Windows Update stuck at searching for updates, MSU also stuck at Searching for updates in Win7

Yesterday I clean-installed Windows 7 Ultimate x64 with my own legit license key, on my Dell Inspiron 1440 laptop. No issues so far, except some serious, frustrating Windows Update issues. Also, I had selected to install only important updates automatically (Some updates were installed automatically, which I found out when during logon screen I got some "Configuring windows updates..." messages). Today, after updating all my drivers & doing a bunch of 100% safe tweaks, I decided to update my Win7 Fresh Install, and went to Start Menu > Search "Windows Update" > Windows Update & clicked Check for Updates button. Then, it is stuck at "Checking for updates" since 2 hours (???!!!):
http://i.stack.imgur.com/MdZhr.png [Can't embed images cuz I'm a newbie in this forum]

When I googled this, I got a bunch of threads (even in this forum) regarding this issue, and saw many answers like "Installing this update", "Installing that update", "Updating WU Client", "Running MS FixIt" but unfortunately none of them worked for me.

And the most strange problem is that even the Standalone Update Installer ".msu files" are stuck at "Searching for updates on this computer..." since past 1 hour:
http://i.stack.imgur.com/UMLhJ.png

Most of the solutions mentioned in forums is to install some WU Client updates, but what's the use if I can't even install .msu files!

So is there any solution for this frustrating problem? Thanks.

And a request to mods: Please don't mark this thread as duplicate as it involves other problems too

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