Problem: Windows Update (Vista) is failing to download updates -- it sticks at 0% downloaded. ?????

Hi john-whythe
 
Please take a look at this previous thread, in particular post #7. I have used the guidance myself, especially the information from the last link in the post, to resolve this updates issue.
 
Hope that helps?
 
Regards, Baldrick

Thanks Baldrick -- I've read the posts on that thread and the linked articles, and am still confused.  Actually it's my sister-in-law who's having the problem on a Vista laptop -- my own Vista laptop has used WU without a problem which is a bit of a mystery.  Very few if any of the posters seem to be using Vista, so I'm not sure exactly what advice to give my sister-in-law.  Should I tell her just to cancel WU if it seems to hang, hoping that Microsoft will eventually correct the problem?

Just follow the instruction to the letter contained in the following link:
 
http://wu.krelay.de/en/
 
The pertinent sections are headed "Validity/Coverage" & "Solution to the issue"; in the case of the latter you only need to install what is covered in the table under the stence that states "Install the following updates BEFORE letting Windows search for updates, to avoid this very search taking "forever":", and only those for the version of Vista that is installed.
 
Hope that helps?
 
Regards, Baldrick