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.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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.

Was this answer helpful?

1700+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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

Was this answer helpful?

500+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

216 additional answers

Sort by: Newest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2015-12-29T17:18:50+00:00

    Great job MS, now I am stuck at finding updates. This is certainly NOT a fix for all of us and as in my case I am now worse off than before. Who needs updates anyways...

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2015-12-26T07:57:04+00:00

    Hi Hari, sounds like you are on the right path. Yes i confirm the same thing with windows 10 upgrade situation. There are 3 updates related to windows 10 upgrade so what I've done is hide them and all the updates dated after that will install very slow 1 to 3 or 4 hours to finish.

    You dont have to do the long update one by one and you dont need to boot into safe mode. Safe-mode only strips the hardware and software drivers that are loaded by windows apon boot and could but, not likely cause a conflict.

    To date the only problems i have found was using coretemp software. Also for a more non conflicting method to update try to use a land line. Personally i tether to get mine. I have been able to update faster without a problem as soon as the latest dec, 2015 updates are slowly installed. I think its like the last update i installed by itself went very well and fast, even my hardware updating for bluetooth and game controllers and such did fine. Its just something at that certain point in windows 7 do to the windows 10 upcoming. Good luck.

    I stress to make sure you pc fans and dvd roms are all functioning like new or these things can cause a range of unwanted problems.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2015-12-26T06:43:37+00:00

    I am also facing similar issues.. This happened earlier when windows 10 update icon came into my taskbar.. Since then my regular windows update doesn't work.. When I thot of updating to windows 10.. it says my proc isn't compatible (funniest thing is I was using release preview for one year, I know the work around but then I didn't want to take that step).. Somehow after going thru many blogs I removed windows 10 update icon and also made windows 7 update to work .. Now again the **** windows 10 upgrade has come up and my windows 7 update has gone for a toss..

    I am pretty sure that Windows 10 upgrade is what is the actual problem behind my windows 7 not get updated.. :( any easy solution to this..?? I don't want to waste another day again researching different blogs and resetting the update again and again. 

    Hari

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments