Windows update will not download updates - stuck at 0% downloading

Anonymous
2010-04-17T03:45:39+00:00

Everytime I start windows update it won't download the updates. The bar keeps on running but nothing downloads and the percentage stays at 0%.

Whats wrong? Anything I can do to fix this?

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Windows update

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2011-11-10T19:59:39+00:00

I found a solution to my problem when Windows would search for updates, but then when it started downloading it would stay at 0% forever. I started by stopping the Windows Update service (in my case the service proved to be frozen so I restarted my computer and disabled the service before it starts) and the Application Experience service. After that I went to the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder and pressed ctrl+a and shift+delete to empty its contents. Mine contained more than 70,000 files so it took a while. I started Application Experience and enabled Windows Update. I let it check for updates and try to download them. It worked perfectly.

Do not worry about deleting important windows files in this case. The contents of SoftwareDistribution is used as a cache and data for Windows Update. When Windows Update starts again it rebuilds the cache repopulating it with up-to-date versions of the files and chewing up a ton of harddisk space again.

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Anonymous
2010-04-23T13:09:40+00:00

sash123,

    If this issue is still happening, then take a look at article: Vista Update stops at stage 3 of 3 

Then let us know the results.


*** edited

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216 additional answers

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-09-26T02:34:07+00:00

    Edited for obsolescence.

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-09-26T02:28:47+00:00

    Download 3 updates from Microsoft and install them by double click tem and they will install

    First restart computer

    then install these updates in the order listed.

    Windows6.1-KB3102810-x64.msu    Wait for installation to complete.

    then restart computer

    Windows6.1-KB3135445-x64.msu    Wait for installation to complete.

    then restart computer

    Windows6.1-KB3138612-x64.msu    Wait for installation to complete.

    then restart computer

    check for updates will now find updates but takes about 1 to 10 min.

    for the first time to start getting updates.

    works normal after first time of getting updates

    Unfortunately all that hangs also.  No response from Evilcorp.

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-09-26T02:00:04+00:00

    Download 3 updates from Microsoft and install them by double click tem and they will install

    First restart computer

    then install these updates in the order listed.

    Windows6.1-KB3102810-x64.msu    Wait for installation to complete.

    then restart computer

    Windows6.1-KB3135445-x64.msu    Wait for installation to complete.

    then restart computer

    Windows6.1-KB3138612-x64.msu    Wait for installation to complete.

    then restart computer

    check for updates will now find updates but takes about 1 to 10 min.

    for the first time to start getting updates.

    works normal after first time of getting updates

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments