[Updated] Windows Update broken for some Windows 7 users, no word yet on fix

Windows Update is supposed to help keep your system up to date and safe, but according to a report from ZDNet, the feature is not working at all for some Windows 7 users. Even worse, there’s still no word from Microsoft about the issue as of yet, and it appears as though a simple expiration date hidden in the system registry may be the problem.

Again, the issue appears to be affecting a broad set of Windows 7 users, as noted on the Microsoft Answers forum. Some users are seeing an 80248015 error code when trying to update (with no other info), and some are getting a follow-up message telling them that the Update Service cannot currently check for updates because it is not running, or no updates are available (when in fact there are updates available).

This is all rather strange, primarily because Microsoft is supporting Windows 7 until January 2020. Anyway, it is being recommended by some users to change the system date back in time to March 12, 2017 as a temporary workaround to the issue. We’ll be updating this article is Microsoft issues an official fix or statement.

Update: Microsoft has apparently corrected the problem. Though no details were provided, a spokesperson said: “We resolved the issue causing a delay in the update delivery service.”