KB2251489 Visual Studio 2010 XML KB2494088 SQL Server 2008 R2 KB2251487 Visual Studio 2008 SP1 XML After multiple "Hung Update" and System Restore, picking through a total of 18 updates, I isolated these three updates which I tried to install one at a time. Each one claims to be installing but sits with the progress bar at 0 for many hours. This necessitates a hard power off followed by a system restore to get rid of it. What could be causing this ugly mess? I've spent the better part of two days getting this under control.Jim Kay

Hi, Thanks for posting in Microsoft TechNet Forum. You may try to install the system update readiness tool to see how it works: Description of the System Update Readiness Tool for Windows Vista, for Windows Server 2008, for Windows 7, and for Windows Server 2008 R2 If this issue persists, we can try to empty the software distribution folder for test: 1. Click Start, click Run, type services.msc, and then click OK. 2. In the Services (Local) pane, right-click Automatic Updates, and then click Stop. 3. Minimize the Services (local) window. 4. Select all the contents of the Windows distribution folder, and then delete them. Note: By default, the Windows distribution folder is located in the drive:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder. In this location, drive is a placeholder for the drive where Windows is installed. 5. Make sure that the Windows distribution folder is empty, and then maximize the Services (local) window. 6. In the Services (Local) pane, right-click Automatic Updates, and then click Start. 7. Restart the computer, and then run Windows Update again. Meanwhile, you can also try to install the updates manually: Download Details - Microsoft Download Center - Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 RTM XML Editor Security Update Download Details - Microsoft Download Center - Security Update for SQL Server 2008 R2 RTM (KB2494088) Download Details - Microsoft Download Center - Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Service Pack 1 XML Editor Security Update Hope it helps. Alex Zhao TechNet Subscriber Support in forum. If you have any feedback on our support, please contact tngfb@microsoft.comPlease remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

Been there, done that. It didn't help. An on-line support technician downloaded the three hanging updates and installed them directly, bypassing Windows Update. This solved the problems. Apparently there was something wrong with the packaging and Windows Update could not process them. PS: I was going to empty the Software Distribution folder but I discovered there is no service named "Automatic Updates" or anything that even looks like that.Jim Kay