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
    2016-03-10T03:10:25+00:00

    Some more Updates now downloaded as if they are coming via quagmire somewhere - slow as a tortoise !

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-03-10T02:44:57+00:00

    Well, i thought to throw my own input into the ring ..i'm facing a similar issue; no notifications down by the taskbar (tho these work; i was able to 'recreate it' , 'manually by going to Windows Update in All Programs .. it just isn't coming 'naturally' .. stuck at 0 kb; now, it's not my update agent (BITS work all that) but, weird thing is ..just recently my Microsoft Silverlight asked to update itself ..The update in question was the same as one of those listed in the agent list. It worked! Yet, the list was still showing it..until today when i glanced; it has refreshed itself ..but the most recent check for updates timestamp hasn't; neither have the 'last installed on' tho this may not be a biggie (it may not detect it since installed via diff avenue)

    So bottom line; it's not my agent since it is respondent (not frozen); it's not the servers because the update in question did come through .. but via different means? It's as if the server is recognizing what is there and what isn't, but it can't transmit via that medium ..

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-03-10T02:43:46+00:00

    I use W7 64 bit version and today that problem of not loading appeared for the first time, it allowed some to download but the majority - no go -  yet the system allows download of  other applications updates such as Firefox, etc

    I tried the MS Fixit - nothing !!!

    Ron

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