Windows Update

Dear Nukedel24,

Thank you for posting your question on our forum.

Please try the following recommendations:

1. Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter, which is a built-in utility that can scan and repair Windows Update issues:

- open Settings;

- Windows & Update > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooter

- select Windows Update and click on the Run this troubleshooter option.

If the tool doesn’t update Windows, it should at least let you know why this is happening and give you an option to fix it.

2. Rename the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders. The folders contain information about Windows Updates that may get corrupted and cause the error in question.

- to clear the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders, execute the following commands in Command Prompt:

net stop wuauserv

net stop cryptSvc

net stop bits

net stop msiserver

Once you have executed the commands, some Windows Update services will be disabled.

- execute the following commands to rename SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders:

ren %systemroot%\System32\Catroot2 Catroot2.old

ren %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old

run the following commands to restart the services:

net start wuauserv

net start cryptSvc

net start bits

net start msiserver

- check for updates and see if your issue is resolved.

3. Reset the Windows Update Components, which are the services and files that are responsible for downloading and installing updates:

- stop Windows Update Services

- delete the qmgr*.dat files

- flush the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders

- reset the BITS service and the Windows Update service to the default security descriptor

- re-register the BITS files and the Windows Update related DLL files

- delete incorrect Registry values

- reset Winsock

- restart Windows Update Services

- reset Windows Update Tool will restore settings & components to default automatically

- open Windows Services Manager and check that the Windows Update related services like Windows Update, Windows Update Medic, Update Orchestrator Services, etc. are not disabled.

The default configuration on a standalone Windows 11/10 PC is as follows:

Windows Update Service – Manual (Triggered)

Windows Update Medic Services – Manual

Cryptographic Services – Automatic

Background Intelligent Transfer Service – Manual

DCOM Server Process Launcher – Automatic

RPC Endpoint Mapper – Automatic

Windows Installer – Manual.

This will ensure that the required Services are available.

4. Check the disk for errors that may be caused by a corrupted or damaged file system on the hard disk.

Run DISM to fix corrupted Windows Update files:

- type cmd in the Windows search bar, right-click on the Command Prompt and run it as an administrator;

- enter the following commands in the command line one by one:

DISM /online /Cleanup-Image / ScanHealth

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

If your Windows Update client is already broken, you can use a running Windows installation as the repair source or use a Windows side-by-side folder from a network share, as the source of the files. You will be required to run the following command instead (replace the C:\RepairSource\Windows placeholder with the location of your repair source):

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:\RepairSource\Windows /LimitAccess

You can fix corrupt system file and repair them by using the steps:

- press Windows + R key > type cmd to open Command Prompt as administrator;

- enter sfc/scannow in the command line > hit Enter

- wait for the scanning process to finish and restart your PC.

These recommendations should help you resolve the issue. If you continue having problems or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.