Windows Update hangs when downloading or installing updates

When you try to download or install Windows Updates, your computer may freeze. If it freezes during installation, you may see a message like:


You may otherwise see your computer freezing when scanning for Windows Updates, and no error messages will appear.

Please select your operating system for the appropriate steps.

Windows 8

Method 1: Run the scan again

If when scanning for updates, the scan hangs and doesn't complete, try to run the scan again. If you still can't scan for update succesfully, proceed to Method 2.

Method 2: Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

If Windows Update hangs on download use the following method. To fix this, follow the steps in method 2. If this doesn't resolve your issue, proceed to method 3.
Fix it for me

To fix this problem automatically, click the Fix it button. Then click Run In the File Download dialog box, and follow the steps in the Fix it wizard.

Fix this problem

(http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=260622)

Microsoft Fix it Windows Update troubleshooter

Notes

• This wizard may be in English only. However, the automatic fix also works for other language versions of Windows.
• If you are not on the computer that has the problem, save the Fix it solution to a flash drive or a CD and then run it on the computer that has the problem.

If you're still having difficulty scanning for updates, you can ask questions and get answers from other users at the Microsoft Community. To ask a question, or seach for other user's posts, click here.

Method 3: Perform a System Restore

If you're having problems installing Windows Updates, follow the steps below. If this method doesn't fix your problem, proceed to method 4.

Note If your computer is not configured to start from a CD or from a DVD, or if Windows came preinstalled on your computer without the CDs or DVDs, see the documentation that was included with the computer for instruction about how to continue.

When you start your computer by using the Windows installation disc, you can perform system recovery options on startup. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Turn off your computer manually by pressing the power button.
2. Turn on your computer by pressing the power button.
3. At the log in screen, tap or click the power icon in the lower right hand corner.
4. Press the Shift button and then tap or click Restart.
5. From the Choose an option page, tap or click Troubleshoot, and then tap or click Advanced options.
6. Tap or click System Restore. The PC will reboot to System Restore. Select your account to continue.
7. From the System Restore page, tap or click Next.
8. If you are prompted to specify which disk to restore, select the hard disk, and then tap or click Next.
9. When the restoration process is completed, tap or click Restart.

Method 4: Refresh your PC

Note Performing a Refresh your PC will restore the current Windows installation to the version of the installation. This also requires the installation of all updates that are not included on the installation. Apps you installed from disc or websites will be removed. There will be a list of removed apps saved on you desktop.

1. Turn off your computer manually by pressing the power button.
2. Turn on your computer by pressing the power button.
3. At the log in screen, tap or click the power icon in the lower right hand corner.
4. Press the Shift button and then tap or click Restart.
5. From the Choose an option page, tap or click Troubleshoot, and then tap or click Advanced options.
6. Tap or click Refresh your PC.
7. Under Refresh your PC, tap or click Next.
8. Follow the instructions on the screen.

Windows 7

Method 1: Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

If Windows Update hangs on download use the following method. If this doesn't resolve your issue, proceed to method 2.


Fix it for me

To fix this problem automatically, click the Fix it button. Then click Run In the File Download dialog box, and follow the steps in the Fix it wizard.

Fix this problem

(http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=252721)

Microsoft Fix it Windows Update troubleshooter


Notes

• This wizard may be in English only. However, the automatic fix also works for other language versions of Windows.
• If you are not on the computer that has the problem, save the Fix it solution to a flash drive or a CD and then run it on the computer that has the problem.

Let me fix it myself

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:

To reset the Windows Update components, follow these steps:

