Windows 7 laptop - stuck on update

All,

I have a personal laptop at home that is Windows 7 64-bit Ultimate.
Getting very old.  Last night it had 14 Windows updates I tried to apply.
It sat on the first one for over an hour until I cancelled it because I
wanted to go to bed.

I clicked Start/shut down too quickly to notice the shield on shut down, so
it immediately started applying updates with the blue background.  I just
left it plugged in all night and this morning it was still on 1 of 14.  So
I left it plugged in all day (at home) while I'm here at work.  No real
confidence it will get any farther today.

I have never seen this before, have any of you?  I've had updates fail
plenty of times but never just get stuck.  I've not some googling today and
it appears there are several things to try.  Not looking for a lot of help
as I can try these various things myself, just a 'point me in the right
direction' if you've seen it before and suspect something will work.

Thanks.