Windows 7 - Windows update stuck at 0kb 0%

tried link http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Disable-antivirus-software

this is a false link - no mention of how to disable antivirus software

Over past two months, three different Windows 7 PCs, all Enterprise version, were refusing to download Win 7 updates. I have them configured to not download, but to prompt me to download and run. When told to run, they would spin at 0% downloaded, and never download or install. Failure every time.

I tried the suggestions here on disabling other services and antivirus (Symantec Enterprise). This accomplished nothing. Did not solve the problem.

About a week ago, I decided to follow someone's suggestion that I turn on Automatic Updates. I did. I also configured each machine to allow monitor to sleep, but for hard drive and OS to NEVER sleep or go into hibernation.

After two or three days, after a shutdown and boot cycle, during the initial boot phase, suddenly Windows informed me that updates were being installed, with a text on black background counting out the installed updates form a total of 30,000 plus as total count. Weird, but that is what it said.

This updated two machines. I am still testing on the third. Yesterday, on one of them, I ran manual updates as usual, and low and behold, this time it actually worked immediately.

Bottom line for me, three installs on three different motherboards with three different configurations of software and use, all Win 7 same service pack levels. This was NOT a problem with anything installed on my PCs, this was a fatal problem / glitch in the Win 7 Microsoft updates, which apparently finally gotten straightened out, probably through some change at Microsofts end.

ALL I did was turn on automatic updates, turn hibernate/sleep off, and stand back and wait a couple of days, and eventually, after a power cycle, updates applied.

It is really, and I say this as a software database developer using Microsoft tools, and who has maintained Windows system professionally at a high level in larger organizations for 30 years, it just gags me to read the advice offered on this forum in which the only solutions are outrageous complicated fiddlings with the machines set up. That should never have to be the case. The update process should be tested and reliable before Microsoft shoves it out the door. Consumers should NOT have to try endless abstruse and for them obscure technical tweaks to make them work.

I often wondered if the old web site www.micorsith.com was put out of business. Their tech advice for Windows owners reminded me of such advice as I see here all to often. For every question, their advice was: FORMAT AND REINSTALL.

I dont own a tin foil hat but I think this very plausible.

Just like you I've tried all the internet help ideas and then found your post.  It seemed crazy simple so i tried it.  it didnt work.   Any other ideas?

MS has crippled windows update on purpose.

They want all of us to upgrade to 10. Simple.

That way big brother (NSA) can keep an eye on use all with ease.

I'll be going to Linux.

Crap, I sat on my tin foil hat...