1. Click the Start button, then click Run. Type cmd, and then press Enter.
2. A command prompt window will appear. Type net stop bits and press Enter, and then type net stop wuauserv and press Enter.
3. To delete the qmgr*.dat files, type Del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Network\Downloader\qmgr*.dat" and then press Enter.
4. Type cd /d %windir%\system32 and then press Enter.
5. To reregister the BITS and Windows Update files, type each of the following commands. Press Enter after each command.
   • regsvr32.exe atl.dll
   • regsvr32.exe urlmon.dll
   • regsvr32.exe mshtml.dll
   • regsvr32.exe shdocvw.dll
   • regsvr32.exe browseui.dll
   • regsvr32.exe jscript.dll
   • regsvr32.exe vbscript.dll
   • regsvr32.exe scrrun.dll
   • regsvr32.exe msxml.dll
   • regsvr32.exe msxml3.dll
   • regsvr32.exe msxml6.dll
   • regsvr32.exe actxprxy.dll
   • regsvr32.exe softpub.dll
   • regsvr32.exe wintrust.dll
   • regsvr32.exe dssenh.dll
   • regsvr32.exe rsaenh.dll
   • regsvr32.exe gpkcsp.dll
   • regsvr32.exe sccbase.dll
   • regsvr32.exe slbcsp.dll
   • regsvr32.exe cryptdlg.dll
   • regsvr32.exe oleaut32.dll
   • regsvr32.exe ole32.dll
   • regsvr32.exe shell32.dll
   • regsvr32.exe initpki.dll
   • regsvr32.exe wuapi.dll
   • regsvr32.exe wuaueng.dll
   • regsvr32.exe wuaueng1.dll
   • regsvr32.exe wucltui.dll
   • regsvr32.exe wups.dll
   • regsvr32.exe wups2.dll
   • regsvr32.exe wuweb.dll
   • regsvr32.exe qmgr.dll
   • regsvr32.exe qmgrprxy.dll
   • regsvr32.exe wucltux.dll
   • regsvr32.exe muweb.dll
   • regsvr32.exe wuwebv.dll
6. To reset Winsock, type netsh reset winsock and then press Enter.
7. If you are running Windows XP, set the proxy setting. To do this, type proxycfg.exe -d at the command prompt and then press Enter.
8. To restart the BITS and Windows Update services, type the following at the command prompt. Press ENTER after you type each command:
   • net start bits
   • net start wuauserv
9. If you are running Windows Vista or Windows 7, clear the BITS queue. To do this, type bitsadmin.exe /reset /allusers at the command prompt and then press Enter.
10. Install the latest Windows Update Agent. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 949104
    (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949104)
    How to obtain the latest version of the Windows Update Agent to help manage updates on a computer
11. Restart the computer.

Method 2: Perform a System Restore

If you're having problems installing Windows Updates, follow the steps below. If the this method doesn't fix your problem, proceed to method 3.

Note You must be logged on to Windows with an administrator account to complete this method. If this is a computer that is part of a network at work, you should ask the system administrator for help. For information on how to log into Windows as an administrator, visit: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/How-do-I-log-on-as-an-administrator (http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/How-do-I-log-on-as-an-administrator)

Note If your computer is not configured to startfrom a CD or from aDVD, or if Windows came preinstalled on your computer without the CDs or DVDs, see the documentation that was included with the computer for instruction about how to continue.

When you start your computer by using the Windows installation disc, you can perform system recovery options on startup. To do this, follow these steps:

Start Windows:

1. Insert the Windows Vista or Windows 7 installation disc in the drive, and then restart the computer.
2. When you are prompted to start from the disc, press any key.
3. When you are prompted, configure the Language to install, Time and currency format, and Keyboard or input method options that you want, and then click Next.
4. Click Repair your computer.

Select a restore point:

1. On the System Recovery Options page, click the version of the Windows operating system that you want to repair, and then click Next.
2. On the System Recovery Options page, click System Restore.
3. On the System Restore page, click Next.
4. Select a restore point at which you know that the operating system was working, and then click Next.
   
   The restore point should be a date before the first time that you experienced the error. To select a date, use the Choose a different restore point option, and then click Next.
5. If you are prompted to specify which disk to restore, select the hard disk, and then click Next.
6. On the Confirm your restore point page, click Finish.
7. When the restoration process is complete, click Restart.

Method 3: Perform an In Place Upgrade

Performing an in place upgrade will restore the current Windows installation to the version of the installation DVD. This also requires the installation of all updates that are not included on the installation DVD. If your computer came with Windows pre-installed, review your computer's documentation for instructions on how to do an in place upgarde. Otherwise, follow these steps:

Note: It is strongly recommended you back up all of your personal files. For information on how to back up your files, visit: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Back-up-your-files

1. Insert the Windows Vista or Windows 7 DVD in the computer's DVD drive.
   • Note If your computer is not configured to start from a CD or from a DVD, or if Windows came preinstalled on your computer without the CDs or DVDs, see the documentation that was included with the computer for instruction about how to continue.
2. In the Setup window, click Install Now.
   • Note If Windows does not automatically detect the DVD, follow these steps:
     • Click Start, and then type Drive:\setup.exe in the Start Search box. Note The Drive placeholder is the drive letter of the computer's DVD drive, usually D:\.
     • In the Programs list, click Setup.exe.
     • In the Setup window, click Install Now.
3. Click Go online to obtain the latest updates for installation (recommended).
4. Type the CD key if you are prompted to do this.
5. Select the operating system in the Install Windows page you want to upgrade.
6. Click Yes to accept the Microsoft Software License Terms.
7. On the Which type of installation do you want? screen, click Upgrade.
8. When the installation is complete, restart your computer.

For more information about troubleshooting common Windows Update installation issues, visit: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Troubleshoot-problems-with-installing-updates