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Troubleshoot Windows Update Problems in Windows 10 Using These Five Tips


andre

137,579 views

Windows Update is a key part of maintaining your computer. New operating system versions, application updates, security updates and even firmware updates are released through it. Sometimes, when you are experiencing problems downloading apps from the Windows Store, the Store app might be outdated and needs an update. The only way to get it, is through Windows Update. These five tips can help resolve some of the most common problems associated with Windows Updates in Windows 10.

1. Windows Update Troubleshooter

The first troubleshooting option you can try is Microsoft's own Windows 10 Troubleshooter for Windows Update. In the Windows 10 Creators Update, you can find it in Start > Settings > Update & security > Troubleshoot, click Windows Update then click Run the troubleshooter.

If you are running Windows 10 Anniversary Update or an earlier version of Windows, click Start, type: troubleshooting, hit Enter then launch the Windows Update troubleshooter.

You can run the troubleshooter a couple times to see if it helps.

58d4150b410e7_updatefix1.png.9c6a71b3c773f2dff09f51ff590620fc.png

2. Media Creation Tool or Windows 10 Setup Media

If the troubleshooter does not resolve the problem, then, the next option you can try is using the the Media Creation Tool or Windows 10 Setup install media to check for and install updates. Simply download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool or if you have a Windows 10 ISO, double click it to mount it, then start up. Choose the Download and Install Updates (recommended). If setup successfully completes this step, close the wizard then restart your computer.

updates.png.7abf91c4c77302cff7d37279e089facd.png

3. Deployment Image Servicing and Management

The Deployment Image Servicing and Management can be used to resolve issues with the integrity of your Windows 10 installation, this includes: corrupt or damaged system files.

Press Windows key + X

Click Command Prompt (Admin)

Type in at the prompt OR Copy and Paste these one at a time : (Hit enter after each)

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Exit the command prompt, restart your computer then try running Windows Update again.

 

4. Delete the Software Distribution Folder

If you have reached this far and Windows Update is still not working, then this likely calls for some advanced tinkering. Before carrying out this procedure, disconnect from the Internet. That means turning off Wi-Fi and disconnecting from a wired connection. If you don't, Windows 10 will indicate some files are in use and cannot be modified or the command will be non-responsive. Also, you should restart your computer after disconnecting from the Internet. The easiest way to do it is to enable Aeroplan mode from the Action Center.

internet-connection.png

1. Press Windows Key + X on the keyboard and then select “Command Prompt (Admin)” from the menu.

2. Stop the BITS, Cryptographic, MSI Installer and the Windows Update Services. To do this, type the following commands at a command prompt. Press the “ENTER” key after you type each command.

                           net stop wuauserv

                           net stop cryptSvc

                           net stop bits

                           net stop msiserver

3. Now rename the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folder. You can do this by typing the following commands in the Command Prompt. Press the “ENTER” key after you type each command.

                          ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old

                          ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 Catroot2.old

4. Now, let’s restart the BITS, Cryptographic, MSI Installer and the Windows Update Services. Typethe following commands in the Command Prompt for this. Press the ENTER key after you type each command.

                        net start wuauserv

                        net start cryptSvc

                        net start bits

                        net start msiserver

5. Type Exit in the Command Prompt to close it and then restart the computer.

5. Perform a Repair Upgrade

If you have carried all the above but Windows 10 Update remains stubborn, then a repair upgrade is the best option. For this step, you should reconnect to the Internet. During installation, before reaching the desktop, Windows 10 will perform some post installation tasks such as downloading the latest Windows Updates.

A repair upgrade can be done by downloading the latest ISO file for Windows 10 using the Media Creation Tool.

Mount the ISO file by double clicking it, start the installation then install over your current installation on the drive. Your personal files, applications and settings will be preserved.

Bonus. Download Stubborn Cumulative Updates Using Microsoft Update Catalog.

