I spent the better part of yesterday trying to get a batch of updates successfully installed. I kept getting either Download Failed, or update is pending restart. Upon restart, it was as if nothing happened. No updates were installed or finished being installed.
There is one in particular, "Cumulative Update for.... " couple hundred megabyte download, it has failed 18 times! I even tried downloading the updates manually direct from Micros**t. That way, I was told the updates were already installed. WTF?
Anyway, I was desperately scouring the net for sound solutions to the problem. The very last one suggested enabling auto start for Bits, cryptsvc and two others I cant remember.
Seems like its working, I'll post the results shortly when the updates are finished installing on my computer.
Posting from DumbPhone.
later -->
okay it seemed to work!
That info was provided here:
How to Fix Windows Update Error 0x80070bc2 Type the following commands in Command Prompt window. To execute them, press Enter after each one.
SC config wuauserv start= auto
SC config bits start= auto
SC config cryptsvc start= auto
SC config trustedinstaller start= auto
Security Center is no longer reporting problems with the Update status.

I spent the better part of a full day on that.
And while all of that was going on, my computer slowed to a crawl. I considered a fresh install, but then I would lose a lot of work, settings etc.
I was at wits end for a while. The only thing I could do was to deny internet access, as windows kept trying to download updates that were already present. Then the speed returned to normal, just the nagging Security Center icon with the red overlay kept showing up.
Also during that time it seemed like Windows Defender was working in overdrive, complicating the problems I was having.
I watched in Task Manager while apparently WD Antimalware was scrutinizing the attempted re Updates (the ones that were really already installed, but not reported as such) Jeeeessh!!!!
---even later---
After checking the Updates in 'Programs and Features' in Control Panel, I noticed several were missing --- trying to get those resolved at this time.
I hope all goes well, I can't afford to waste another full day on this issue.