Fix Windows Update errors by using the DISM or System Update Readiness tool

Original product version: В Windows 10, version 1809 and later versions, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 7 Service Pack 1, Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1
Original KB number: В 947821

Symptom

Windows updates and service packs may fail to install if there are corruption errors. For example, an update might not install if a system file is damaged. The DISM or System Update Readiness tool may help you to fix some Windows corruption errors.

This article is intended for Support agents and IT professionals. If you are home users and looking for more information about fixing Windows update errors, see Fix Windows Update errors.

Resolution for Windows 8.1, Windows 10 and Windows Server 2012 R2

To resolve this problem, use the inbox Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool. Then, install the Windows update or service pack again.

Open an elevated command prompt. To do this, open Start menu or Start screen, type Command Prompt, right-select Command Prompt, and then select Run as administrator. If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or select Allow.

Type the following command, and then press Enter. It may take several minutes for the command operation to be completed.

When you run this command, DISM uses Windows Update to provide the files that are required to fix corruptions. However, if your Windows Update client is already broken, use a running Windows installation as the repair source, or use a Windows side-by-side folder from a network share or from a removable media, such as the Windows DVD, as the source of the files. To do this, run the following command instead:

Replace the C:\RepairSource\Windows placeholder with the location of your repair source. For more information about using the DISM tool to repair Windows, reference Repair a Windows Image.

Type the sfc /scannow command and press Enter. It may take several minutes for the command operation to be completed.

Close the command prompt, and then run Windows Update again.

DISM creates a log file (%windir%/Logs/CBS/CBS.log) that captures any issues that the tool found or fixed. %windir% is the folder in which Windows is installed. For example, the %windir% folder is C:\Windows.

Resolution for Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1

To resolve this problem, use the System Update Readiness tool. Then, install the Windows update or service pack again.

Download the System Update Readiness tool.

select the download link in the following table that corresponds to the version of Windows that is running on your computer. For more information about how to find the version of Windows that you installed, see Find out if your computer is running the 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows.

This tool is updated regularly, we recommend that you always download the latest version. This tool is not available in every supported language. Check the link below to see if it is available in your language.

Operating system	Download link
x86-based (32-bit) versions of Windows 7 SP1	Download the package now.
x64-based (64-bit) versions of Windows 7 SP1	Download the package now.
x64-based (64-bit) versions of Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1	Download the package now.
Itanium-based versions of Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1	Download the package now.

Install and run the tool.

Select Download on the Download Center webpage, then do one of the following:

• To install the tool immediately, select Open or Run, and then follow the instructions on your screen.
• To install the tool later, select Save, and then download the installation file to your computer. When you’re ready to install the tool, double-select the file.

In the Windows Update Standalone Installer dialog box, select Yes.

When the tool is being installed, it automatically runs. Although it typically takes less than 15 minutes to run, it might take much longer on some computers. Even if the progress bar seems to stop, the scan is still running, so don’t select Cancel.

When you see Installation complete, select Close.

Reinstall the update or service pack you were trying to install previously.

To manually fix corruption errors that the tool detects but can’t be fixed, see How to fix errors that are found in the CheckSUR log file.

Resolution — Download the package from Microsoft Update Catalog directly

You can also try to directly download the update package from Microsoft Update Catalog, and then install the update package manually.

For example, you may have problems when you try to install updates from Windows Update. In this situation, you can download the update package and try to install the update manually. To do this, follow these steps:

Open Microsoft Update Catalog in Internet Explorer.

In the search box, input the update number that you want to download. In this example, input 3006137. Then, select Search.

Find the update that applies to your operating system appropriately in the search results, and then select Add to add the update to your basket.

Select view basket to open your basket.

Select Download to download the update in your basket.

Select Browse to choose a location for the update you are downloading, and then select Continue.

Select Close after the download process is done. Then, you can find a folder that contains the update package in the location that you specified.

Open the folder, and then double-select the update package to install the update.

