Windows Update cannot check for updates

I have been trying for several days now to get Windows Update to work, but I keep receiving the same message, that "Windows cannot currently check for updates because the service is not running. You may need to restart the computer."

I have Windows 7 - Win7 64-bit, and Internet Explorer 64-bit. My security program is Avast! free antivirus program 7.0.1474

I have repeatedly restarted my computer. I have made every effort to be sure that my Wondows Update &gt Change Settings is correctly set:

• Install updates automatically (recommended)
  
• Install new updates: Every day, at 4:00 AM
  
• Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates
  
• Allow all users to install updates on this computer
  

When the system does attempt an update, I leave the system up and running so it can do its thing. When I come back 12 hours later, it is still attempting to run the defrag.

So I can't request updates, and the system appears to be unable to defrag.

How do I get the "service" to start running again? I have followed the instructions that were posted by Microsoft Support's Halima S., and both methods failed.

What, exactly, do I have to do now? Because this has gotten very old, very fast.

View this thread