Downloading Updates 0%, then disappears

I am responsible for three computers (all XP SP2) at our house. One of them I
manually download the updates, the other two are set to download the updates
and allow us to choose when to install them.

The two automatic updates are slightly diffferent, one has Windows Updates,
and one, due to having Office products on it, has Microsoft Updates.

The Windows Update machine successfully downloaded all of the updates from
last week. It did that on Sunday.

The other machine, with Microsoft Updates, has been left on a lot
(overnight, even), but still has not recevied the updates. I did notice that
sometimes the Security Center icon will show up in the tray, and when I hover
above it, it says Downloading, 0%. After a minute or so, it disappears. What
is going on? The Microsoft Update worked fine last month (but there was only
the Malicious Software Removal Tool....) Are the servers still busy from all
the updates (it's been a week now...), or do I have a problem?

My XP SP2 also refuses to update correctly; just like yours it gets to
Downloading Updates 0% then disappears. However it did this with Windows
Update, and still does it now I've upgraded to include Office Updates. I've
searched Microsoft & Googled with no joy, so hope a MVP spots this thread and
has some answers for us both!

"help me" wrote:

> I am responsible for three computers (all XP SP2) at our house. One of them I
> manually download the updates, the other two are set to download the updates
> and allow us to choose when to install them.
>
> The two automatic updates are slightly diffferent, one has Windows Updates,
> and one, due to having Office products on it, has Microsoft Updates.
>
> The Windows Update machine successfully downloaded all of the updates from
> last week. It did that on Sunday.
>
> The other machine, with Microsoft Updates, has been left on a lot
> (overnight, even), but still has not recevied the updates. I did notice that
> sometimes the Security Center icon will show up in the tray, and when I hover
> above it, it says Downloading, 0%. After a minute or so, it disappears. What
> is going on? The Microsoft Update worked fine last month (but there was only
> the Malicious Software Removal Tool....) Are the servers still busy from all
> the updates (it's been a week now...), or do I have a problem?

I ran into the same problem/message on a WIndows 2K-based system.

Apparently, Microsoft Update (and presumably Windows Update ????) relies
upon the Backround Intelligence Transfer Service (BITS) to download updates
to your PC.

BITS would not start on my PC because of a missing Registry Key. Even
manually trying to start BITS (i.e., RUN services.msc, and right click on
BITS) failed (Error Code: 2147024894)

Once the Registry Key was added, Microsoft Update worked like a charm.

For more info, check out
http://www.talkaboutsoftware.com/gro...sages/923.html as well as http://tinyurl.com/9k7sy

Suggestion: You might want to check out if the Registry Key is
present/missing on the PC that runs your automatic Windows Updates, and
compare. If it's missing on the system that is experiencing Microsoft Update
download problems (but present on your automatic WIndows Update system), then
it's a safe bet that you've found the source of your problem.

Hope this helps!



"help me" wrote:

> I am responsible for three computers (all XP SP2) at our house. One of them I
> manually download the updates, the other two are set to download the updates
> and allow us to choose when to install them.
>
> The two automatic updates are slightly diffferent, one has Windows Updates,
> and one, due to having Office products on it, has Microsoft Updates.
>
> The Windows Update machine successfully downloaded all of the updates from
> last week. It did that on Sunday.
>
> The other machine, with Microsoft Updates, has been left on a lot
> (overnight, even), but still has not recevied the updates. I did notice that
> sometimes the Security Center icon will show up in the tray, and when I hover
> above it, it says Downloading, 0%. After a minute or so, it disappears. What
> is going on? The Microsoft Update worked fine last month (but there was only
> the Malicious Software Removal Tool....) Are the servers still busy from all
> the updates (it's been a week now...), or do I have a problem?

Well, I was all ready to try your advice when I got home. But... lucky me,
the Downloading icon came up and DID NOT disappear this time. The updates
went fine. I'll chalk it up to busy server traffic, especially since the
attemps were during the business day, but today's attempt was late in the
evening...

Thanks for your input. I guess I should be more patient (but it WAS over a
week after the updates came out...)

"Youka" wrote:

> I ran into the same problem/message on a WIndows 2K-based system.
>
> Apparently, Microsoft Update (and presumably Windows Update ????) relies
> upon the Backround Intelligence Transfer Service (BITS) to download updates
> to your PC.
>
> BITS would not start on my PC because of a missing Registry Key. Even
> manually trying to start BITS (i.e., RUN services.msc, and right click on
> BITS) failed (Error Code: 2147024894)
>
> Once the Registry Key was added, Microsoft Update worked like a charm.
>
> For more info, check out
> http://www.talkaboutsoftware.com/gro...sages/923.html as well as http://tinyurl.com/9k7sy
>
> Suggestion: You might want to check out if the Registry Key is
> present/missing on the PC that runs your automatic Windows Updates, and
> compare. If it's missing on the system that is experiencing Microsoft Update
> download problems (but present on your automatic WIndows Update system), then
> it's a safe bet that you've found the source of your problem.
>
> Hope this helps!
>
>
>
> "help me" wrote:
>
> > I am responsible for three computers (all XP SP2) at our house. One of them I
> > manually download the updates, the other two are set to download the updates
> > and allow us to choose when to install them.
> >
> > The two automatic updates are slightly diffferent, one has Windows Updates,
> > and one, due to having Office products on it, has Microsoft Updates.
> >
> > The Windows Update machine successfully downloaded all of the updates from
> > last week. It did that on Sunday.
> >
> > The other machine, with Microsoft Updates, has been left on a lot
> > (overnight, even), but still has not recevied the updates. I did notice that
> > sometimes the Security Center icon will show up in the tray, and when I hover
> > above it, it says Downloading, 0%. After a minute or so, it disappears. What
> > is going on? The Microsoft Update worked fine last month (but there was only
> > the Malicious Software Removal Tool....) Are the servers still busy from all
> > the updates (it's been a week now...), or do I have a problem?