If the Windows update or service pack installed successfully, you are finished. If the problem is not fixed, or if System Update Readiness Tool cannot find the cause, contact us for more help.

Description of the common corruption errors

The following table lists the possible error code with Windows Update for your reference:

Code	Error	Description
0x80070002	ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND	The system cannot find the file specified.
0x8007000D	ERROR_INVALID_DATA	The data is invalid.
0x800F081F	CBS_E_SOURCE_MISSING	The source for the package or file not found.
0x80073712	ERROR_SXS_COMPONENT_STORE_CORRUPT	The component store is in an inconsistent state.
0x800736CC	ERROR_SXS_FILE_HASH_MISMATCH	A component’s file does not match the verification information present in the component manifest.
0x800705B9	ERROR_XML_PARSE_ERROR	Unable to parse the requested XML data.
0x80070246	ERROR_ILLEGAL_CHARACTER	An invalid character was encountered.
0x8007370D	ERROR_SXS_IDENTITY_PARSE_ERROR	An identity string is malformed.
0x8007370B	ERROR_SXS_INVALID_IDENTITY_ATTRIBUTE_NAME	The name of an attribute in an identity is not within the valid range.
0x8007370A	ERROR_SXS_INVALID_IDENTITY_ATTRIBUTE_VALUE	The value of an attribute in an identity is not within the valid range.
0x80070057	ERROR_INVALID_PARAMETER	The parameter is incorrect.
0x800B0100	TRUST_E_NOSIGNATURE	No signature was present in the subject.
0x80092003	CRYPT_E_FILE_ERROR	An error occurred while Windows Update reads or writes to a file.
0x800B0101	CERT_E_EXPIRED	A required certificate is not within its validity period when verifying against the current system clock or the time stamp in the signed file.
0x8007371B	ERROR_SXS_TRANSACTION_CLOSURE_INCOMPLETE	One or more required members of the transaction are not present.
0x80070490	ERROR_NOT_FOUND	Windows could not search for new updates.
0x800f0984	PSFX_E_MATCHING_BINARY_MISSING	Matching component directory exist but binary missing
0x800f0986	PSFX_E_APPLY_FORWARD_DELTA_FAILED	Applying forward delta failed
0x800f0982	PSFX_E_MATCHING_COMPONENT_NOT_FOUND	Can’t identify matching component for hydration

What does the System Update Readiness tool do

Verify the integrity of resources

The System Update Readiness tool verifies the integrity of the following resources:

• Files that are located in the following directories:
  • %SYSTEMROOT%\Servicing\Packages
  • %SYSTEMROOT%\WinSxS\Manifests
• Registry data that is located under the following registry subkeys:
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Components
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Schema
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Component Based Servicing

This list may be updated at any time.

When the System Update Readiness tool detects incorrect manifests, Cabinets, or registry data, it may replace the incorrect data with a corrected version.

Logging

The System Update Readiness tool creates a log file that captures any issues that the tool found or fixed. The log file is located here:

How to fix errors that are found in the CheckSUR log file

To manually fix corruption errors that the System Update Readiness tool detects but can’t fix, follow these steps:

%SYSTEMROOT% is an environment variable that saves the folder in which Windows is installed. For example, generally the %SYSTEMROOT% folder is C:\Windows.

Identify the packages that the tool can’t fix. For example, you may find the following in the log file:

In this case, the package that is corrupted is KB958690.

Copy the package (.msu) to the %SYSTEMROOT%\CheckSUR\packages directory. By default, this directory doesn’t exist and you need to create the directory.

Fix Windows 10 Errors [Complete Guides]

Users expect enjoying Windows 10 to the fullest, yet this isn’t always possible. Even when dealing with this reliable operating system, encountering a few annoyances along the way is practically inevitable.

Although many of these issues don’t have a unique solution to apply since many factors need to be taken into consideration, let’s take a look at the most common Windows 10 errors and how you can easily resolve them.

