Windows Update 1909 has failed many times

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Windows update 1909 has failed to install with various error codes since last winter. (FYI, a download on my slow internet takes an overnight and more.)  I’m getting the End of Service message. Is there any chance that the permissions we give for Windows to send info back to Microsoft would detect those failed attempts? I’ve researched each error code and tried many suggested remedies to no avail. If it’s a hardware problem, I’m probably out of  luck as my Sony AIO is 7 years old now and I was hoping to preserve that big beautiful screen a bit longer. Any chance that 2004 might overlook those fails? Thanks.

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What version of Win10 are you running now (type “winver” in the search box, without quotes)?
What Edition are you running, Home or Pro?
Do you have Metered connections set to ON? Or have you limited the amount of data transfer in the Settings App?

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Hi, I have a Sony Vaio with Windows 10 Pro, 12 GB ram, I7-3630QM cpu at 2.40 GHz. It’s running 1809 which didn’t actually install until March 18, 2019.  Metered connections is not on.

I’ve successfully downloaded the file from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10 and run it rather than creating media. It will begin refreshing my OS and with the option to save my documents. When it first starts the install, it will begin downloading more updates (a couple more hours, as if the initial download is not current), begins the install, seemingly finishes, and just when I’m most hopeful, it fails and restores my old version.

I have shut off my Malwarebytes, unplugged all devices, and a ton of other suggestions previous to running it. So far the restore of my old version doesn’t seem to have lost any of my files, thankfully.

Any more ideas?

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My shift is about over for Tuesday.
If someone hasn’t answered you before I get back tomorrow morning, I will give you some things to try then.

A couple of questions beforehand:
How much free space do you have on your hard drive (spinner or SSD)?
Have you been getting the 1809 monthly updates?

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Tons of it.  1.39 TB. Thanks.

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As a fellow sufferer of chronically slow internet…

I was able to use Windows Media Creation Tool to download an ISO of 1909. I did that as a single first step, checking off “Create installation media for another PC”… and not using my internet connection for anything else until it completed. The first two times failed, but eventually I did get an ISO…

I don’t know about your area, but here, there are times of the day where the internet is worse than others. From about 11PM to 7AM WiFi gets the least use in the neighborhood around here, I started my download of 1909 just before I went to bed. Wind of any kind seems to make small breaks in internet connection that will impact a download of that size… so check the weather report. When all else fails I turn to friends with good internet connections (this isn’t a problem solely with 1909, but any large download) to download to a USB drive for me. For those of you with good, fast internet connections this may seem ridiculous… but the digital divide is real… and those of us with chronically poor connections are better off than those with no chance of connecting at all.

Now, you still have to mount the ISO, or otherwise create an installation disk or thumb drive… this is not the easiest, fastest way to upgrade… just what finally worked for me, to get a copy of 1909 (and I was longing for the days of buying a disk, and upgrading from there). I used the instructions at the link above to create ‘installation media’ on a thumb drive, but you could use a program to ‘mount’ the ISO, or burn DVDs.

I backed up my data, and made a system image (just in case). I turned off my internet, so that its slow speed couldn’t possibly be the reason for update failure (W10 will phone home during the update process, otherwise, and since I’ve had failures when connected, I didn’t take a chance). I inserted the thumb drive, and followed the instructions from there. It worked… I did get a black desktop… sigh… but it wasn’t a BSOD (counting my blessings, right?)… went through the settings, and made adjustments for privacy… turned on the internet… and… no internet.

Apparently, Microsoft has decided that older router protocols should not be supported any longer. So this time it wasn’t the computer… it was the computer’s ability to access the internet on the only router I have access to that was squashed… the rest of 1909 that I had the patience to experiment with seemed to be working okay… rolling back, to restore internet access worked just fine, too.

At least, with Microsoft granting an extended end of service date for 1809, I have until November 10th to figure it out! May you have better luck!

This post is solely focused on the poor internet being the problem. If you get an ISO, and you still have difficulty upgrading while disconnected from the internet, then it is time to explore the hardware issue.

