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


  1. Posts : 44
    Windows 10 Home, Ver. 1803, OS Build 17134.112
       #1

    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

    ausgumbie
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Windows Updates - Stuck on "Downloading updates 37%" for 2 days!-image002.jpg   Windows Updates - Stuck on "Downloading updates 37%" for 2 days!-image004.jpg  
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68
    Windows 10 Pro x64, Linux
       #2
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 44
    Windows 10 Home, Ver. 1803, OS Build 17134.112
    Thread Starter
       #3

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


    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
    :)
    ausgumbie
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Windows Updates - Stuck on "Downloading updates 37%" for 2 days!-1508211455a.jpg   Windows Updates - Stuck on "Downloading updates 37%" for 2 days!-1508211509a.jpg   Windows Updates - Stuck on "Downloading updates 37%" for 2 days!-1508211528.jpg  
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 68
    Windows 10 Pro x64, Linux
       #4

    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.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 44
    Windows 10 Home, Ver. 1803, OS Build 17134.112
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Hi iBawbag

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

    All the best

    ausgumbie
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 1
    Windows 10
       #6

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

    ausgumbie said:
    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
    :)
    ausgumbie
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 7,861
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit
       #7

    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.
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 1
    window7
       #8

    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.
    Last edited by Ranjha; 20 Jan 2016 at 07:27.
      My Computer


 

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