🛠️ Common Windows 10 error messages and solutions

• Fix Windows Update errors – If you’re not afraid of some troubleshooting procedures, rest assured that you can easily solve the most common Windows Update errors: update error 0x80080005, upgrade error 0xc1900208, hard drive missing after Windows 10 update, just to name a few.
• Activation errors – Properly activating your Windows 10 OS is a must or else you risk encountering all sorts of issues: error 0xc03f6506, Activation error 0xc0020036, 0xc004f034 error code, Windows Activation error 0xc004f063.
• BsoD errors – Every update is meant to improve your PC’s overall performance. The chances are, however, to get BSoD errors when upgrading. Error codes 0x00000016 and 0x00000017 are also common, yet our quick tips will help you solve them in no time.
• FILE SYSTEM errors – Some of the issues that you may encounter in Windows 10 are FILE SYSTEM errors. In this case, make sure that your drivers are up to date by using the best driver update software. Moreover, we’ve got quick solutions when getting The system cannot find the file specified error.

Get help with Windows activation errors

Activation helps verify that your copy of Windows is genuine and hasn’t been used on more devices than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow. This article will help you troubleshoot and fix common activation errors in Windows.

For help finding your product key, see Find your Windows product key. For troubleshooting and other info about updating Windows 10, see Windows 10 Update: FAQ or Troubleshoot problems updating Windows 10. For info on upgrading to Windows 10, see Upgrade to Windows 10: FAQ.

See Activate Windows 10 for general info about activation, including how to choose your activation method.

See Reactivating Windows 10 after a hardware change for more info about reactivating Windows 10 after making a significant change to your device’s hardware.

See Activate Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 for info about activation of earlier versions of Windows.

If you’re having trouble activating Windows 10, follow these steps to fix activation errors:

Confirm that your device is up to date and running Windows 10, version 1607 or later. In the search box on the taskbar, type winver, and then select Winver from the list of results. You’ll see the version and build of Windows.
Not running Windows 10, version 1607 or later? Learn how to update your device at update Windows 10.

Use the Activation troubleshooter to resolve simple errors. For more info, see Try the Activation troubleshooter below.

If you’re still getting an error, check the list of error codes below and follow the suggested steps to resolve it.

Make sure the error hasn’t changed. Sometimes when you run the Activation troubleshooter or try to activate, the error code and message will change. If the error code has changed, look up the new code below and follow the recommended steps. (If you’re getting an error code that isn’t listed on this page, contact customer support.)

Try the Activation troubleshooter

If you’re running Windows 10, version 1607 or later, the Activation troubleshooter might help reactivate Windows if you recently made a significant hardware change (such as replacing the motherboard) or reinstalled Windows.

You must be an administrator to use this option. For more info, see Using the Activation troubleshooter.

Fix common errors

The following are some of the most common activation errors with possible solutions for Windows 10. If you’re getting an error code that isn’t listed on this page, contact customer support.

If you upgraded to Windows 10 for free and your device isn’t activated, make sure you’re running the latest version of Windows 10. This version includes improvements to activation and troubleshooting activation errors. For more info about how to keep Windows up to date, see Windows Update: FAQ.

For more info about how activation works in Windows 10, see Activate Windows 10.

For more info about how to activate Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, including how to activate either by phone, see Activate Windows 7 or Windows 8.1.

What it means and how to fix it

Windows reported that the hardware of your device has changed.

A Windows license is associated with your device hardware. If you make significant hardware changes, such as replacing your motherboard, Windows won’t be able to find a matching license the next time you start your device. If Windows was preinstalled on the device and you have made a change such as replacing the motherboard, you’ll need a new license.

To purchase a new Windows license, Start > Settings > Update & Security > Activation , and then select Go to Microsoft Store.
Open Activation settings

If you have a Windows product key you used on your device before the hardware change, enter it by selecting Start > Settings > Update & Security > Activation , and then selecting Change product key.