Non-techy Win 10 Pro and Linux Mint experimenter

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Coldheart9020, WSjudson

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Hi, Elly.

This doesn’t bode well for me, then. I don’t know where you are, but here in mid Minnesota, I am on a wifi tower shared with I don’t know how many hundreds of households and I’m supposed to get 1-3 megs, but even before covid and necessary  homeschooling, I never have. Maybe if and when the local library is allowed to reopen, I can spend a few hours there and create the installation media and try it that way. I really do want to preserve my files. Thanks.

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Elly

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Can you go to a pals place in the city or as a bare minimum…somewhere on broadband unlimited? I used to do this when I was on dial-up modems (!) Shoot into town download all my apps & stuff then head home with the hard copies ready to rock on all my laptops – I reckon it’s your inet connection more than anything else. On dialup, 56k was impossible if it rained hard in the area and the ground got soaked, weather & ping were always our issues, cheers ; >)

If there is magic on this earth ... it's in the water.

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WSjudson, bassmanzam

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[Alex5723]

WSjudson wrote:

Hi, Elly.

This doesn’t bode well for me, then. I don’t know where you are, but here in mid Minnesota, I am on a wifi tower shared with I don’t know how many hundreds of households and I’m supposed to get 1-3 megs, but even before covid and necessary  homeschooling, I never have. Maybe if and when the local library is allowed to reopen, I can spend a few hours there and create the installation media and try it that way. I really do want to preserve my files. Thanks.

If you like I can upload a ISO copy of Windows 10 pro 1909 18362.592 X64
to Google drive for you to download.

There is no need to create a bootable media stick. Just double-click on the ISO file and Windows 10 will mount the ISO as a drive (with drive letter). Disconnect from the Internet (so Windows won’t search for updates), run setup.exe and select to keep applications and data.

Remember to eject (right-click on the drive) the drive at the end of the update process.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 9 months ago by Alex5723.

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WSjudson

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OK, v1809 EOL has been extended to the Fall of 2020 because of the pandemic. So lets verify that Windows Update is working correctly by running the updates for 1809. The upgrade can wait until we know if things are working correctly.

+ Have you been getting the 1809 monthly updates?
+ Look in Settings App under Windows Update. At the top of the window is there a message about managed settings?

+ Are there any pending updates in the queue?
+ Look in Update History – what were the last updates installed successfully?
+ Look under Windows Update\Advanced Options and tell me what values you have in “Channel,” Feature update deferral pulldown, and quality update deferral pulldown.

Let me know the answers, and depending on the answers this is what we are gong to try:
check for any file system errors, reset Windows Update, and install 1809 updates if there are any.

***Start here
First, verify file system integrity:
+ Open an elevated Command Prompt – in the searchbar type “cmd.exe” (without quotes), right click on the file and choose “Run as Administrator.” Run these commands you can copy/paste the commands to make it easier):
+ chkdsk /f (it will ask you if you want to run the command after reboot, answer “Y”)
+reboot. Note any errors it finds.
+ Open an elevated Command Prompt and run (noting any errors):
+ DISM /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
+ sfc /scannow

Next, reset Windows Update. Run these commands in an elevated Command Prompt:
+ DISM /online /Cleanup-Image /RevertPendingActions
+ net stop wuauserv
+ net stop cryptSvc
+ net stop bits
+ net stop msiserver
+ Ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.2005
+ net start wuauserv
+ net start cryptSvc
+ net start bits
+ net start msiserver

Let me know if there were any errors.
Use File Explorer to verify that the folder SoftwareDistribution.2005 exists.
Reboot

That ought to keep you busy for a while 🙂

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Coldheart9020, WSjudson

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I replied to this yesterday, but I see that apparently it didn’t post, so I’ll repeat what I said:
OK, I’ve got some time now to work on this.
So here are some of the things in my notes that I’ve done already weeks ago in the attempt to get things to work.

