windows update

Yes, the update loaded manually to your computer will run without being connected to the internet. The notes to the update indicate that is true as well.

That is so much trouble.  The Windows Update Troubleshooter should be the tool for us to use; if you look at the output, it seems to be trying to do the same thing.  I don't know whether it would run if I unplugged my PC from the Internet.

What a mess.  I may just wait until next month and see if MS has this straightened out.

Gohran's solutions seems to work, except in order to prevent the computer from downloading the automatic update, I first downloaded the updates manually, then I disconnected from the internet by pulling the phone line from the router, and then ran the updates. It does seem I had to reboot the computer once before the manual updates would load because the auto update was still being called upon and the manual update indicated I already had the update (the one which kept repeatedly loading and failing.)

me2. happens on my HP Spectre. my other 2 Surface devices don't want to install this update even I force to check for. seem MS has withdrawn the April one?

so sit and wait for a fix...

I have the same problem.  The last time I had a similar update problem (this year) I wasted 2 days back and forward with support etc etc and in the end, those patient enough to wait for a couple of weeks until Microsoft fixed the problem, did not waste 2 days of their life.  Admittedly that time I was unable to stop daily attempts/failures at updating so it was hard to ignore.  This time I am ignoring the Red X for Device performance and hope Microsoft are going to get their act together eventually

It would not hurt Microsoft to acknowledge problems and keep us updated as to when we can expect a solution