When I go to Windows Update and click on Express or Custom, the scanner starts but never stops running. The green bar just keeps going and going but to no avail.

I have tried the Dial-a-fix version 0.60.0.24 and it has not helped with the problem. I checked on the green check at the bottom and ran it and it finished with no errors. I then did a Reinstall of Automatic Updates service and then did a Reinstall of BITS. Nothing has helped.

Click "Flush SoftwareDistribution" and click No (if you don't care about keeping update history). Next time you go to Windows Update, it will rebuild again which will take a while (and you may get no progress bar or one that moves indefinitely again). Be patient here, as it will probably work this time but you will have to give it plenty of time. You may also be prompted to reinstall parts of Windows Update (it's a good sign).