Additionally, Microsoft provides an exception path for transferring a Windows License after a hardware change. You’ll need to be signed in to the same Microsoft account before making the hardware change and to use the exception path.

To access this exception path, select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Activation , and then select Troubleshoot. If the troubleshooter can’t resolve the issue, you’ll see a link to reactivate after a hardware change. Select it to follow this path. For more info, see Reactivating Windows 10 after a hardware change.

The product key used on this device didn’t work with this edition of Windows. You might need to get in touch with the store or company you bought Windows from, enter a different product key, or go to the Store to buy genuine Windows.

When you reinstall Windows 10 using a digital license, you’re asked to choose which edition to install. If you choose an edition other than the one you’re licensed to use, you may receive this error.

If you think you installed the wrong edition, select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Activation , and then select Troubleshoot. If the troubleshooter detects a valid Windows 10 digital license for an edition not currently installed, it will let you know and show you how to install the correct edition.
Open Activation settings

Windows reported that no product key was found on your device.

A Windows license is associated with your device hardware. If you make significant hardware changes, such as replacing your motherboard, Windows won’t be able to find a matching license the next time you start your device. If Windows was preinstalled on the device and you have made a change such as replacing the motherboard, you’ll need a new license.

To purchase a new Windows license, select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Activation , and then select Go to Microsoft Store.
Open Activation settings

If you have a Windows product key you used on your device before the hardware change, enter it by selecting Start > Settings > Update & Security > Activation , and then selecting Change product key.

In addition, Microsoft provides an exception path for transferring a Windows License after a hardware change. You’ll need to be signed in to the same Microsoft account before making the hardware change and to use the exception path.

To access this exception path, select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Activation , and then select Troubleshoot. If the troubleshooter can’t resolve the issue, you’ll see a link to reactivate after a hardware change. Select it to follow this path. For more info, see Reactivating Windows 10 after a hardware change.

«Your Windows License Will Expire Soon» warning

This may occur if you have a volume license client installed. Windows 10 Pro volume license clients are used by large organizations that deploy Windows 10 to hundreds or thousands of computers.

In this situation, activation is typically managed by your organization, and you’ll need to contact your system administrator for assistance. For more info, see Troubleshooting Windows license expiration issues.

If you see error code 0x803F7001, it means that a valid Windows 10 license couldn’t be found to activate Windows on your device. Here’s how to activate Windows:

Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Activation .

If you have a valid product key, select Change product key, and then enter the 25-character product key. If you don’t have a valid product key, select Go to Microsoft Store, and follow the instructions to buy a digital license for Windows.
Open Activation settings

Note: Your product key should be in the confirmation email you received after buying Windows, included with the packaging that came with your device, or on the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) attached to the back or bottom of your device.

For help finding your product key, see Find your Windows product key.

For more info on how to troubleshoot error code 0x803F7001, see Fix Windows 10 activation error 0x803F7001.

This error means we didn’t find a valid Windows license for your device.

You must use a valid product key to activate Windows. Your product key should be in the confirmation email you received after buying Windows, included with the packaging that came with your device, or on the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) attached to the back or bottom of your device.

For help finding your product key, see Find your Windows product key.

If you have a valid product key, use it to activate Windows:

Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Activation .

Select Change product key, and then enter the 25-character product key.
Open Activation settings

If you’ve made a major change to your device’s hardware, such as a motherboard replacement, run the Windows Activation troubleshooter located on the activation settings page. Note that you might be asked to go through the reactivation process. For more info, see Using the Activation troubleshooter.

Note: If you’re looking for info about how to activate Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, see Activate Windows 7 or Windows 8.1.

0xC004C060, 0xC004C4A2, 0xC004C4A2, 0x803FA067L, 0xC004C001, 0xC004C004, 0xC004F004, 0xC004C007, 0xC004F005, 0xC004C00F, 0xC004C010, 0xC004C00E, 0xC004C4A4, 0xC004C4A5, 0xC004B001, 0xC004F010, 0xC004F050

Reasons why you might see these errors:

You entered a product key that can’t be used to activate Windows. Enter a different product key or buy a new product key.

