Setup Windows update downloads

Question

Hi,

While downloading Windows Updates, most of time we see more than one updates found and download starts one by one.
When one download completes, another starts automatically.

Please let us know,

1. In case of more than updates found, if we want to download only specific update not all updates, what I need to do?
2. How to interrupt download process in between, e.g., Downloading 41% and wants to stop it?
3. Sometime Windows Update downloads get stuck, take more time or get interrupted automatically.
   How to reset whole process from beginning without affecting previous installed updates?
4. After downloading an update, immediately installing starts. Can I postpone installation for later?
5. Before installation, where download files save in the computer?

We’ll be thankful for giving your time for resolving above questions.

With Regards
NndnG

Answer 1

@NndnG
Hi,

1. You could download a Windows update manually via Microsoft Update Catalog
   https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Home.aspx
2. If your PC has already started installing the update, showing the progress percentage and telling you not to turn off your computer. You should do what it says and let the update complete. You should never shut down your device to stop the update in progress. This can cause serious damage to Windows and make your computer unusable. When the process finishes, you can either uninstall the update or use Windows 10's rollback option to set your computer back to the previous version.
3. You could Run Windows Update Troubleshooter or Reset Windows Update components manually
   https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/update/windows-update-resources
4. If you've not quite reached the point where the Windows 10 update is installing, but your PC has downloaded the file, and the shut down and reset options have changed to Update and Shut Down and Update and Restart, you can still stop these updates before they go into effect. You just need to stop Windows' own "maintenance" from taking place.
   https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-stop-windows-10-updates-in-progress-4584382
5. If you are referring to Windows update then the default location of the update file being downloaded from windows update will automatically be saved in C:\windows\software distribution\downloads.
   Please note: Information posted in the given link is hosted by a third party. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy and effectiveness of information.
   Hope above information can help you.

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Answer 2

Hi, @Jenny Feng thank for replying for my questions.

While searching updates, we don’t know which updates will be found. Once updates found, downloads start automatically.
Moreover, in downloading process, no options to stop downloads. That’s why we don’t know proactively what to search in Microsoft Update Catalog. After finding updates, if any option to download specific update(s), this will be better.

"As you said, If your PC has already started installing the update, showing the progress percentage and telling you not to turn off your computer…" I mean to say, before installation starts. I asked, how to interrupt downloading process.

Thank you for sharing link for using Windows Update Troubleshooter or Reset Windows Update components manually

To postpone installation process, the link says, Under the heading Automatic Maintenance, select Stop Maintenance.
Just for testing, I followed steps explained in the link. If it works, after download, the path (C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download) should have downloaded file in .exe or .msi format.

I found the path (C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download). Thank you.

With Regards
NndnG

Answer 3

@NndnG
Hi,
It turns out that you can stop the windows update service manually, if you have Administrator privileges.
Open a CMD prompt as Admin (right click the .exe and choose Run as Administrator), and type
net stop wuauserv
net stop bits
net stop dosvc
That stops the windows update service, the background intelligent transfer service, and the delivery optimization service, respectively. All of these are involved in Windows update downloads.

Also, you could stop these from the GUI in services.msc.

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