I’ve tried troubleshooter, unplugging all additional devices, disabling Malwarebytes, uninstalling Windows Upgrade Assistant, sfc, 3 dism commands, checked for driver problems in device manager, tried and failed to find an upgrade for the bios, did a disk cleanup removing old system files, made sure Windows Update Service is running, and more.

History shows that 1909 has failed since August with codes:
0xc1900101 (multiple times)
0x8024000b
0xc80240034
0x80240034
0x8024200d
0xc1900104
I think I typed all of them correctly.

2020004 Cum. update for 1809 (KB4549949)
2020-03 (KB453846)
2019-12 (KB4023057)
Security update (KB4524244)
Security update (KB4524244)
and so on back to February all installed

Nothing about managed settings.

As for pending updates, I have paused updates on the advice of some knowledgable people on this newsletter until the dust clears from 20-04

Semi-annual channel is selected. 0 in both feature and quality.

Sounds like you want me to stop now and let you peruse the above before proceeding.
Many thanks.

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Go to Control Panel\Power Oprions
“Choose what the power buttons do”
“Change settings that are currently unavailable”
Turn OFF Fast startup
If it’s not under those settings, look around under the options until you find it and turn it off.

Then, let’s try to clean things up first.
Begin at ***Start here and follow the instructions in order.
Don’t try anything else.
Leave the “Pause” in place, it probably won’t be affected.
If it negates the “Pause” and you get the May updates, no matter. I have installed them on 1809 with no problems.
Let me know if everything is good, or if/where you get errors.

Leave me your results if you do this tonight.
I’m on the site usually from 4:am – 8:pm CDT US.
So it will be tomorrow before I get back to you.

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WSjudson

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Hi, PKCano.

You are right. These commands are time consuming on an older computer.

I turned off fast startup, ran ckdsk /f with no errors.

DISM /online /cleanup-image /restore health shows image version 10.0.17763.1158 and completed successfully.

SFC /scannow found corrupt files and repaired them.

CBS.log is saved if you want to see it. I don’t see a way to attach it to this message .

I’m afraid I’m going to have to take some time this weekend, as we’re visiting with our kids “from a safe relationship” for the first time in 10 weeks, so I will resume in a couple days. I hope that you too can enjoy some personal time this weekend. Thanks. Judy

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I will be here all weekend.
Run the second set of commands when you get the chance and report back.

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Hi, PKCano.

I ran DISM /online /Cleanup-Image /RevertPendingActions and got Error: 0x800f082f. An error occurred reverting the pending actions from the image. For more information, review the log file.

I didn’t go any further. I googled the error code and it sounds serious. I found a site that supposedly has a link to download a fix. I don’t think so unless you say so. The DISM log file is too large to attach below.  I can send it some other way maybe.

Instructions? Am I in over my head?  Thanks. Judy

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Ok, run the rest of the commands in that series.
Let me know if you get any errors.
Then we’ll look at what comes next

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WSjudson

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net stop wuauserv stopped successfully

net stop cryptSvc stopped successfully

net stop bits says bits is not started. Help 3521

net stop msiserver Installer not started Help 3521

Ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.2005  Access denied

net start wuauserv Requested server has already been started Help 2182

net start cryptSvc Started successfully

net start bits  Started successfully

net start misserver Installer service started successfully

I searched File Explorer for half an hour on the c:\ drive and it does not find SoftwareDistribution.2005. I did expand all the folders in the C:\Users\Judy\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\ folder and don’t find it. There is a SoftwareDistribution.bak folder and a SoftwareDistribution.bak1 folder but nothing with 2005.

Sorry. Judy

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[PKCano]

I searched File Explorer for half an hour on the c:\ drive and it does not find SoftwareDistribution.2005. I did expand all the folders in the C:\Users\Judy\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\ folder and don’t find it

There is no Users\Judy in the path. It is C:\Windows\SofrwareDistribution.

You got access denied to the software distribution folder. So the name wasn’t changed.
Did you run the Command Prompt as Admin?
Is the ID you are using in the Admin group?
Have you ever used and third-party Windows Update blocker?

