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
    2016-07-15T13:02:53+00:00

    SOLVED:

    Windows 7 SP1 64

    Extremely frustrated for many days trying every solution posted on the Internet. Then finally I found this comment on Softpedia's website and it absolutely works (very easy - but why should we have to do this?):

    To resolve this issue: first install KB3145739 manually. Go to Microsoft website to download and then install, even if your Installed History already shows this update............................etc...

    Thanks for the tip.  I too have problems with updates on my Win 7 PCs.  I've tried all those tired "Fixit" tools and other recommendations, and nothing seems to work.  Sad that Microsoft can't make Windows Updates simpler, more easy to troubleshoot, and hey -- how about error-free?

    One particular "fix" for repairing Windows Update included a page a registry edits and other laborious steps that would take an average PC user over a cliff.  Come on, Microsoft!

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-07-15T09:18:10+00:00

    You can't install Windows 7 patches in Windows Vista.

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-07-15T09:15:27+00:00

    Yes, the Windows Update Reset script does the reset (the image on the site shows Vista but worked on my Win7 x64).

    Yes, install 3 Windows Updates, is that too much? I have so far installed 200+ updates as I installed a fresh Win7 version, it has taken me a good four days of trials and resets and ... :-(

    U r welcome to try my (Microsoft's) suggestion BUT PLEASE do make restore point backups as needed and take an image of your disk if u can, I did.

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