Windows updates stuck at 0% forever

7pro x64, 2 month old clean install using WSUS offline to get most updates followed by Windows Updates to get a few dozen more. WU stopped working after a month, and at the same time I lost all restore points. I have many updates installed, but update history is now blank, and windows update window states 'Never' for last update check or installed. Some of this may be due to all the fixes I tried.

Updates is stuck at 0%, and never stops or produces an error even after 12 hours or more. I have other boxes in almost identical configuration that have no issues. Aside from WU, the machine runs great so I am hesitant to reinstall or restore from an old image.

Following the steps recommended:
1) Run SURT - it completes in 10min or so without any report
2) Run SFC /scannow - no problems were found
3) Run Window updates - still running after many hours, no errors
4) The CBS folder is attached, minus the cab files that made it too large to attach

Looking myself, I see lots of:
"Failed to internally open package. [HRESULT = 0x800f0805 - CBS_E_INVALID_PACKAGE]"
Also lots of references to amd64. This is a core2duo machine.

I see there are many, many posts about windows updates problems on win7, and just about as many potential solutions being offered. Having tried five or six different methods without success, I am wondering if the reinstall/image restore is the only real practical fix.

I wish to thank you for this thread, it in part has helped me recover my Windows Update program as well. A couple changes to your instructions have occurred since you posted it and I wanted to share them in gratitude for this thread.

1. The KB3161608 Update has been superseded by KB3172605 and they provide a link to it on your KB3161608 update page which is: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3172605

I down loaded the appropriate version for my operating system and it wouldn't install, it just hung while looking for update files on my computer.

2. So I followed their link at the bottom of the page labeled Troubleshoot problems with installing updates to https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...#1TC=windows-7 and opened the What can I do if I'm having trouble installing updates and clicked on the Windows Update Troubleshooter text. That downloaded the software that analyzed my computer and fixed some registery entries and pointers.

3. Then I restarted my machine and clicked on the KB3172605 update I downloaded in step 1 which installed this time and rebooted again and it allowed me to run Windows Update successfully now!

I should note that I had to run step 3 without trying Windows Update after step 2 (which I tried once) because it caused the registry entries and pointers to be corrupted again. So I had to repeat step 2 and then 3 to clean it up for good.

Thanks again for this thread!

I tried to follow the procedure documented by David Lyle R but I was unable (my error?) to find the page on the Windows Update Troubleshooter
But I found the following page
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...troubleshooter
which has instructions and some screenshots and used it to solve my problems.
Coincidentally the example on this page with the first error solved regarding a "Potential Windows Update Database error" was one that occurred on my computer BUT the initial report said that it was unable to Fix my problem. HOWEVER when I looked at the actual final report it found the same database error and FIXED it, along with 2 other problems. After completing the Troubleshooter my updates proceeded successfully.
I have "screenshots" (smartphone photos, my bad) of most of the process which I can send along in a PDF is anyone is interested - I will send them to you.
I am not very technical but it seems if your update starts with a "Downloading Updates 0%" message and goes nowhere you may be in trouble.
If it starts with "Installing Updates..." you are off to the races.
I had 86 important updates (my system had not updated since 2015! and WannaCry was awaiting!) and I had trouble getting the updates to start installing - so I cut it back to a few at a time and then moved up to 20 at a time and finally got them all done.
Take care, Bryan