If you've recently encountered some problems running Windows Update on a Windows 7 PC, you're not alone. As first reported by Computerworld, some Windows 7 users are reporting that Windows Update is broken, throwing up error 80248015. The cause, it seems, may be linked to an expiration date Microsoft forgot to change.
A Microsoft Answers thread on the error is filled with replies, with some users noting they're seeing an error with an accompanying message stating "Windows Update cannot currently check for updates because the service is not running. You may need to restart your computer." ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley has reported a different error, in which Windows 7 simply states "Windows could not search for new updates." According to a post on Ghacks, some are reporting success with getting updates to work once more by setting the PC's date to something before March 12, 2017.
Microsoft has yet to comment on the issue.
Despite losing mainstream support in January 2015, Windows 7 still commands a significant portion of the PC market. Windows 7 is still set to receive security updates through 2020, making a fix for the current issue important for those who still depend on the aging OS.
