All Windows Updates Downloading 0%

Hi folks,

I've been wrestling with this for months now. WIndows Update checks for updates, finds them, begins the download and there it stays, "Downloading 0%" There's no data passing on the nic.

There are no other issues with this PC. No problems at all. I've never seen this behavior with WU. SUre, we've seen downloads get to a % then fail due to installation issues. Sometimes an errant update can have restart issues. I've seen those but never this.

This is what I've tried so far to fix it.

Tried doing a full reset of Windows Update.
Stopped Windows Update services, Cryptsvc, bits and deleted Software Distribution and catroot2. It allows me to "Check for Updates" finds the updates and the cycle restarts, "Downloading 0%"
Tried a Network reset (mind you, I can download all days- as can all my app updates. Windows app store works fine as well in downloading app updates)
sfc /scannow (no issues found)
DISM cycle (all good)
Uninstalled ESET (AV)
Uninstalled VMWare Workstation
Uninstalled VPN (I only use it sometimes. Not all the time)
Created a fresh local user profile

I've been getting by by manually installing updates from the Microsoft Windows Catalog but it's a chore as you have to find the right one- sometimes there are pages of the same KB. In fact, there's currently an update that I can't actually find on the catalog- only versions from older Windows OS, not Windows 11. "2023-08 Update for Windows 11 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems (KB4023057)"

Tonight, I thought- ok may be it's time for an in-place Windows 11 repair install. So I did that, windows restarted. Same problem

Downloading 0%

I've never seen this behavior and I've run out of options. I'm hoping there's something I haven't tried.

Thanks

-Chan

Wow, you have covered most all the bases. Good job in your troubleshooting. The only other things I can suggest are
1. powercycle your router (yes I know you have no problems getting updates for your other apps)

2. turn off firewall and AV (including Malwarebytes if you use it)

3. Reset Windows update using the bat file in Brink's tutorial and restart
Reset Windows Update in Windows 11 Tutorial

4. CLEAN UP COMPONENT STORE - dism /online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup
Analyze and Clean Up Component Store (WinSxS folder) in Windows 11 Tutorial

5. Perform a clean boot to eliminate software conflict causing the issue. If it doesn't happen in a clean boot, you have some software conflicting with Windows. Boot into clean boot and attempt to download updates. Brink's procedure can help you weed out which software but if the updates download it will be a waiting game for the next one to start your elimination. . Perform a Clean Boot in Windows 11 to Troubleshoot Software Conflicts Tutorial

Please edit your profile with ALL your hardware specs. It will help us to help you

Did the computer came with Win 11 or did you upgraded from Win 10?
Is the hardware compatible with Win 11?

@glasskuter Didn't work but that clean boot was still a good idea so thanks for the tip.

@Megahertz Windows 10 originally

Asus Maximus X Hero (bios 2701 - latest)
9900k
32GB DDR5 3200Mhz
EVGA Supernova 750 G2 (I think- been a while)
All flash setup (wd black sn750 boot, samsung 980 pro, samsung 850 evo sata, crucial mx500)
Intel X550 T2 10Gb NIC
Corsair H100i Platinum
Asus RTX 4080 Tuf Gaming
Creative AE-7 Soundcard

I think that's about it

Windows updates were working great since Windows 11 released through 22H2. I have to assume something became corrupt - may be permissions- I'm just surprised that the repair install didn't overwrite it. Just a guess, though.

Other than Windows Update, everything is tip top. Very stable machine.

I'm sure if I clean install it'll be fine but that's literally days of restoration work with app installs, customizations- oh it's going to suck. If I'm going to go through that, I'll just start with a 13900k setup with a current nvme boot and move over the non boot flash drives and video card.

With that said, this is about knowing. I want to know what is happening. This would be great knowledge to share with everyone. In fact, do a google search for this issue. You can't actually find this problem. You can find updates failing at certain stages, etc but not this problem. Assuming Microsoft is giving me accurate information, it's basically telling us that the file transfer isn't starting. I checked perf monitor and there is no data transfer happening from WU after it blips then sits.

I even checked the hosts file (geez, remember that chestnut?) to make sure I didn't any redirects away from WU

There are other PCs in the house- all Windows 11 downloading updates normally (I wanted to make sure there wasn't something up with my network)

Also, side note. Once in a while a random minor KB like Windows Defender update will download and install normally.