• This reply was modified 4 years, 9 months ago by PKCano.

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Please try again. Be sure to right click on cmd.exe and run as Administrator. Do not run the command to revert pending actions.

Next, reset Windows Update. Run these commands in an elevated Command Prompt:

+ net stop wuauserv
+ net stop cryptSvc
+ net stop bits
+ net stop msiserver
+ Ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.2005
+ net start wuauserv
+ net start cryptSvc
+ net start bits
+ net start msiserver

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WSjudson

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Please try again. Be sure to right click on cmd.exe and run as Administrator. Do not run the command to revert pending actions.

I am running as admin. I run as admin with no other user accounts. I right clicked and selected run command prompt (Admin).

Attaching a snip of the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder. Still don’t find the .2oo5 file. Bak and bak1

No, I haven’t used a third-party update blocker.

Results of the following:

Next, reset Windows Update. Run these commands in an elevated Command Prompt:

+ net stop wuauserv   Stopped
+ net stop cryptSvc     Stopped
+ net stop bits    Bits is not started Help 3521
+ net stop msiserver   Installer service is not started Help 3521
+ Ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.2005  Access denied
+ net start wuauserv    Already started
+ net start cryptSvc      Started
+ net start bits         Started
+ net start msiserver    Installer service started

Thanks again. Judy

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I think the reason the commands didn’t work is because you have Pause set in Windows Update.

First see if Windows Update is functioning correctly.
End the pause and install the May updates.
If they install correctly, give the install plenty of time to complete.

Then try the in-place upgrade mentioned below:
Insert the 1909 USB from within Windows installation.
Open Explorer, change to the USB drive, and run setup.exe
Choose to keep your programs and data.
See if it will do an in-place upgrade.

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I removed the pause and it downloaded KB4494174, KB890830, KBB4556441, and KB4551853. The last one has been sitting at 100% downloading forever. I don’t have active hours interfering with the install, but I’m going to let it sit as long as it thinks necessary.

I will run your last set of commands again without the pause on later.

As for downloading the ISO to flash drive, as I mentioned, my internet is very slow, and sometimes sporatic. It would probably take 24 hours if it didn’t drop and lose everything mid download.

I’m going to find out if there’s any way I can get my laptop near enough to the high speed wifi at the local library. They are still closed to the public for covid. Not sure if there’s any other free high speed in town that I could use, so I’m checking on it too. It may be a while. If you want to detach from this mess, I understand.

You folks have no idea how handicapped we are in outlying areas technologically.

Thanks so much. Judy

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Elly

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You may be too late to get the 1909 ISO/Media Creation Tool.
2004 had just been released 5/27/2020.

If the May updates install OK, there is another way to get 1909 (if you go somewhere there is good bandwidth). Leave the Pause off. There some Windows Update settings that can avoid download without disabling WU like Pause does. Read through AKB2000016 and my example in Section 4.

If the May updates fail, leave the Pause off. Then repeat all of these commands.

Wait out the download. Be sure your computer doesn’t go to sleep/hibernate. In either case, come back and let me know.

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I’m thinking that booting from the ISO USB drive will do the same thing as booting from a regular Windows installation DVD.  It will offer multiple options, including completely ‘replacing’ Windows.  If I recall, it may then offer to keep your programs/apps and data.  If so, reply in the affirmative.

I’ve never gotten to that point, but almost did for the last 3 days of trying to upgrade a friends’ Win 7 computer to Win 10.  It would run for 90 minutes, restore Win 7 with a 0x800707E7 error code which is quite vague once I found what it meant.  Turned out that the computer store where it was bought used had their own partially removed user-ID.  I ultimately had to remove several registry entries to get it to work.

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WSjudson

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I would not boot from the install DVD or install flash drive. I would run the install DVD’s or flash drive’s setup.exe file once you are in Windows 10.

