1. Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter:
2. Restart your computer:
Sometimes a simple reboot of your computer can solve the problem. A reboot may help clear out any pending updates or other background tasks that could be interfering with Windows Update. To restart your computer, click the “Start” button, select “Power”, and then select “Restart”.
3. Check Windows Update Services are Running:
Windows Update relies on two services being running correctly. If these services are not running correctly, it can cause errors with Windows Update. To check if the services are running, press the Windows key + R to open the “Run” dialog box. Type “services.msc” in the Run box, then click OK. This will open the Service window. Look for the “Windows Update” service, then double-click on the service. The status of the service should be “Running”. If it is not running, click on “Start” to start the service.
4. Check Date and Time Settings:
Windows Update errors can also be caused by incorrect date and time settings. To check the date and time setting on your computer, open the Start menu, type “date and time”, and select the Date & Time settings option. Make sure the date and time are correct, then click “Apply” and “OK” to save the changes.
5. Disable Proxy Settings:
If you are using a proxy server, it can cause errors with Windows Update. To disable proxy settings on your computer, open the Start menu, type “Internet Options”, and select the Internet Options settings option. Go to the “Connections” tab, then click the “LAN Settings” button. Uncheck the “Use a proxy server for your LAN” option, then click “OK”.
6. Reset Windows Update Components:
If none of the above solutions work, then you can try resetting the Windows Update components. This process will reinstall the required components and hopefully fix the errors with Windows Update. To reset the Windows Update components, type “command prompt” in the search box, right-click the “Command Prompt” result, and select “Run as administrator”. Then type the following commands in the command prompt window and press Enter after each one.
net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver
Ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
Ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 Catroot2.old
net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver
Once the commands have finished executing, close the Command Prompt window and restart your computer. After the restart, try running Windows Update again to see if the issue has been resolved.
7. Perform a Clean Boot of Windows:
If you’re still having issues with Windows Update after trying the steps above, you can try performing a clean boot of Windows. This process will disable all non-essential startup programs and services, which can help identify if a particular program is causing issues with Windows Update. To perform a clean boot of Windows, type “System Configuration” in the search box and select the “System Configuration” result. Go to the “General” tab and select “Selective startup”. Uncheck the “Load startup items” option, then go to the “Services” tab and check the “Hide all Microsoft services” option. Finally, click “Disable all” and click “OK”. Restart your computer, then try running Windows Update again to see if the issue has been resolved.
8. Restore Windows to an Earlier Version:
If none of the above solutions work, you can try restoring Windows to an earlier version. This process will reverse any changes you have made to your system, and hopefully fix the issue with Windows Update. To restore Windows to an earlier version, type “Recovery” in the search box and select the “Recovery” result. Click “Open System Restore”, then select a restore point that was created before the issue started. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the restore process.
These are some of the most common solutions for fixing Windows Update errors. If you continue to experience errors after trying the steps above, then we recommend contacting a professional support technician for further assistance.