You upgraded to Windows 10, but the activation servers were busy. If you upgraded from an activated copy of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, your copy of Windows 10 will be automatically activated, or you can wait a while and then select Activate. If you continue to have problems with activation, contact customer support.

You upgraded to Windows 10 using the free upgrade offer, but Windows 10 isn’t activated after a reinstall. Your copy of Windows 10 should automatically be activated as long as you didn’t make any significant hardware changes to your device (such as replacing the motherboard). If you continue to have problems with activation, contact customer support.

You may see this error because the Windows 10 product key you entered isn’t valid. Product keys are unique—assigned to a specific user to install on a single device. If a key was used (or attempted to be used) on multiple devices, it’s marked as not valid. To activate Windows, you’ll need to provide a different Windows key unique to your device.

If you bought a device from a reseller of Windows 10 and expected the key to be valid, contact the reseller. If your device was purchased with Windows 10 preinstalled and you received this activation error upon turning it on for the first time, contact your device manufacturer.

If your experience with your device is different from those listed above, try the following:

Run the Windows 10 Activation Troubleshooter: Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Activation and then select Troubleshoot.
Open Activation settings

Check to see if you have a paper copy of your Windows 25-character product key you can enter to activate Windows 10.

If your device was recently repaired at an independent repair facility, contact them to see if the repairs require a new Windows 10 license.

If the device is new and has never been activated, contact your device manufacturer.

You might see this error if you entered an invalid product key or a product key for a different version of Windows.

Enter a valid product key that matches the version and edition of Windows 10 installed on your device.

If Windows is installed on a device that connects to a Key Management Service (KMS) server, contact your organization’s support person for more info about how to activate Windows.

You might see this error if you entered a product key for a different edition of Windows than the edition installed on your device. You might also see this error if you previously upgraded to Windows 10, but the current edition of Windows installed on your device doesn’t match the edition of your digital license.

You can either enter a valid product key that matches the edition of Windows installed on your device or reinstall the edition of Windows 10 that matches your digital license.

If your device is running Windows 10 (Version 1607 or later), the Activation troubleshooter can help you install the correct edition of Windows on your device. For more info, see Using the Activation troubleshooter.

You might see this error if you entered a product key for a different version or edition of Windows. For example, a product key for the Enterprise edition of Windows 10 can’t be used to activate Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Core editions.

Enter a product key that matches the version and edition of Windows installed on your device or buy a new copy of Windows from the Microsoft Store.

You might see this error if you’re not connected to the internet or your firewall settings are preventing Windows from completing the activation process online.

Make sure that you’re connected to the internet and your firewall isn’t blocking Windows from activating. If you’re still having problems, try to activate Windows by phone. In the search box on the taskbar, type SLUI 04, select SLUI 04 from the list of results, and then follow the instructions on the screen to activate Windows.

Note: If you’re running Windows 10 Pro EDU or Windows 10 Pro for Workstations, you must activate Windows over the internet—phone activation and SLUI 04 can’t be used. See How to activate Windows 10 Pro for Workstations and Windows 10 Pro EDU.

You might see this error if you try to activate a device that is already in the process of activation. Your device should be activated after the first request is completed.

You might see this error if you’re not connected to the internet or the activation server is temporarily unavailable. Make sure that you’re connected to the internet and your firewall isn’t blocking Windows from activating.

0xD0000272, 0xC0000272, 0xc004C012, 0xC004C013, 0xC004C014

If the activation server is temporarily unavailable, your copy of Windows will automatically be activated when the service comes back online.

0xC004C008, 0xC004C770, 0x803FA071

You might see this error if the product key has already been used on another device, or it’s being used on more devices than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow. To fix the problem, buy a product key for each one of your devices to activate Windows on them.

