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
    2016-11-26T20:59:42+00:00

    I gave up as well, meh2k.  I have 2 Vista and Win 7 PCs and both run well -- no issues, except for no updates possible.  During update attempts, the d/l screen shows 0% for hours.  And hours.  I've tried all/most of the "fixes" to no avail.  Should updating a Vista or Win 7 PC really be that complex, erratic, or fidgety?  My Win 8.1 and Win 10 PCs update just fine -- for now....

    Really, Microsoft?  Can you come up with a sure-fire fix for update probs?  Why not!

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-11-26T18:51:22+00:00

    Thanks https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/profile/7bc40762-4d06-4b15-ab2f-ffd970ac92ffmeh2k;

    I have two PC's that have the same problem.

    My Vista and Win 7 PCs running at 1GHZ Wifi connection doesn't work, so I tried the Windows 7 PC on Road Runner at 50GHZ Wifi and it didn't work either.

    Now I just set them to auto Update and I get one single update per month....at least that lets me run Security Essentials once a month.

    So I give up.

    dano

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-11-25T00:25:43+00:00

    Thanks for your story. Might work for some, but the problem is with Microsoft. I have been connected to fibre for couple of years with no problems ever updating original Vista and later Win7 on my old, very reliable Sony VAIO laptop.

    Just a couple of months ago, the zero% download problem appeared and it just won't fix itself. Same computer, same network, same speeds. Just Microsoft!

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