Windows 10: Windows Updates - Stuck on "Downloading updates 37%" for 2 days!

I think the "updates freezing" issue has come up in another thread and apologies if it has, but I can't find it momentarily.

The screen shots show what I've been looking at for two days now. Obviously something is amiss with Automatic Update but I dunno what, or what to do about it.

Any advice, help????

Mods, please feel free to move me to the other thread I suspect exists.

Cheers



:)

 

Windows Updates - Stuck on "Downloading updates 37%" for 2 days!

This query duplicates one I posted to the Win 10 Forums - I'm re-posting here to "widen the net" as it were.

The screen shots in my Win 10 Post (Link)
show I've been looking, for two days now, at a download stuck on 37%. Obviously something is amiss with Automatic Update but I dunno what, or what to do about it.

Any advice, help, comment????

(Note: I seem to remember reading somewhere that Cumulative Update KB3081444 caused problems. Might it be something to do with this?)

Cheers

 

Windows Updates - Stuck on "Downloading updates 37%" for 2 days!

Hi,



I will be glad to help you with the issue you have with the computer. I understand the inconvenience caused.



Please answer the following got us to troubleshoot the issue better:



1. Are you getting this error while trying to install the updates?

2. Did you make any changes to the computer prior to the issue?



This issue may arise when there are issues with the Windows update components. Try the following methods to fix the issue.



Method 1: Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Try to run the Windows update troubleshooter, it will detect and resolve the most common issues with the Windows updates. To do so, follow the link below. You may also follow some other common solutions on the same articles.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/gp/windows-update-issues



Method 2: Reset Windows Update components

If the issue is with the Windows update components, this method will resolve the issue by repairing all the components associated with it. Click on the link below and follow the article on the same.



How do I reset Windows Update Components?

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/971058



To do so: Important this section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully.
For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322756



Hope this information was helpful. Please reply with the results. I will be glad to help you further.



Thank you.

 

G'day mate!

Have a look here.

Windows Update stuck downloading updates in Windows 10

 

G'day yourself iBawbag,

I appreciated the tip. It was certainly effective, but a bit of a heart-stopping ride for me (I don't get out much and I've stopped watching cricket).

But, I had an interesting experience and one I'd better relate so yourself and others are forewarned/forearmed. I'll run through what I did, referring to the suggested link, which readers might want to open and refer to.

1. "From the WinX Menu, open Command Prompt (Admin). Type the following one after the other and hit Enter:
net stop wuauserv
net stop bits
This will stop the Windows Update related Services."

I did this and Win. Update and Intelligent Update stopped. No probs.

2. "Next browse to the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder and delete all the files and folders inside. Press Ctrl+A to Select All and then Delete."

Done. No probs.

3. "If the files are in use, and you are unable to delete some files, restart your device. After rebooting, run the above commands again. Now you will be able to delete the files from the mentioned Software Distribution folder."

Handy - I needed to do this with respect to Data Store (Folder) and Reporting Events (Text file). No Probs.

4. "After you have emptied this folder, you may restart your computer or you may type the following commands one at a time in the CMD, and hit Enter to restart the Windows Update related Services.
net start wuauserv
net start bits"

Done. No probs.

5. "Run Windows Updated again and see....." (OK, do that...)

6. "You will be able to download and install the updates successfully. Once done, you will see that a restart has also been scheduled." (There was only one update and I restarted without noticing whether the Restart Schedule window popped or not).

7. "I suggest you restart immediately to complete the process. / This worked for me and I hope it does for you too."

OK, well, No - WHOA!! Here is where things need to be looked at. I did my own thing from here.

8. On restart, I checked my Win. Update history. (See top screenshot below). One (1) update only in it (KB3001652). Didn't populate any further. Panic. Restarted twice - same result. Panic deepening.

9. Meanwhile, C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution had repopulated - presumably with the KB3001652 update (see bottom screenshot below).

10. Fortunately, I hadn't emptied recycle bin. So, I:
(a) Disconnected from the internet;
(b) Transferred the latest contents of C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution to a New Folder I created on the desktop. (I had to use the "stop the Windows Update related Services" step to effect the transfer of the same recalcitrant file/folder).
(c) Restored all the originally-deleted files/folders to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution from the Recycle Bin.
(d) Remembered to do the "restart the Windows Update related Services" step.
(e) Restarted computer.

11. I re-opened Win. Update, Update History and found it repopulated with all updates since Win. 10 installation (19/8/15 - and see the middle screenshot below).

12. I reconnected to the internet and Checked for Downloads (there were none). Obviously, I couldn't have done that if Update had still been frozen.

SUMMARY - So, the upshot is:
a. The method suggested in the link seems useful in clearing the blockage - BUT USE WITH CAUTION!
b. CAUTION being:
- transfer the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder's contents to a new folder on your desktop rather than the Recycle Bin, which you may (with undue enthusiasm) empty and regret it later.
- transfer any newly-acquired C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder's contents to a second new desktop folder. (Disconnect from the internet first so you don't keep populating the SoftwareDistribution folder). Label both folders so you remember what they contain.
- when restoring the original folders/file to the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder, KEEP the folder with the newer items (see my thought below).
c. THOUGHT. I may later (if Administrator permissions let me do it) see if I can figure out what lines of the later Reporting Events file to insert into the earlier so Update History reflects reality (i.e., that KB3001652 actually did install successfully). I'm NOT sure I'll do that yet and I'm NOT recommending anyone reading this try it. I have NO IDEA what the result would be.

So, iBawbag, I do (and sincerely) thank you for the tip because it seems to have had a practical, positive result; but I do URGE CAUTION for anyone thinking of trying it themselves.

Cheers
*Smile

 

Yeah sorry about that link mate, I didn't scrutinise it enough. The only difference from my method was I only delete the contents of C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\download.

Had a good few Fosters mate when I posted it, just found a link as I was too rubber to type it all out. oops. Sorry.

 

Hi iBawbag

No probs. The update pipe is unblocked which is the main thing.

All the best
*Wink

 

It looks like it is stuck but actually it is running in background. Give it some more time and it will complete.

 

You could always try using the direct download link for the update usually posted in this forum. I did this once for a stuck update and all has been fine since.

 

You could simply take a site at utilizing the direct download join for the redesign normally posted in this gathering. I did this once for a stuck redesign and all has been fine subsequent to.