Windows 8.1 wont install updates

Valhilla

Honorable
Apr 12, 2013
12
0
10,510
My windows 8.1 wont update no matter what I do. I'm not getting any errors or anything like that, It just sits on "Preparing to Install" for ever. I'm sure it's not actually doing anything because I have left it to "install" while I was at work for 10 hours and when I came back it didn't move an inch. Any ideas to help would be much appreciated.
 
Solution
In case you haven't resolved your issue, this is how I resolved it when I encountered the same issue:

1) Stop any Windows Updates that are in progress
2) Clean browser data (I use Chrome as my browser and after doing this I run CCleaner (https://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download) to remove any residual files, and it also cleans my registry.
3) Reboot
4) Go to https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/gp/windows-update-issues/en-us and click on "Run now" in the blue box. It will automatically fix any issues as indicated by a "green" check mark to the right of the issue. You can also download "WindowsUpdateDiagnostic.diagcab," then just double click on the file to launch diagnostics.
5) Go to...

br647257

Commendable
Mar 14, 2016
2
0
1,520
In case you haven't resolved your issue, this is how I resolved it when I encountered the same issue:

1) Stop any Windows Updates that are in progress
2) Clean browser data (I use Chrome as my browser and after doing this I run CCleaner (https://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download) to remove any residual files, and it also cleans my registry.
3) Reboot
4) Go to https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/gp/windows-update-issues/en-us and click on "Run now" in the blue box. It will automatically fix any issues as indicated by a "green" check mark to the right of the issue. You can also download "WindowsUpdateDiagnostic.diagcab," then just double click on the file to launch diagnostics.
5) Go to https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/947821, and in the Resolution section, type the command in #2 in an elevated command prompt and wait for it to complete. Then type the command in #3 and wait for it to complete. Both take time to complete so be patient and wait.
6) Reboot
7) Run Windows Update again
 
Solution

br647257

Commendable
Mar 14, 2016
2
0
1,520
Sorry! I forgot to mention that on the last step when you run Windows Update again, please run "Check for updates" to create a fresh list of updates that need to be downloaded and installed.
 

HeyBirdDog

Commendable
Jun 16, 2016
2
0
1,510
After days of attempting solutions to a zero percent appearing on downloads on Windows Update (Win 7 Pro), the light came on in my brain. It is taking hours to accomplish a task that used to take minutes. What have I not done to accommodate this? Click Start; in the Search box type the word sleep. Change the "Put the computer to sleep" to "Never." Why? Because now your machine will have enough time to do the updates. (I used to leave it on overnight in update mode, but failed to realize it would quit in 30 minutes and never get the job done.) I hope this simple solution works for you. (Try not to hit yourself too hard on the forehead as you say "Duh." My bruise should subside any day now . . . )