If you boot with the install DVD or install flash drive, Windows 10 might not activate. If, however, you run the setup.exe file from within Windows 10, the new Windows 10 that you are installing will be activated.

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 10 running in a remote session on my file server

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WSjudson

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bratkinson wrote:

I’m thinking that booting from the ISO USB drive will do the same thing as booting from a regular Windows installation DVD.  It will offer multiple options, including completely ‘replacing’ Windows.  If I recall, it may then offer to keep your programs/apps and data.  If so, reply in the affirmative.

I’ve never gotten to that point, but almost did for the last 3 days of trying to upgrade a friends’ Win 7 computer to Win 10.  It would run for 90 minutes, restore Win 7 with a 0x800707E7 error code which is quite vague once I found what it meant.  Turned out that the computer store where it was bought used had their own partially removed user-ID.  I ultimately had to remove several registry entries to get it to work.

Any ideas which registries you had to remove or edit? (And if possible a quick step by step on where you found the entries to edit/remove?). I’m having the same kind of error, <strong class=”_12FoOEddL7j_RgMQN0SNeU”>0x800707E7 – 0x3000D, with a friend’s computer and the information available is limited at best. (The system gets as far as about 57% in the Win1o install/upgrade before reverting back to Win7.)  They’re trying to telework and their system/software requires windows 10. I suggested a clean install/upgrade but there’s older/legacy software on their system they don’t want to lose in the upgrading process.

I’ve done most of the things that the limited options on Microsoft and other locations seem to suggest trying, disabling 3rd party AV, system checks/file scan for corruption/damaged files, drive size (200+ GB free space) error logs, etc., but at this point I’ve hit a dead end.

I have checked for “strange user accounts” (there were 2 old user folders in the directory for what appears to be other accounts but nothing residing on netplwiz) which some information online points to as the culprit but I don’t see anything apparent to remove. I was able to get into the ProfileList and check the profileimage path and nothing seems out of the ordinary; the 2 user accounts, the network services, local services, & system profile but that’s about where I hit my current dead end and experience limits. (I know enough to know you don’t generally much around with the registry).

I know the computer was build by someone other than the previous owner so seems like there may be some overlap with your experience. Any insight, info, or resources would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time in advance.

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teams127 wrote:

… I’m having the same kind of error, 0x800707E7 – 0x3000D, with a friend’s computer and the information available is limited at best. (The system gets as far as about 57% in the Win1o install/upgrade before reverting back to Win7.)
…
I have checked for “strange user accounts” (there were 2 old user folders in the directory for what appears to be other accounts but nothing residing on netplwiz) which some information online points to as the culprit but I don’t see anything apparent to remove. I was able to get into the ProfileList and check the profileimage path and nothing seems out of the ordinary; the 2 user accounts, the network services, local services, & system profile but that’s about where I hit my current dead end and experience limits. (I know enough to know you don’t generally much around with the registry).

I know the computer was build by someone other than the previous owner so seems like there may be some overlap with your experience. Any insight, info, or resources would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time in advance.

Is one of the old user folders UpdatusUser (or UpdatusUser.000)?

Someone with the same error [0x800707E7 – 0x3000D] when trying to upgrade Windows 7 to 10 a couple of months ago resolved it by deleting that user from the registry profilelist (and user folder):

Error during migrate data operation – Upgrading Win 7 to 10

What is NVIDIA ’UpdatusUser’? [2011]

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Same flash drive that you use for booting from USB can be run from Windows itself. @wsjudson, you should be able to select “Preserve user settings and data” after launching “setup.exe” as administrator. I did some upgrades this way, if automatic updates via internet failed.

Same with the installation from DVD.

Dell Latitude 3420, Intel Core i7 @ 2.8 GHz, 16GB RAM, W10 22H2 Enterprise

HAL3000, AMD Athlon 200GE @ 3,4 GHz, 8GB RAM, Fedora 29

PRUSA i3 MK3S+

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WSjudson

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WSjudson wrote:

as I mentioned, my internet is very slow, and sometimes sporatic

Your cellular speed may be way faster then internet speed. Try using your smartphone tethered to your PC.

