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 Update errors

What does this guided walk-through do?

This guided walk-through provides steps to fix problems with Windows Updates for Windows 8.1 and 7, such as taking a long time to scan, or error codes while installing updates.

For help with Windows Update issues in Windows 10, see Troubleshoot problems updating Windows 10 instead.

A common cause of errors is inadequate drive space. If you need help freeing up drive space, see Tips to free up drive space on your PC.

Common error codes

The steps in this guided walk-through should help with all Windows Update errors and other issues— you don’t need to search for the specific error to solve it. As an example, here are some commonly seen error codes: 0x0xc1900223223; 0x80240034; 0x8007000E, 0x80242006​, 0x80244018​, 0x80D02002​, 0x80246017​, 0x80240438​, 0x80070070​, 0x8007000D​, 0x80246008​, 0x80096004​, 0x80070020.
The steps provided here should help fix any errors that come up during the Windows Update process.

How does it work?

We’ll begin by asking you questions about the Windows version you’re using and the issue you’re experiencing. Next, we’ll take you through a series of troubleshooting steps that are specific to your situation. At the end of each step, you’ll be asked “Did this resolve the issue?” If it’s resolved, select Yes, and you’re done! If it isn’t resolved, select No and continue with the guided walk-through.

How to Fix Windows Update Error

How to fix a Windows update error?

Windows update is an essential service in Windows 10 as you get the latest feature updates and security vulnerability updates through this service only. And as Microsoft has announced that it is the last version of the Windows, so Windows updates is your only option to keep your operating system updated.

But every user at least once already have faced some kind of issue related to Windows update. And when users face issue it does not just limited to updates but also create other issues like slow computer performance, unable to boot the computer or displaying error codes like 0x80070020, 0x80240438, 0xC19001E2, 0x80070424, 0x80242006, 0x8007000E, 0x80D02002, 0x80070070, 0x80096004, 0x80080005, 0x8007000D, or 0x80240034.

Things to check before starting Windows Update

So if you are facing issues I will here help you to get rid of the issue. Lets start from preliminary checks before we dig in the problem. Though I assume you have been already performed these steps. Just check and confirm.

1. Try restarting computer for 2-3 times.
2. Check your internet connection & its speed.
3. Confirm that updates are not paused.
4. Find out if there is enough space, if not then free up some space by deleting junk files from the system.

Now lets come to the steps which actually fix Windows updates errors.

1. Run Windows Update Assistant

This is the best and easy method to fix any Windows update issue. So you should first try this. It will automatically check for any error and and update the Windows to the latest updates.

• Go to the url : https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/software-download/windows10.
• Click on the ‘Update Now’ button.
• Run the assistant and it will automatically check for the latest updates. During installation it may restart the system for 1 or 2 times.

2. Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

In Windows 10, go to Settings → Update & Security → Troubleshoot → Windows Update → Troubleshoot → Additional troubleshooter and click on the Windows update troubleshooter from the list then click on the button ‘Run the troubleshooter’. It will automatically detect the problem and fix it for you.

Windows update troubleshooter

For Windows 7

Download the Windows update troubleshooter file and double-click on it after download and follow its on-screen instructions to apply the troubleshooter fix.

3. Install Windows Updates Manually

If the above steps don’t work for you then try installing Windows updates manually. this method will help you to quickly install the latest updates and hopefully it will fix the automatic update issue for the future updates.

And if it doesn’t work then you can continue to try further steps mentioned here or go to the online troubleshooter provided by Microsoft.

More steps to fix Windows Update Error for Advanced users

These steps are only for the advanced users who are comfortable to use DOS or command window.

1. Re-configure / Reset Windows Update Components

While following the steps, you’ll also learn how to re-register all the “.dll” files that are related to Windows update and its services.

• Open the Command prompt.
  Click on start → go to Accessories → and then go to Command Prompt. Then right-click on it and click on ‘Run as Administrator‘.
• In the command prompt window, type the following commands one-by-one (which is in the box below) press enter key from your keyboard after running the following commands one-by-one. For more detail please see the following graphical animation.

• Finally, restart your computer now.

These command will work for all windows versions Windows 10, 8, 7.

2. Run DISM and SFC Command to fix Windows Update issue

It could be possible that some Windows system file has corrupted and due to which Windows update is unable to run properly. So in this case you can try to repair the system files in order to resolve the Windows Update issue.

• Run the Command Prompt as an Administrator (How).
• Type the command dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth and press Enter key.
• Now type the command sfc /scannow to repair the installation files and press Enter.

If the above steps not working in your case your can try other methods for failed or unfinished Windows 10 updates. Or Restore windows to an earlier date.

Re-activate Windows Update in Windows 7

• Go to the Control Panel
• Click on System & Security
• Select on Windows Update
• Click on Change setting from the left side pane.
• Look at the right-side pane and select the option “Never Check for Updates (Not Recommended)” from the drop-down.
• Then click on OK.
• After that reboot your computer once.
• Now, go to the same settings again (Windows update change setting) and then set it “Install Update automatically (Recommended)” Settings. For more detail please see the following graphical animation.
• After that, restart the computer once more.
  

Why Windows update issue occur?

Most of the Windows update issues occur due to the last Windows update couldn’t download or updated properly. Sometimes Windows update’s downloads get corrupted while downloading. Once it gets corrupted, you may get several error messages while updating the Windows. One of them is: “Windows can’t be update”. That’s why, the Windows update get stopped in between.

My update got stuck between 51-99 % ?

Give it a time but if doesn’t or computer is not reaching up to the desktop then try restarting computer a few times or restart in recovery mode and repair the Windows.

How to stop my computer to run automatic windows updates?

Microsoft recommends to stay updated, however you can pause the updates temporarily.