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

Anonymous

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?

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Anonymous

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

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.

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216 additional answers

Anonymous

2016-04-10T19:54:16+00:00

Microsoft products are steadily becoming worse everyday. We are going back to the windows 3.1 quality of product.

My apple or linux products do not experience the pain that I have experienced with Microsoft products in the last three years.
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Anonymous

2016-03-16T14:35:55+00:00

yeah, that at the end :p there got me using Win10 ..it will be preloaded on my Surface anyways; 'cos i was considering a Mac ..but too big; and, anyways, i want a tablet ..

Surface..:) Surface 3..not a mac ..

Thing is, as you might recall, i said to have noticed the nmbr of updates on the update agent list ..in 'optional' too, went from 69 to 66 .but i cannot say that for certain; it may be because they pulled some updates from there as well ..

i don't wanna say cpu's have no effect ..like, logically 'cos d/ling would be the bandwidth /speed ..installing yes; just to check, tho ..i dunno; but if you did it then ..

For now i will be using WIn7 then ..and if the updates are dandy i guess i'm ok (???) then ..

My best guess at the moment; the update agent/ UI it's like trying to tune in with an old tv; you may get the picture, but you can't do much with it ..Thus; yes; this is (would seem to be) why it still reacts ..also why the check for updates time on there doesn't sync.. It is till useful to see what is on offer; but it's not d/ling..'cos there's nothing to d/l; hence, the d/l doesn't take ages - it is blazing fast, 'cos when they come, they come, we saw this with the 13 updates ..now as for the rest yeah they seem to be on a drip somewhere ..most likely/'cos the 13 were recent(? but it IS via a different medium ..
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Anonymous

2016-03-16T09:12:03+00:00

Yes 2015 windows 7 it will include service pack 1 and all latest updates by there may be a 2016 version. Windows 10 is better than 8 or 8.1 in my opinion. Windows 10 is fine but it includes alot of software support for the latest hardware which my older socket 775 motherboards and core 2's done need. I dont ever plan to run a directX 12 graphics card in those older pc's either. My core i5 i will use windows 10 and directX 12 graphics. Hope that helps
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