ChandlerL said:

I'm sure if I clean install it'll be fine but that's literally days of restoration work

Click to expand...

Yes, we've all been there at one time or another and it ain't fun. But since you've tried everything else, You might as well bite the bullet. It should be only a matter of weeks before 23h2 will be out with a brand new iso. That would be a good time to go completely clean.

I have one other suggestion for you. Once you get your system straightened out I strongly suggest you develop some sort of backup solution to protect yourself in the future. Had you had a good system image, it could have resolved your problem in about 15 minutes and saved you a lot of work.

Try to disable firewall to see if they download.

Ok, give will give it another shot

1. Uninstalled ESET which reactivates Windows Firewall
2. Turned off Windows Firewall

Downloading 0%

Just to confirm. You haven't used under Win 10 or win 11 any update blocker like Sledgehammer or even suspended for some time, did you?

@Megahertz No, not on my home machine(s).

Looking at WindowsUpdate.log (which breaks while trying to compile the .ETLs- interesting) I'm beginning to think this may be a permission issue- sitting at 0% download and the .ETL compile issue. It's possible that a required folder or folders do not have the correct permissions for SYSTEM to write to it. I'm going to start exploring that.

Will report back.

@glasskuter I do have image backups but I've been sitting on this issue for...maybe 6 months? So I would've needed to have executed the restore well prior to my differentials backups overwriting my "good" copies sitting on my NAS.

This was intentional, though. Every week or so, when I wanted to spend some of my free time, I'd try a new fix attempt to see if I could fix it.

See, this isn't about the existence of the issue. This is about me learning about the issue and enhancing my knowledge and sharing it with the community. That's far more valuable to me than restoring from a backup and never knowing what the actual issue was.

Credit it where it's due. though. You give good best practice advice that computer users should follow. Could save them a lot of grief. Many people just "need to get their work done" and don't want to wrestle with computer issues in the middle of that. I'm that guy at work, but not at home.

-Chan

There is a connection setting called Metered Connection. It is used for connections that you pay for MB downloaded so it blocks Win updates but allow defender updates.

Please run the V2 log collector and post a share link into this thread using one drive, drop box, or google drive.




Run: https://www.tenforums.com/attachmen...-files-use-bsod-debugging-tuneup_plus_log.zip



Post a share link into this thread using one drive, drop box, or google drive.


List any of these installed or recently uninstalled non-Microsoft software:

a) antivirus
b) firewall
c) drive encryption

ChandlerL​

Did you see my last post about Metered Connection?

Got it. It was a permission issues on the some of the Windows system folders. At first, I was using icacls to restore the default permissions but remembered that tweaking.com's window repair's update section also sets default permissions across the board Windows Update related system folders. I figured I could expedite the process.

Did that, watched the permissions getting baselined and, before it completed the, updates started downloading.

Thanks to everyone who gave great advice and things to try and look into.

-Chan

Good you find the solution.
You have an idea how it got to the state of permission issues on the some of the Windows system folders?

@Megahertz Good question. No, I do not know specifically. However, what I should say is I've pushed this desktop much further than recommended in regards to freshening. What I mean by that is that this OS has been upgraded from Windows 8 to 10 to 11-- it's been years and years (2018/2019?) since I've done a fresh install. In addition, I have countless installs/uninstalls of various programs and devices throughout those years. Most likely, it's one of those more obscure apps/utilities that I messed with.

Given the above, this setup has been more solid (no BSODS, compat issues, freezes, any bugs with apps) than it has any right to be. Stuff just worked. The WU corruption was the only issue that presented and I kind of earned it.

In any case, I think it's time do a fresh install- may as well start with a more modern system as well. Then I'll see if I can upgrade to Win12, 13, 14 then 15 all on the same install and be a bad boy.

-Chan

ChandlerL said:

@Megahertz

In any case, I think it's time do a fresh install- may as well start with a more modern system as well.

-Chan

Click to expand...

Over the years Windows accumulate a lot of trash.
A fresh install takes time but it's the best way to have a light and clean OS

Does someone know exactly what he did with permissions to fix this I am basically having the same issue he doesn’t really say how he did it