My PC has refused to update past 1909 for some time now

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I’ve spent the last few days trying to sort this out after having the issue for the last couple years, at least I think because I didn’t realize it til after the fact.
My PC will not update. I have tried everything. Anything normal ideas such as the troubleshooter or disabling services or checking for drivers or running certain tests or certain commands. None of it works. I tried the update assistant, I tried the media creation tool clean install thing both by running it from the PC and also doing it from the boot menu. I have tried to reset my PC completely.
I am by no means an expert on PCs but I know my way around enough to troubleshoot issues. That’s why I’m posting here because I’ve gotten some good information from here in the past, and after like 7 chats and 30 hours trying to sort this out with Microsoft, I don’t think they can help.
The only odd things I have taken note of, besides the countless error message of failures with every time I try to update is:
1- there is no option to format the drives when I am installing windows with the media creation tool. It just lets me see the drive but from what I understand I should be able to format it.
2- out of all the commands and tests I’ve run the only one that comes back with problems is the DISM restore health command that goes to 63% and then fails.
I have no idea if any of those things mean anything, all I know is I’m out of options and would appreciate any help or ideas, even if I have already tried them. Thank you.

Not sure which one of these is right or if it even has anything to do with this issue, but i figured I would link them. I found different answers on where the DISM file would go after i ran the command.

https://1drv.ms/f/s!As0QK5D1JNDl9Sl497qtsNDPVqgu?e=txLaqs

https://1drv.ms/f/s!As0QK5D1JNDl9SuXd8xiRMwx29IU?e=df5ofZ

And these are the errors I’ve been getting from some of the ways I’ve tried updating. Also some system information.

https://1drv.ms/f/s!As0QK5D1JNDl9S3aSbQ2Qi7JFhBk?e=FBBMYp

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certain tests or certain commands

What are the tests/certain commands you have tried?

Your issues feel like possible logical file system errors.  Here’s a simple way to check and fix logical file system errors in one step.  If you’ve already does this, disregard.

Tap the start menu key then type “cmd” without quotes.  Then click on the “run as administrator” choice.

Copy and paste this in the black box that opens :

chkdsk /f

Press enter.  You’ll get a notice that the process won’t start until you restart your computer, so do it asap.  If no disk problems are found, this will be noted on the screen.

Desktop mobo Asus TUF X299 Mark 1, CPU: Intel Core i7-7820X Skylake-X 8-Core 3.6 GHz, RAM: 32GB, GPU: Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti 4GB. Display: Four 27" 1080p screens 2 over 2 quad.

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So I’ve basically just been trying every troubleshooting thing I can find online for this issue. sfc /scannow was one, another one I’ll put below because its long, but I think its a pretty common step. Another recommended one was the DISM restore health command. Basically anything and everything if it might get this PC to update.

As for the command you wrote, I gave it a try and on the screen after the restart it said “fixing C” and “scanning and repairing drive C”. I’m not sure if that’s what it normally says or not, but that’s all it really said. I also looked up how to see it in events and really all I can understand is “Windows has made corrections to the file system. No further action is required.”

I’m going to try to update it again shortly and, if it works. will post it. Thank you very much for the help and advice I really appreciate it.

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

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“Windows has made corrections to the file system. “

Means there WERE logical file system errors that were corrected.

Also,  I agree with everything Paul T posted below.

Desktop mobo Asus TUF X299 Mark 1, CPU: Intel Core i7-7820X Skylake-X 8-Core 3.6 GHz, RAM: 32GB, GPU: Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti 4GB. Display: Four 27" 1080p screens 2 over 2 quad.

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lagz

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I would run chkdsk again to be sure.
Then sfc /scannow
And dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Assuming these all complete successfully, retry the updates.
If the updates still won’t install, try a “Repair over the top“.

You should have a full image backup before running any of these commands.

cheers, Paul

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lagz

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Thank you both for the help. So I ran the chkdsk again and it was basically the exact same text on the screen. The only difference was that it completed in about half the time. Both of the other operations completed successfully without issues. I’m going to try the update again and will let you know how it goes.

