix Windows Update Standalone Installer getting stuck at "Searching for updates on this computer" when you try to install a .MSU update:

While installing a standalone .MSU update for Windows Vista or newer, you may encounter Windows Update Standalone Installer seemingly get stuck at "Searching for updates on this computer". This can go on for 15 to 45 minutes, taking even longer in some circumstances e.g. your computer is not fully up-to-date.

To fix this, follow the steps below:

1. First, open Windows Update and see whether it is currently downloading and/or installing updates, or you have updates available for installation.
2. Once you are sure that neither of the above are true, disconnect your computer from the internet.
3. Then, open a Command Prompt window as administrator and enter the following commands:
   - taskkill /im wusa.exe /f
   - net stop wuauserv
4. Go back and try to install the .MSU file again. The "Searching for updates on this computer" step should now complete in less than 5 minutes.

The above procedure worked on Windows Vista SP2 and Windows 7 SP1.

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