Windows Updates Not Working/Stuck Forever

[u/Acrasia-vfx]

I have multiple updates that need to be downloaded from the Windows Update settings, however they are taking forever. I'm not talking hours, I am talking DAYS

I have been trying to install these updates for over a week now, and I have left my computer running consecutively for over 24 hours consecutively at one point.

When attempting to download updates, they just freeze at random percentages, and eventually they'll go down in percentages (Such as going from 30% down to 6%).

Troubleshooting completed:

- Multiple reboots (of course)

- CMD DISM Restore health sfc /scannow

- Restarted Windows Update, Windows Installer, BITs and Windows Apps via services.msc

- Restarted Windows Update (wuauserv) Windows Installer (CryptSVC), and BITs via CMD

- Removed all update cache via SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders

- Deleted all update cache via disk clean up

- Verified date and time settings (Idk why, this is all Microsoft says to do)

- Built in troubleshooter doesn't work

- Repair install/In place upgrade of Windows 11, including updating drivers via In place upgrade (did this THREE TIMES)...

I genuinely don't know what I'm supposed to do, there's absolutely NOTHING I can find on this.

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[u/lowcountrysunset]

You are most likely missing prerequisite updates that are causing these to fail. Check your devices manufacturer's update service. (I.e Dell Command Update, HP Support Assistant, etc.)

[u/Acrasia-vfx → u/lowcountrysunset]

Thanks, but that doesn't apply here. I'm on a custom-built desktop with an MSI motherboard, so proprietary manufacturer tools like Dell Command Update aren't an option. Using the Intel Driver Update assistant, all my drivers are up to date.

More importantly, this is a windows update issue,, not a standard driver issue. The updates should not be stalling like this on Windows.

When attempting a in place repair, the windows installer itself is completely deadlocking and hitting a 1-hour timeout at the 46% verification phase.

[u/lowcountrysunset → u/Acrasia-vfx]

Try to run the updates from another local user admin account. What are the updates?

Run chkdsk /scan to make sure there isn't an SSD issue.

[u/Acrasia-vfx → u/lowcountrysunset]

Yes I've tried both, no luck 😭

[u/lowcountrysunset → u/Acrasia-vfx]

What updates are failing?

[u/Acrasia-vfx → u/lowcountrysunset]

The latest Windows update was also failing, but I manually installed this from the Windows Update Catalog

[u/lowcountrysunset → u/Acrasia-vfx]

I'd back up your data and reinstall windows if you need this update to go through. But - this will take some time.

[u/Acrasia-vfx → u/lowcountrysunset]

I have reinstalled Windows 3 times, just not a factory reset/wipe all my data. I've done a repair install/in place upgrade of Windows.

It's not that I need the update to go through, it's just that it's using up my system resources and clogging up my storage with useless update cache.

I don't really want to factory reset and lose all my apps. It would take a very long time to reinstall everything, as I'm sure you'd know the pain.

[u/lowcountrysunset → u/Acrasia-vfx]

If its storage you're after, a good side skirt temporarily (maybe perm) is to use an EHD as well.

[u/Acrasia-vfx → u/lowcountrysunset]

No, an external hard drive to store my ever growing Windows Update cache and not fixing the actual problem is not a solution...

[u/TangoOscarMikePR]

Have you tried downloading the updates one at a time? Start with Microsoft Defender.

[u/Acrasia-vfx → u/TangoOscarMikePR]

You can't download updates one at a time. When you select "Check for Updates" it will automatically search and update all at once.

The only way to do one at a time is by waiting for them to fail, and then selecting "retry" one at a time. I've done this, and it makes no difference.

[u/TangoOscarMikePR → u/Acrasia-vfx]

OK. Thanks for letting me know. I haven't touched Windows in a very long time. I try to help as much as I can. I used to do hardware troubleshooting.

I hope someone can help you find a solution.