If you’re using Windows 10, you can buy Windows from the Microsoft Store:

Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Activation .

Select Go to Microsoft Store, then follow the instructions to buy Windows 10.
Open Activation settings

If you don’t see Go to Microsoft Store on the Activation page, contact your organization’s support person.

If you made a substantial hardware changes to your device (such as replacing the motherboard) and you have a valid product key, try to activate Windows by phone. In the search box on the taskbar, type SLUI 04, select SLUI 04 from the list of results, and then follow the instructions on the screen to activate Windows. For more info about reactivating Windows 10 (Version 1607 or later) after a hardware change, see Reactivating Windows 10 after a hardware change.

If you’re running Windows 10 Pro EDU or Windows 10 Pro for Workstations, you must activate Windows over the internet—phone activation and SLUI 04 can’t be used. Learn more about Windows 10 Pro EDU or Windows 10 Pro for Workstations.

You might see this error if you entered a product key for the Enterprise edition of Windows to activate Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro. Enter a product key that matches the edition of Windows on your device.

This error occurs when a Volume License (a license that was bought from Microsoft by an organization to install Windows on multiple devices) was used on more devices than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow. To fix the problem, you might need to use a different product key to activate Windows on your device. Contact your organization’s support person for more info.

0x8007232B, 0xC004F074, 0xC004F038, 0x8007007B

You might see this error if you entered a product key for the Enterprise edition of Windows to activate Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro. Try entering a product key that matches the edition of Windows on your device.

Or, you might see this error if you’re trying to activate your work device but aren’t connected to your workplace’s network. If you’re connected to your work network and still see this error, you might need to change the network settings. Contact your organization’s support person for more info.

If your organization doesn’t have a support person, you might need to enter your product key again:

Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Activation .

Select Change product key, and then type your 25-character product key.
Open Activation settings

You might be asked for an admin password or to confirm your choice.

You might see this error if the date and time for the device is incorrect, or Windows has trouble connecting to the online activation service and can’t verify your product key.

To verify the date and time, select Start > Settings > Time & language > Date & time.
Verify date and time in Settings

To check your internet connection:

In the search box on the taskbar, type network troubleshooter, then select Identify and repair network problems from the list of results.

Follow the instructions to fix any problems with the network.

If the network troubleshooter didn’t find any problems with your network connection, try restarting your device to see if that fixes the problem.

You might see this error after installing third-party software that changed system files. Windows activation needs certain system files to complete activation. You can try to restore the system files back to an earlier point in time. This removes any software you installed after that point in time without affecting your personal files.

For more info, see the section about how to restore from a system restore point in Recovery options in Windows 10.

Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Activation , and then select Troubleshoot to run the Activation troubleshooter. For more info about the troubleshooter, see Using the Activation troubleshooter.

If this doesn’t work, you might need to reset your device. For more info, see the section in Recovery options in Windows10.

An error occurred with our activation server or licensing service. Please wait a few minutes and then try the following Windows 10 Pro License Recovery steps: Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Activation , and then select Troubleshoot to run the Activation troubleshooter.
Open Activation settings

When the troubleshooter is complete, select Go to Microsoft Store to launch the Microsoft Store app. If the Microsoft Store app shows there was a problem, select Try again. After a few minutes, you should see a message that thanking you for activating genuine Windows, followed by another message showing that Windows was activated.

For more info about the troubleshooter, see Using the Activation troubleshooter.

This error can occur if the update components are missing or corrupted on the computer. This error might also occur due to poor network connectivity received by the system.

Use the Windows update troubleshooter to check for the corrupted or missing updates or components. Running the troubleshooter will help find and in some cases fix the issue.

Also, check the strength of your internet connection.

All other error codes

Go to Windows Help, enter the error code in the Search for Help box at the top-right, and run the search. Browse through the search results carefully to make sure you try only those that apply to your situation.