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

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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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  1. Anonymous
    2016-08-15T02:37:07+00:00

    Before running Windows Update, all applicable updates listed at this page need to be installed manually:

    https://answers.microsoft.com/message/9366cc04-59d6-4b37-bee9-dffcdc7c602a

    Regards, VZ

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-08-15T02:23:29+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?

    It actually does seem to be updating.  the progress display never changes and it takes hours, but it does eventually finish.  Just let it run in the background as you go about your other business.

    In my case, I had 127 updates, about a years worth.  The troubleshooter found something.  But, it said that there was still a problem it could not fix.

     I let the updater go in the background.  after an hour or two, when I went to shut down, the button in the start menu had changed to let me install updates and shut down.  After I powered up the next day, It was down to only 120.  A similar, but shorter cycle, got me to 119.   I let it run for a full day and got to the usual dialog box about restarting your computer.  That got it to seven.  Another cycle got it reporting success.  But, it now wanted to work on a new batch of 11.  As I type, it is working on those.  It still shows 0% complete though.

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-08-10T18:26:38+00:00

    I just received an e-mail from Microsoft about a "First answer Badge" is there such an award??

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