Windows Update Kb 4054788 Fails Again and Again

April 04, 2022 Post a Comment

This weekend, I fired up a Windows ten VM prototype I hadn't used for a while. Considering they are essentially just files, virtual auto images tend to sit down effectually, powered off, unless you demand them. I use a standard Windows ten starter template VM whenever I need a fresh automobile. The template hadn't been updated in a while.

As is always the case when re-activating a VM, I ran Windows Update. It made some progress, but and so information technology failed. I tried Windows Update over again. I got some other fail message.

You can try a bunch of tricks to prepare updates when they fail. Fortunately, in my case, the very first tactic I used succeeded. I'll prove you lot that, then I'll share with yous some of the additional steps I would have taken if the update nonetheless hadn't worked.

Brand a fill-in

I know this should get without saying, but I'one thousand going to say it anyhow. Make a backup. Earlier you go rummaging around in your system'southward innards, it's always good to make sure you can recover your data.

Yeah, I've skipped this step. Yes, it's injure my soul. Learn from my mistakes. Make a backup. Here are three great articles by our own Windows sensei, Ed Bott, that should help y'all backup before you get forward.

Ed Bott on Windows backups:

Windows 10 tip: Create a total paradigm fill-in using this hidden tool
Windows 10 tip: Create a recovery drive
Windows 10 tip: Turn on File History for automatic backups

1. For VM users: Replace with a newer VM

I oftentimes have older VMs pre-configured with a lot of custom tweaks, installed applications, and other elements. As such, information technology'due south frequently rather time-consuming to commencement from a fresh Windows prototype. But if you're able to, rather than going through the effort to update a version of Windows that was originally installed in 2016 or 2017, first with a fresh Windows image that has the Oct 2018 update already installed.

2. Restart and try running Windows Update again

In reviewing this post with Ed, he told me that the most common crusade of those "Update failed" messages is that there are ii updates waiting. If ane is a servicing stack update, information technology has to install first, and the machine has to restart earlier it can install the next update. Problem solved.

A expert read on this is Liam Tung'south slice, Windows update bug: Microsoft reveals why contempo patches broke some PCs. Fifty-fifty though it talks about some Windows 7 update issues, the underlying principle is the same.

3. Effort Windows Update Troubleshooter

Microsoft really ships Windows 10 with a Windows Update troubleshooting tool. I observe the easiest style to reach it is but type "troubleshoot" in the search box.

Because I'm working on an older revision of Windows 10, the screen above is shown. If your Windows x is from a more recent update, y'all'll come across the following screen, which you can also attain by going to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshooting.

This is the more recent version of the Windows 10 troubleshooting interface.

This will bring upwardly the full Troubleshooting console. Yous'll want to select "Prepare bug with Windows Update." This volition bring upwards the Windows Update troubleshooter. I didn't experience I needed to apply Advanced options, so I only hitting Adjacent. That said, Ed recommends taking the extra infinitesimal and using Avant-garde Options. He says, "That runs the troubleshooter as an admin and allows it to fix a wider range of problems."

Subsequently a relatively short time, Windows reported information technology had establish and fixed the trouble.

There'due south a dainty surprise. Information technology's stock-still.

Of course, it's never a good idea to merely have Windows' word for anything like this, and then I went back into Windows Update and ran it again.

Afterward a few hours, I had my effect. The update that previously failed had completed properly and my system was fully upwardly to date.

4. Pause updates

Here's an interesting play a joke on that's a big counter-intuitive. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and hit the Avant-garde Options button. Assuming you're at a relatively contempo version of Windows 10, you'll see this screen:

Pause updates clears the already-downloaded update cache.

Slide the Break Updates switch on. Restart your car. And then, once the machine is booted upwardly fully, get back to that screen and slide the Pause Updates switch back to Off.

If y'all tell Windows to intermission updates, y'all'll clear all of the downloaded updates. Get alee and try Windows Update again. Hopefully information technology will work. This is style easier (and less stressful) than deleting the SoftwareDistribution directory from your Windows directory, which is my side by side suggestion.

5. Delete the SoftwareDistribution directory

I accept to say that this was a surprise. Most of the time, when I've had difficulty getting Windows Update to work, information technology'south taken hours or days, and I've had to jump through a agglomeration of hoops to get it washed.