And with the repair over the top thing, I have to look into it a bit but from what I’ve read it sounds like one of the things I’ve tried. However I will try it. Since my first post, I also tried doing like a factory reset type thing through reset this PC. it supposedly wiped and reinstalled windows and everything on my C drive. The problem is it just installed the same update again and then failed to upgrade it yet again.

The only thing I haven’t tried that was recommended by a support agent at MSFT was booting it from the USB and running the custom install process through that. I mean I did try it, but it kept giving me errors so the agent wanted me to format the C drive, but I’m hesitant to do that because I would like to know if I format the drive through the custom install, and the custom install fails, will I just be left with a PC that doesnt work?

Other than that, I’ve tried may other things. I’ll post some of the screenshots of the errors I’ve received, they are linked in the first post but I’ll re post them on here. Thank you guys a million times over for your advice.

All of the error messages are basically from using the update assistant or media creation tool install/custom install/repair.

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This is something different now that I’ve started the update it has these other updates below. The update for 22h2 is downloading and there are 2 updates for my current 1909 version, as well as a malicious software removal tool update. It could be nothing, but it’s just not something I’ve seen before while trying to upgrade after some troubleshooting. Here’s hoping.

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Your OS is telling you that’s it’s out-of-date and is no longer supported.

DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) is about the OS. You already know that your installed OS is out-of-date and may also have other issues.

I suggest that your issues may indicate a possible hardware problem… so that’s where I would start basic troubleshooting.

You haven’t mentioned (as far as I can see) any details about your PC (make/model) nor the disk type (HDD/SSD) or its manufacturer so the following is generic advice.

1. Try using your drive manufacturer’s own drive health tool or a third-party tool (for example, CrystalDiskInfo Standard Edition) rather than Windows’ own built-in tools.

2. Once you’re absolutely certain your storage device’s integrity is trouble-free then I would take a backup by using, for example, something like Macrium Reflect (which is still free… for the moment) or EaseUS Todo Backup (also free).

3. Then I would create a USB installer using Microsoft’s free Media Creator Tool (MCT) and, most importantly, make sure I had my data backed up seperately.

4. Next, carry out a clean install, wiping out all previously defined disk partitions in the process so you are left with just a drive with unallocated space.

Install the latest Windows 10 from the MCT to that.

Hope this helps…

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lagz

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Thank you for the advice. I honestly forget the name, it’s some kind of Best Buy PC. I got a deal on it and it updated a couple times but then I didnt notice that it had stopped. It’s older, like 4 or 5 years. I’ll list the hardware as best I can.

WD green 120GB SSD – WDC WDS120G2G0A-00JH30 (Windows C drive)

WD 1TB HDD – WDC WD10EZEX-08WN4A0 (just pictures, videos, games)

AMD Ryzen 7 1800x

MSI a320M pro-vd plus (MS7B38) mobo

Radeon RX 580

Nothing so far has worked so I’ll give it a try but I think I did something similar yesterday. I reset the PC and supposedly wiped everything on the C drive and reinstalled windows. I could be wrong though, and am guessing it might be different to wiping out everything. I just didnt bother with the other drive since its just pictures and videos mainly. Thank you.

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lagz wrote:

I reset the PC and supposedly wiped everything on the C drive and reinstalled windows.

A reset using Windows’s built-in tools will, if successful, reset your PC to Windows 1909 which is no longer supported and, in your specific case, appears corrupted.

IMO you need to download/create a USB installer for the latest version of Windows 10’s Media Creation Tool by visiting Download Windows 10 , i.e. Step 3 of my previous post.

However, that is entirely secondary IMO to checking the health state of your device’s drive(s).. which you haven’t yet reported.

Hope this helps…

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lagz

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Yes, so someone from MSFT support called me today after they escalated the issue a couple days ago and basically that’s the same thing they said. But they wanted to wait til Monday to have someone else help with it because when I had originally gone to do that it said it couldn’t install windows on any of my drives because they were GPT I think it said.

