Update loops forever, network installs broken

The May preview update for Windows 11 24H2 achieved a perfect loop of futility. Installations stuck at 8% or 46%, consuming high CPU while accomplishing nothing, then failing and trying again ad infinitum. The WUSA standalone installer broke with ERROR_BAD_PATHNAME when deploying from network shares, crippling enterprise deployment workflows. Systems were trapped in an endless cycle of attempting to install an update that couldn’t install, burning power and patience in equal measure.