Latest windows updates stuck on downloading at 0%

This has never happened before but I can't download the latest batch of updates! I've tried downloading one at a time but it makes no difference, just stuck on downloading 0%. I've tried to go into services.msc to switch off windows updates but it says 'stopping' with the options to stop/re-start greyed out.

I've tried the windows trouble shooter which detects problems and then says resolving but again after 20 minutes or so it still says the same thing. Does it take a long time (perhaps I'm being impatient)?

I've run out of time tonight but will try the windows update system readiness tool tomorrow.

In the meantime, does anyone have ideas I could try? As I say, I've never had problems downloading updates before.

LevelBest

You mean, it's searching for updates, takes a while, finds the updates, but when you select to install, it takes forever to download?

If that's the case, how long did you wait for it to start downloading before cancelling?

As johnny20 says, it takes a while. Be prepared for probably 2 hours plus to find & download these updates.

Mine took over an hour at the first attempt & half of them failed to install properly. The second one took over 2 hours but eventually succeeded.

I have also found that if you are browsing on the internet while the updates are downloading, they always seem to fail to install properly.

johnny20 said:

You mean, it's searching for updates, takes a while, finds the updates, but when you select to install, it takes forever to download?

If that's the case, how long did you wait for it to start downloading before cancelling?

Click to expand...

No, it listed the updates to install, so it wasn't searching for them. When I hit install, that's when it stuck on downloading the updates at 0%. I know it takes a while, but you can at least see the percentage of download going up. As I say, never had a problem before but will try again tonight.

LevelBest

LevelBest said:

johnny20 said:

You mean, it's searching for updates, takes a while, finds the updates, but when you select to install, it takes forever to download?

If that's the case, how long did you wait for it to start downloading before cancelling?

Click to expand...

No, it listed the updates to install, so it wasn't searching for them. When I hit install, that's when it stuck on downloading the updates at 0%. I know it takes a while, but you can at least see the percentage of download going up. As I say, never had a problem before but will try again tonight.

LevelBest

Click to expand...

I'm having the EXACT same problem as you I believe. I have my update selection to
"search for updates but let me decide when to download them" so I have to manually initiate the download of the updates. Yesterday I was downloading the latest IE 11 cumulative update, and it appeared to be proceeding as usual a little slow (but I have 768/128k DSL) and then mysteriously at about 85% the internet service light on my modem turned from green to red, then after about 5 or 10 seconds it turned green again...I have found in the past year that the ONLY time this happens is when I am attempting to download from MS servers NOWHERE ELSE does this happen!

Then I had the "failed to install" notice and the error 8007ee2 which I believe is saying that there was indeed an issue with MS servers...


I is pretty clear to me that microsoft servers are refusing or timing out during updates for Windows 7.

My father has a Windows 10 OEM PC and it has NEVER had issues updating during the past year and he also has the exact same DSL service I do using a different CO, but other than that no real difference.

LevelBest said:

johnny20 said:

You mean, it's searching for updates, takes a while, finds the updates, but when you select to install, it takes forever to download?

If that's the case, how long did you wait for it to start downloading before cancelling?

Click to expand...

No, it listed the updates to install, so it wasn't searching for them. When I hit install, that's when it stuck on downloading the updates at 0%. I know it takes a while, but you can at least see the percentage of download going up. As I say, never had a problem before but will try again tonight.

LevelBest

Click to expand...

This happens to me fairly often recently, and I never see a partial download. It goes from 0% to a significant figure or, more commonly, all the way at once. (I rarely sit and watch the whole process.) I used to give up and try another time, but I've found just waiting usually solves the problem. The time involved varies, but try giving it 2-3 hours before stopping.

gini said:

This happens to me fairly often recently, and I never see a partial download. It goes from 0% to a significant figure or, more commonly, all the way at once. (I rarely sit and watch the whole process.) I used to give up and try another time, but I've found just waiting usually solves the problem. The time involved varies, but try giving it 2-3 hours before stopping.

Click to expand...

Actually this is true....It seems like MS servers are severely throttling their servers for windows 7 updates.
I know most folks don't pay such close attention to their modem traffic status, but I do and I would bet that I am not the only one seeing the MS servers drop connection ...

There have been suggestions the past month or two to manually install a specific update and then the rest of the process occurs a bit faster. This month it is KB3161664. I did install that one manually and the others downloaded and installed fairly quick.

If you search here and Microsoft Answers there are more specifics about it.

Hi All

Glad to know I'm not the only one. I ran checkdisk last night and scannow and ran MWBytes - all OK. I tried to download in 'safemode' but apparently you can't run updates in safemode. I've changed the status to update automatically but I am currently trying to download just one update, KB3161664 which other posts suggest is the one to download first. Currently, it is still saying 0% downloaded. Curiously though, McAfee downloaded and installed its updates, so this is a MS thing.

LevelBest

Hi,
Quite frankly you having Mcafee Installed is pretty scary it is one of the most windows unfriendly av's ever :shock:
For the record to manually install a update you must switch to Never check for updates and restart the machine first.
The two searches will conflict.

Cracked it!

I went to the MS site and manually download KB3161664 -that took about 10 minutes to install. I then installed a further half dozen or so via the usual method and then the last half a dozen. All now installed and OK.

If one update is needed to enable the rest to be installed, why don't MS release the relevant update several days before the main batch to allow users to install it?

LevelBest

LevelBest said:

Cracked it!

I went to the MS site and manually download KB3161664 -that took about 10 minutes to install. I then installed a further half dozen or so via the usual method and then the last half a dozen. All now installed and OK.

If one update is needed to enable the rest to be installed, why don't MS release the relevant update several days before the main batch to allow users to install it?

LevelBest

Click to expand...

That was suggested earlier in this thread. Last month it was the same thing so I assume next month it will be as well. A simple search will usually let you know which update to manually install.

And for anyone else doing this, thanks to a good post on this forum, it is also advisable to disable Widows Updates Services before manually installing KB3161664.