I looked up how to fix it but I guess I’ll just wait to do it with them. I have the USB media creation tool from when I tried it. In the meantime I’m going to do what you recommended and check the health. I will respond if it comes up with anything.

My only concern is and has been, what if I do this and it deletes/wipes the drives to do the custom install but somehow it still fails. Does it roll back? I don’t think so. Or am I just left with a PC that doesn’t work. This is probably over thinking it though.

But again thanks a lot for all the help. I think this is basically all that can be done, and I either use the PC the way it is, corrupted, or try this. But I will certainly do the drive health check thing.

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lagz wrote:

but I will certainly do the drive health check thing.

You still haven’t done this?

This, IMO, is very basic and I’m surprised your conversation with MS support didn’t include this.

I don’t think I can help any further.

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lagz

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Sorry I did do it, I mean to the best of my ability. Just a very busy couple days. I downloaded the software from Western Digital and it had a diagnostics test so I ran it on both drives. It took a while but said everything was fine. I’m not sure if that’s the right software to use, but it said extended diagnostics test.

And most of the support was through online support chat and most of them would try to get me to do steps I already had. Sometimes that caused me to have to end that chat waiting for the computer to restart, but I guess the one on the phone the other day thought I had done everything possible from the records they keep and the only option left was the custom install thing and wiping everything.

Once again, thank you for the help and advice.

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So, now both drive’s integrity has been verified, I would create a disk image of the SSD and store the image on the HDD.

Next I suggest creating the MCT USB then temporarily disconnect the HDD so there’s absolutely no doubt that you are working on the SSD. Also, disconnect your PC from your router… do not install Windows whilst connected to the internet.

The next step is to boot your PC from the MCT USB. As yours appears to be a generic rather than a branded PC  you’re going to have to work out what top row F(unction) key to press from ‘power on’ to enter the PC’s boot menu so you can choose to boot from the USB stick. Most PCs will show something like ‘Press F2 to enter settings’ or similar on screen for a second before booting into Windows.

Once you can boot from the USB key you’ll be able to remove all the existing partitions on the SSD and install Windows (which will recreate the partitions). The installer will copy the files it needs to the SSD then reboot. When it reboots, remove the USB key (so it doesn’t try to restart the initial install again). When your PC restarts it will continue installing Windows.

For a comprehensive step-by-step tutorial, have a look at the following article:

How to Clean Install Windows 10

Once Windows is re-installed, shut the PC down then reconnect the HDD. At this point you can restart the PC, connect it to the internet then – via Settings > Update & Security –  let Windows add all the latest updates, etc.

Hope this helps…

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lagz

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Well it’s fixed. After changing the drive from GPT because it was giving an error that it wouldn’t install on a GPT drive, it installed. It also scared me though because, for some reason, it kept restarting and freezing on the MSI screen until I finally removed the USB. Then it restarted and the setup began. It was very strange, but whatever, it worked and finally the newest windows update is installed. Thank you everyone for your help.

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lagz wrote:

Well it’s fixed.

Excellent result. Thanks for letting us know.

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Lagz,

Is it possible that some one downloaded GRC (Steve Gibson’s) “In Control” at some time on your computer to prevent major updates?

https://www.grc.com/incontrol.htm/

“Easily manage Windows 10 and 11
out-of-control updating and upgrading.”

A neighbor installed “In Control” and their computer was also stuck at version Win 10 Release 1909. They forgot about it and when we looked at their box, and we downloaded a copy from GRC, seeing it stuck on Version 10 Release 1909, we pressed the “Release Control” button and hit exit.

Clicked on settings and “Update and Security” and clicked on “Check For Updates”…

Many updates later, Version 10 Release 22H2 was installed.

Restart “In Control”, click on “Take Control” button and the system was locked down until the Ask Woody Def-con Meter says it is ok to update and we will run GRC’s In Control again…

Hope you find this helpful!

 

 

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