Sometimes a stubborn cumulative update can be problem, it sits there for hours and won't budge. If none of the above helps, you can try downloading the update directly using the Microsoft Update Catalog then install it manually. Learn more about how to install Cumulative Updates manually at the following link:

Manually Install Standalone and Cumulative Updates ... - groovyPost

If this still does not work, I recommend you try performing a repair upgrade. Learn how at the following link:

How to Perform a Repair Upgrade in Windows 10 - groovyPost

 

 

11 Comments


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On 5/7/2017 at 5:19 PM, Allama Iqbal said:

Is it possible jump to any of these steps without jeopardizing the Win 10 installation?

Why would they jeopardize your installation? There is no risk in trying any of them.

  • Upvote 1
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Thanks Andre,

I tried the first three steps but they did not solve my problem, still working on the remaining steps.

I'll keep you informed.

Rudi

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Today I followed the steps in option 4, but the update would still not install.

I then went to Windows Setup-->Recovery-->Recovery-->More Recovery Options-->Learn how to start Fresh with a clean installation of Windows 10-->Download Tool Now

I choose the option to Keep my data.

The system did some checks, downloaded Windows10, checked for Updates, and then started to install Windows10. After installing 37% the installation stopped and I go an error Message that the install had run into a problem. I have tried this a second time but used the with the same result.

So now it looks like I can't even replace Windows10 with the Microsoft recommended replacement tool.

Where do I go from here??

Thanks in advance

Rudi

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Hi,

Again after following the steps proposed by Andre three times ( in case I made an error) I still was unable to update my computer with the latest Windows 10 updates. To make matter worse the system kept on hanging up ( blue screen or just freeze). So I di a clean install of Windows 10 using a USB Windows 10 Media Creation Tool.

I also used this opportunity to install a new SS Hard drive and installed Windows 10 on it. 

So fare so good.

Andre thanks again for you help.

Rudi

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Thanks Andre, this resolved my problem; I am commenting to offer my thanks and to advise others that they should allow several hours to complete section 4, the one that fixed my pc.

I had been unable to download updates since I ran update kb4013214 (creators update) 19 May 2017; I have had 0x80248007 and 0x803c0103 errors and could not get past them: I found your blog by web search and read through the first 4 sections.

I had already run 1 (Windows update troubleshooter); I had deferred 2 (Media creation tool) as a last resort: I had previously run DISM with no success so I decided to run 4 (Delete software distribution folder).

In 4.2. when I ran net stop msiserver the response was that msiserver was not loaded (could this have been a cause of my problem?); I decided to complete the procedure and then rebooted.

In my case, from restarting at 4.5. to the completion of updating my pc many hours passed.

I restarted at midnight and the pc started windows update during the restart sequence (success!!); a list of updates appeared onscreen and windows update proceeded to download them; at 2am I thought that the downloads were complete but it started yet another download: at this point I left the pc running, unattended.

At 9am I returned and the pc was waiting for me to restart it; it then applied the updates and this took another 35 minutes before opening the log in window. As of now windows update on my pc seems to be effective.

 

My PC:

Win 10 Home 64-bit; ver 1703: OS build 15063.502

Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-6500 CPU @3.20GHz

RAM16.0GB

 

  • Like 2
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I did not have the version 1709 build of 16299.15. I tried all the methods mentioned here, nothing helped. Solved the problem only by clean installation with an ISO file.

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Hi,

I'm experiencing issues with Windows Update and have tried most of the very useful options listed above. I'm now at the moment where I am about to reinstall Windows, and have downloaded an ISO file to dvd. I've progressed the installation to the point where it asks whether I want to Repair or Install Windows. The former (Repair) is not helpful, because it leads to Repair options that I've already tried. I'm not clear whether the Install will cause me to lose all my personal data, or are there further choices to come?

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks.

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I updated my conputer but it is stuck at 75%. It shuts off my computer, then I have to turn it back on. When i do, it goes totheupdate screen amd is still on 75%. It stays like that for about 10 seconds before shutting off again.

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