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
    2016-03-10T23:22:25+00:00

    I use Avira what the industry professionals use..AVG used to be good; lately ..Zen wouldn't install same prob as unsupported USB/when i tried installing it on my mom's computer - XP - guess what ..Xp logo or whatever that prompty warning was ..On an AV! Plus; my system detected it having a virus in the setup file ..really dodgy these days ..

    My setup; Intel Atom N270/1.6Ghz; 1Gb onboad Ram with a further 3 as ReadyBoost hence 4 in total; ample hard disk space; Win7 ..250k mobile broadband (slow connection may affect it, yes; but not like this ..).

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-03-10T23:14:30+00:00

    Over a few hours, all updates downloaded & installed which used to take about 20-30 minutes.

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-03-10T23:10:04+00:00

    I would maybe look into repairing the host file. Check for viruses with avast boot scan. There is only one program i trust to repair the host file. Malwarebytes always point us in that direction. It may be hijackthis i cant remember right off. Let me know some things about your hardware specs and net connection type maybe i can further help.

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