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
    2016-07-15T08:57:13+00:00

    You're recommending installation of three (?) Windows 7 update clients and four Windows 7 patches total in Windows Vista...

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-07-15T08:44:47+00:00

    OK, after contacting MS support (really most helpful guys :-) ) I think I have a solution:

    1. Search for "ResetWUEng" and use the tool to reset the Windows Update Agent (files ... whatever!), use it,
    2. Look for and download the "Windows6.1-KB3135445-x64" (or x32 if u r if u r using Windows x32), install it,
    3. Restart and it should work. (a good guide is found at http://www.ricksdailytips.com/fix-windows-update/)
    4. There is also another update I installed which I read somewhere that it fixes the stuck Windows Update, so download and also install  "Windows6.1-KB3145739-x64", now this should resolve ur problem, it did mine.
    5. Finally, and I am not sure this is needed, but I also installed "Windows6.1-KB3102810-x64" and "Windows6.1-KB3138612-x64" and restarted.

    Pls confirm it works for u.

    Good luck, and many thanks to Microsoft Support.

    Ammar 123

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-07-14T21:56:45+00:00

    I had the same problem on all my PCs so I quit requesting updates. So All I can do now is:

    Instead I just leave my Vista PC on a few hrs every day, and I get one important  Automatic update every day.

    Better than nothing,  I guess.

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