Windows 7 - Windows update stuck at 0kb 0%

Hi Arya,

Till now I could install updates for Windows without any issue.

But now I can't. It keeps showing downloading but it remains stuck at 0%.

The only thing that has changed is while earlier my PC connected to Internet directly, now it connects it via a TP-Link router. I have no problems accessing Internet; only thing is that I can't update Windows.

Please help me.

Thanks

First thing is to make sure you have internet connectivity by either going to some website or try running speed test from some well known site.  I use speedtest.net.  If that works then you are in the same boat as a lot of us where Windows is not showing the progress at downloading the updates.  Just let it run.  I have a fast 64 bit Windows 7 computer with a 200Kbps connection and at times it can take between 6 to 10 hours to update.  I just start my updates on the weekend and let it run.

Hi TJ,

Checked with speedtest. Shows 3.78 Mbps download, 2.8 upload. PC hardware can also be termed as fast: i5 4th generation 4670 3.4 GHz CPU, 8 GB RAM.

Are you sure it's not related to this TP-Link device between my PC and the ISP? I don't know why, but I do think some configuration modification is needed on the PC to be able to download updates...

Hi TJ,

Checked with speedtest. Shows 3.78 Mbps download, 2.8 upload. PC hardware can also be termed as fast: i5 4th generation 4670 3.4 GHz CPU, 8 GB RAM.

Are you sure it's not related to this TP-Link device between my PC and the ISP? I don't know why, but I do think some configuration modification is needed on the PC to be able to download updates...

Well there is really nothing to select on your PC to enable downloads.  There is the 4 options of how to update located in the Windows Update > Change Settings area.  I personally have selected that Update automatically checks for updates but let’s me choose whether to download and install.  That way I can choose when I do this so I am not interrupted in the middle of work with some update that requires a reboot.

Your download speed seems to be low if all you are getting is 3.78Mbps.  You should check against what your ISP is telling you are purchasing for internet speeds.

With regard to internet speeds, typically these days the minimums are 25 to 50Mbps with some ISPs  offering up to 200 to 500 Mbps.  I personally have a 200Mbps service.

So depending on how large the update is you may have to wait for a while to get all the downloads.  So with your speed a 100M Byte file would take in the order of 4.5 minutes to download.

If you have bought a faster service than what you measure then I would call the ISP and ask them what is going on.  If the TP Link is a Modem and router combination then the issue may be the Modem part of the device.  The first thing to do is to reboot (power cycle) the TP Link to see if that clears the problem.  It would be a good idea to power cycle it anyway as that is the first thing that your ISP will tell you to do. If you own the TP Link then use the admin controls to get in and look at the link quality.  You may have a problem with the link and not necessarily the device.

If all of this fails then keep in mind that many people in this forum are having the same issue and it is a problem with Windows Update that keeps recurring.

Hi TJ,

You know what... I should have given myself some time before I replied to your previous answer. I let it run and voila! it's downloading... though at speed not very much to my liking (total update size approximately equals 1200 MB... may be that's the reason it's taking so much time).

Thanks a lot... and keep helping people :D

That worked for me.

Mine got super stuck.

I rolled back to previous restore poins, installed patches one by one to fix the windows "check for updates" issue on speed and then I selected just 3 to install as a test.

It sat there for 30minutes showing 0% of 0 completed for download until it hit 94% then went to the install updates section.

My PC has been broken for 9 months and I have over 80 updates to apply.  I never got the Windows update to work so I didn't bother with it till my wireless adapter broke then I had no choice but to fix it.  Has taken me 2 days to get through it and I just hope that none of the updates I am installing create other problems or fail to install.