If Windows Update scan hangs at 0%, ...

I found this on the MS Troubleshooting page for Windows Update many months ago, and it has worked for dozens of people I've heard from who couldn't get Windows Update to scan past the hanging 0%.

First, get off the Windows Update page: go Home, for instance, then ...
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Open the Internet Options panel under Tools.
Choose the Connections tab.
Click the LAN Settings button.
UNcheck "Automatically detect settings".
OK, OK.

Try to access the Windows Update site again.
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It works for me and lots of others who are on cable or other HS connex. But you have to re-check the "Automatically detect settings" before you try to visit *other* MS sites: the only one that wants the Auto-detect switch OFF seems to be Windows Update. It just takes a sec to change the switch (and OK twice) when you want to use Windows Update, and then another sec to change it back when you're through with Windows Update and before you do anything else.