If the troubleshooter doesn't piece of work, a good commencement beginning is to simply clear away the old update files. To exercise this, get-go restart your auto in Safe Style. Information technology is possible to clear the Windows Update files by stopping the Windows Update service, simply I've found it'due south just a much more reliable experience to brand certain nothing's running in the background, and then I go straight for Safe Mode.

From there, open File Explorer, navigate to the Windows folder, and delete the folder called SoftwareDistribution.

If yous're not nervous doing this, you lot're not human.

Alternatively, you lot can type RMDIR /S/Q at a command prompt, which recurses throughout the entire subdirectory and deletes the advisable update files without requiring additional confirming prompts.

At this betoken, go ahead and restart your car and endeavor the update again. If you disabled the Windows Update service, call up to turn it on before attempting your update.

6. Download the latest characteristic update from Microsoft

If Windows Update is still failing, you lot might desire to consider going to Microsoft to download the update directly. It's probably not a bad idea to bookmark the Download Windows 10 page on the Microsoft site.

If y'all're using Edge, you lot'll be able to download the update:

Brand sure you lot're using Edge to become the in-place Update option.

Go ahead and completely download the update. I'd recommend hit Save rather than Run, and then that you accept the update and tin reapply information technology if you encounter any snags.

In one case it'southward downloaded, run the update epitome, and hopefully you'll be all set.

vii. Download the cumulative quality/security updates

The tactic higher up may work if at that place'south a contempo feature update (as at that place was in my example). Just at that place are really two kinds of updates: feature and quality/security updates. Ed has a great caption of the differences in this article. Ed explains that most "Update failed" messages are related to security/reliability updates.

For those, you have to get to the Microsoft Update Itemize, search using the KB number of the failed update, and download the correct standalone distribution parcel, and so double-click to run it.

8. Run the Windows System File Checker

If all that fails, it might be time to run the Windows System File Checker. Here'southward a fundamental tip for those of you familiar with using SFC (Organization File Checker) in Windows seven and earlier. Now, since Windows 8, you'll demand to run a tool called DISM (Deployment Prototype Servicing and Management) start.

So let's begin with that. Get-go, open a control vanquish. Make sure you right-click on the Command menu and run in elevated privilege mode.

DISM is a pretty neat tool with a lot of capabilities

Consequence the command DISM /online /cleanup-paradigm /restorehealth. This should aid clean corruption among your system components. Give it a few minutes to run. Hopefully you'll have a successful result.

One time you've completed your DISM run, it'due south time to burn down off SFC. In that same elevated privilege command window, go ahead and run SFC /scannow.

No, not the CBS that owns ZDNet. This time, CBS ways Component Based Servicing.

As it turned out, SFC did detect some errors, which information technology repaired and then wrote to the CBS (Component Based Servicing) log.

Once you lot've run DISM and SFC, information technology'southward time to reboot. Then, in one case once again, endeavour Windows Update.

9. If all else fails, repair your Windows installation

Hopefully, you're happily updating Windows by at present. But if not, I take one more than hammer left in my toolbox: repairing your Windows installation itself. Windows offers an in-place repair and upgrade as part of the installation process.

To take this final step, read Ed Bott's quick tip on how to brand information technology happen.

x. Skip the update

Finally, information technology'due south worth mentioning that sometimes Microsoft ships problematic updates. You might just need to skip that update. I know, after all that pain, correct? Merely it happens. Here's an Ed tip on hiding problematic updates and moving on with your life.

Hopefully, one of these procedures is getting you back on the mode to an updated Windows. Let me know how things worked out in the TalkBacks beneath.

You tin follow my twenty-four hours-to-twenty-four hour period project updates on social media. Be sure to follow me on Twitter at @DavidGewirtz, on Facebook at Facebook.com/DavidGewirtz, on Instagram at Instagram.com/DavidGewirtz, and on YouTube at YouTube.com/DavidGewirtzTV.

Previous and related coverage:

Windows 10 how-to: Ed Bott'due south free tech back up and troubleshooting guide

A curated listing of the best sites for support data about Windows x.

How to install, reinstall, upgrade and activate Windows 10

Here's everything you need to know before you lot repair, reinstall, or upgrade Windows 10, including details about activation and product keys.

Which apps are draining your laptop'southward battery? Bank check Windows Task Director CNET

The venerable Task Manager has a few new tricks.

10 apps to add together features to Windows 10 TechRepublic

Here'due south a pick of our favorite Windows ten utilities.

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Source: https://www.zdnet.com/article/windows-update-failed-here-are-10-fixes-you-can-try/

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