1. Check for Updates Manually
The first and most important thing to do when troubleshooting Windows Update errors is to manually check for updates. To do this, open the Windows Update window from the Control Panel or enter “Windows Update” into the start menu search box. Once in the Windows Update window, click on the “Check for Updates” button at the top of the window. This will initiate a scan for any available Windows updates and display them in the window.
2. Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter
If you are still having trouble getting Windows Update to work properly, Microsoft provides an automated diagnostic tool called the “Windows Update Troubleshooter”. This tool can be used to detect and repair any issues with the Windows Update service that may be causing problems. To run the Windows Update Troubleshooter, open the Control Panel, then select “Troubleshooting”. Once inside the Troubleshooting window, select “Fix problems with Windows Update” under System and Security.
3. Restart your Computer
Sometimes a simple restart can help to fix Windows Update errors. After a restart, check for updates again and see if the problem is resolved.
4. Disable Antivirus, Firewall and Other Security Software
Antivirus, firewall, and other third-party security software can sometimes interfere with the Windows Update process. If you are experiencing errors while trying to install Windows updates, it is recommended that you temporarily disable these programs while attempting the update process. Once the update process is complete, you can re-enable the security software.
5. Run System File Checker
System File Checker (SFC) is a built-in Windows tool that is used to scan for and replace any corrupted Windows system files. The SFC tool can be used to help fix certain Windows Update errors. To use the System File Checker, open the Command Prompt window and type “sfc /scannow”. This will initiate a full scan of all Windows system files to check for any corruption or missing files.
6. Reset Windows Updates Components
Sometimes it is necessary to reset the Windows Update components in order to fix certain Windows Update errors. To reset the Windows Update components, open the Command Prompt window and type the following commands, pressing Enter after each one:
• net stop wuauserv
• net stop bits
• net stop cryptsvc
• ren %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
• ren %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 catroot2.old
• net start wuauserv
• net start bits
• net start cryptsvc
7. Use the DISM Tool
The Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool is a Windows utility that can help to fix certain Windows Update errors by repairing corrupt Windows files. To use the DISM tool, open the Command Prompt window and type “DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth”. This will initiate a scan and repair process for any corrupted Windows files.
8. Reset the Catroot2 Folder
The catroot2 folder is used by Windows Update to store information about downloaded Windows updates. If this folder becomes corrupt, it can cause certain Windows Update errors. To reset the catroot2 folder, open the Command Prompt window and type “net stop cryptsvc”, followed by “md %systemroot%\system32\catroot2.old”, then “xcopy %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 %systemroot%\system32\catroot2.old /s”, and finally “net start cryptsvc”.
9. Clear the Windows Update Cache
If the Windows Update error persists, you may need to clear the Windows Update Cache. To do this, open the Command Prompt window and type “net stop wuauserv”, followed by “del %windir%\SoftwareDistribution\*.*”, and finally “net start wuauserv”.
10. Uninstall Unneeded Updates
Sometimes, installed Windows updates can cause certain Windows Update errors. To fix this, open the Control Panel, then select “Uninstall a Program”. This will open the list of installed programs, where you can uninstall any unneeded Windows updates.
11. Contact Microsoft Support
If none of the above steps have worked to resolve the Windows Update error, you should contact Microsoft Support for additional help. Their technical support staff can provide more advanced troubleshooting steps to help diagnose and fix the issue.