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Many people have limited cell phone bandwidth, and downloading the ISO over cell connections may cost them many extra bucks.

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Elly

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You are correct, PKCano.  Alex5723 has a great idea, but I’m afraid that even with some carryover from last month, I wouldn’t have enough data on my phone.

However, after failing those updates, I re-ran your commands, and the four updates did install. A good sign.  I’m working on some high speed alternatives, in case 1909 is still available. I hear 2004 has quite a few problems initially, so I’m thinking I’ll put the pause back on.    Thanks. Judy

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DO NOT put the pause back on.
There are some settings you can use to do the same thing without limiting yourself to immediate download/install.

Read AKB2000016. Make your settings like in my example in Section 4. DO NOT use Pause – there are no CUs till June 9th.
In the meantime, I will show you how to get 1909 assuming you can get decent Internet connections.

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Elly

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Hi, PKCano.

I’ve read your instructions above and been agoninzing.  I’m afraid I am beyond my self-taught computing. I’ve never worked with gui settings or gpedit and I’m afraid I’ll mess things up. I’m actually surprised I’ve been mostly able to  follow your instructions up to this point.

I did find a way that I might be able to download 1909. If I were to succeed in downloading it and IF  it then installs correctly, maybe I would be ok? I would need to know where to download it. Is this a possibility. Thanks. Judy

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If you are capable of downloading the ISO, you are more than capable of following these instructions.

Try this first. It’s simple.
In Settings, Go to Windows Update.
Click on “Advanced settings”
There is a pulldown for channel – be sure it’s at “Semi-Annual channel”
There are 2 deferral Pulldowns – one for Quality updates and one for Feature updates
Leave the Quality Updates =0 ( zero)
Set the Feature Updates at 365

Group Policy is a tree like Explorer.
In the same way you find C:\Users\<your ID>\Documents you can navigate to find the settings in Group Policy
To open Group Policy, tyoe “gpedit.msc” (without quotes) in the search box and hit enter.
There are pictures in AKB2000016 to show you what it looks like and a description above the picture.
Open it up and just look at it – see if you can find the setting for 2 (notify download/install). You won’t hurt anything to look.

Let me know if you found it.

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Ok, you pushed me enough. I did find and edit all those settings, and I’m exhausted!!! My learning has definitely been stretched. The pictures were the only thing that kept me on track, following the file structure on them, since I’m already pretty good at file management. I’m sure I got all the changes.  I should say thank you for pushing, I guess. 🙂

I assume the next step is to install 1909. I need to create a full backup and a data backup first. My timeline to download the iso via tethering is midnight tonight,  I’m afraid, or I’ll have to wait until a few weeks from now when the library is in full operation again. Didn’t know I had 5 gb extra from my carrier until yesterday. The iso shouldn’t exceed 8?  Judy

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[PKCano]

When you get to a place that you can download, all you need now is to set the pulldown in Windows Update for Feature deferrals to 100 days instead of 365.
If you have the May updates already installed, then just “check for updates” and it should make 1909 available for download from Windows Update.
Click the “Download” button.
You should not have to download the ISO separately.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 9 months ago by PKCano.

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WSjudson wrote:

in case 1909 is still available

1909 is still available and will remain so on Heidoc.net.

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was there a happy ending to this lady’s wows?

 

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Hi, PFC. Thank you for asking. The happy ending is that my new machine arrives tomorrow. I’m experiencing a lot of other ‘little’ issues, so it was time to replace. Problem solved, in the only way I know. 😉 It was a good run.

I really appreciated the efforts of all of you. Now to look forward to a whole new set of challenges.

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PFC

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Now to repurpose the old machine. Maybe try a Linux Live USB to see if that works?

cheers, Paul

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Actually, this machine has the capability of being used as a monitor, so that’s my plan. Imagine, my new 27 inch with a 24 inch secondary. I’ll be in heaven!!!

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