Solved Windows Update still hangs at 0KB of 0% after many attempts to fix

[exbucks]

This looks like a duplicate, but I've tried everything I can find, and Windows Update just hangs. It is Windows 7 running on an Acer/Intel Atom/2Gb memory. So far,

1. Checked for Viruses (Malawarebytes and Essentials: none)
2. sfc /scannow
3. Ran FixIt for Windows Update
4. Checked BITS and Windows Update services are running (delayed start)
5. cleared the Distribution folder/subfolders
6. Restored back to November (the last update that worked)
7. Tried the standalone Updater kb3102810
8. Tried both updaters connected via Ethernet, rather than Wireless
9. Set the firewall to default (explicitly allowed svchost)
10. Tried Windows update with just one update (the rest deselected)

Updates have not been getting through since November. Install has been on notify, but I now realise no notifications have been displayed. Security Essentials has been updating fine.

After deleting the Distribution folder, after 3-4 hours the standalone updater recovered the list of all the 60-odd updates needed (which can be seen in the normal Windows Update), but after another 3-4 hours had done nothing other than show a moving green bar.

Resource Monitor shows lots of activity with MsMpEng (disk) and svchost(netsvcs) (disk & CPU).

Are there any suggestions of how to identify what Windows Update is doing - a moving green bar is next to useless - to identify what is blocking it?

Thanks!

 

[torchwood]

Hi Exbucks,
you only have 2GB ram, not really enough even if your running a 32bit version, hence the slowness.
can you run the tool from this link please
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=52012

Roy

 

[exbucks]

I've uploaded a file with the info.

In addition, I forgot to mention that I had run the System Update Readiness Tool, which added no value, and that the network is running on BT Infinity.

Also, my attempt with just one item this am did work eventually (it was 1Mb, I think), after sitting there for 1 hour, but it then it went off and spent 6 hours, and counting, checking for new updates (even though it had found the 60-odd before).

Regarding the 2Gb - it's the most the computer can take - and it was fine up until November.

Cheers.

 

[torchwood]

Hi Exbucks,
Not suprising really, your comps not registered on the MS server.
for the moment turn off your updates

Please d/l KB971033 from here
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=150841

REBOOT

rerun post the MGAdiag results please.

Roy

 

[exbucks]

OK. Done, and attached.

 

[torchwood]

success

Hi Exbucks,
Thats lookin great you should be good to go.
switch your updates back, they will still take sometime to d/l and install, W7's not high on MS server priority list anymore.

can you mark the thread closed if all goes well.

Roy

 

[exbucks]

Thanks, Roy.

Been sitting at Checking for Updates for 15 mins so far. Any thoughts on how to give it? A couple of hours? A couple of days?

In your view, does updating speed improve by upgrading to Windows 10?

 

[torchwood]

Hi Exbucks,
15 mins is nothing at the moment.
Im on the 10 insider ring, took me less than 1/2 to get a whole new 14GB d/l via the update service.
If you have the GWX flag bottom right, nothing stopping you.

Roy

 

[legacy7955]

Thanks, Roy.

Been sitting at Checking for Updates for 15 mins so far. Any thoughts on how to give it? A couple of hours? A couple of days?

In your view, does updating speed improve by upgrading to Windows 10?

It is not ATYPICAL of late for Windows 7 to take up to 2 1/2 hours or so to download all needed updates, just let the machine run, turn sleep off, and let the PC run without doing anything with it, only have it checking for updates and within that time frame you should be seeing all updates, if not something else is wrong, post back with a follow up. Thanks.

 

[exbucks]

Well, it's now been 3 hours, and still Checking for Updates. It has not even got to the point of showing what updates are available, so still way from even offering to download them!

I'm wondering whether to go back to the Standalone Updater kb3102810, which did get to the list of updates once (but only the once).

 

[Sky Ranch]

It could also depend on how long its been since you last updated.

For example, I just downloaded and installed Windows updates for the month of March and it took roughly two hours from checking, downloading and installing those updates. If for instance it's been several months since you updated it could take longer.

Last month it took over fours hours but it eventually finished checking and I was able to download and install them.

 

[DavidE]

On my Test Box Win 8.1 checked for updates, downloaded them, and installed them in < 10 minutes.
On the same PC, Win 7 took about an hour just to check for updates.
Downloading and installing them ran fast, have to re-boot now.

 

[Scottyboy99]

these updates are a joke, I've been trying to download them all evening (4 hours now) and still at 0%. What is going on at MS? This is the first patch Tuesday it's been so bad. have tried resetting and re registering the service but it makes no difference

There is something off with their servers. strangely our two windows 10 machines update just fine tonight. looks like MS is purposely making life difficult for windows 7 users. This particular laptop we wish to remain on 7 for some older software. But here we are either in an infinite 'checking for updates ' loop or if we reboot to get back to the original list of offered updates and choose to install any of them it stays at downloading 0% for hours with no sign of springing to life

 

[DavidE]

So far for me this latest round of Win 7 updates is working great.
On my dinosaur Test Box it seems better / faster than before.
After installing most of the PT updates, WU checks for more updates a lot faster.

 

[legacy7955]

It could also depend on how long its been since you last updated.

For example, I just downloaded and installed Windows updates for the month of March and it took roughly two hours from checking, downloading and installing those updates. If for instance it's been several months since you updated it could take longer.

Last month it took over fours hours but it eventually finished checking and I was able to download and install them.

I know some of the MS Pros here say to keep the PC on and let it run for 48 hours in search mode.
I'd still give that a try as a last ditch effort, the OP is in the UK so perhaps the MS servers will be slower for that part of the world.

 

[Layback Bear]

If you update process is still in the Search mode you can reboot and try again.
Sometimes you get luck and pickup a Microsoft Server that isn't so busy.

 

[exbucks]

Thanks for the replies.

After 12 hours (I was asleep so I don't know when) it had found the 246Mb of updates again.

This time I've gone for downloading the lot, and will simply leave it for the next 24hrs to see if it gets off 0%.

 

[Scottyboy99]

That sounds positive that they eventually displayed. I ended up stopping the update service and renaming the software distribution folder. It reset all the update history but am hoping a clean slate may bring it into life. I then started the check for updates but I only had about 30 mins before I had to go to work so had to shutdown - suffice to say it was still checking when I switched off!!! It's getting pretty frustrating that something that should be relatively quick and simple is causing so much difficulty. I'd be very interested to hear if the download stage ever gets off or past 0% for you

 

[exbucks]

Well, it is good news. After 1 hour it got off 0%, and add 2 more hours and it's all downloaded and installed (over wireless), and now into "configuring updates".

Ironically, I started an update on my Windows 7 Pro PC (Pentium G3220), and that downloaded in 1/2 an hour.

So the moral is? Roy's fix may have helped (it patently need doing), as may have the myriad things I had done earlier, but a large culprit seems to be the MS update servers.

Maybe MS should offer a message, "you are in a queue", rather than just hanging there, so we know when it is not our systems.

Thanks to all.

 

[torchwood]

patch tuesday

Hi EXbucks and all

YESTERDAY was the worst day of the month for downloading, i forgot it was Patch Tuesday.

every second Tuesday once a month MS issues its security updates so basically everybodies d/l's a large chunk of data, if updates are on the default setting.

Happy surfing.

Roy