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
    2011-05-20T17:28:30+00:00

    Using Windows 7 64-bit, I had the same problem.  After 24 hours of waiting, the download was still at 0%.  Then I disabled Microsoft Security Essentials Real-time protection, and the download was able to work.

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-06-22T06:08:56+00:00

    I had a similar problem on my Dell Studio 14 Laptop. I had no trouble installing updates on the 15th and 17th, but on the 21st, It was stuck at downloading them. To resolve this issue, I temporarily disabled my Windows Firewall. To do this on Windows 7, go to Control Panel, then System and Security, then Windows Firewall, and then Turn Windows Firewall on or off. Note, you should NOT keep your firewall disabled, I suggest turning it off, installing critical updates, and then re-enabling your firewall.

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-06-22T06:29:01+00:00

    It should NEVER be necessary to disable the Windows Firewall in order to install a Windows Update!

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