Microsoft regularly releases Windows 10 updates with the latest bug fixes and security enhancements and drivers. Install the latest Windows Update to ensure your computer remains secure, stable, and up-to-date. However, sometimes Windows Update can encounter issues, result Windows 10 updates is stuck downloading or fail to install updates with different error codes. One effective troubleshooting step for such problems is to reset the Windows Update components. This article explores How to Reset Windows update Components on Windows 10 and get security patches, drivers, and features downloaded again on your computer.
Windows Update problems can arise when Windows Update agent services stop functioning, or certain components become corrupted. To resolve these problems, resetting Windows Update can be a highly effective solution.
How to Reset Windows Update Components
Windows Update can sometimes get stuck or fail to complete due to various reasons. Slow or unstable internet connections, conflicts with third-party software, corrupt update files, insufficient disk space, issues with the Windows Update service, and pending incomplete updates can all cause problems.
To address these issues, resetting Windows Update Components can be helpful. This process involves clearing corrupt files by renaming specific folders, resetting services to default configurations, fixing network connectivity problems, temporarily eliminating software conflicts, and refreshing relevant registry entries.
Note – Before proceeding, it’s crucial to create a backup or restore point to safeguard your system in case something goes wrong during the process.
Reset Windows Update using Troubleshooter
Let’s first run the built-in Windows Update Troubleshooter that automatically detects and fixes common issues related to Windows Update. It checks settings, verifies connectivity, resolves service errors, clears update cache, repairs database corruption, and fixes update component problems.
Running the troubleshooter helps users diagnose and resolve Windows Update-related problems without requiring advanced technical knowledge.
- Click on the “Start” button and select the “Settings” (gear icon) from the Start menu. Alternatively, press “Windows + I” on your keyboard to open Settings.
- Select “Update & Security.” In the left-hand pane, click on “Troubleshoot.”
- In the right-hand pane, scroll down and click on “Additional troubleshooters.”
- Look for “Windows Update” under “Get up and running” and click on it.
- Click on the “Run the troubleshooter” button. Windows will start detecting and attempting to fix issues related to Windows Update.
- Follow the on-screen instructions if any problems are detected. The troubleshooter will attempt to resolve the identified issues.
Manually Reset Windows Update Components
Running the Windows Update Troubleshooter helps to automatically detect and fix common Windows Update issues. If the problem persists, resetting Windows Update Components can be helpful to clear any corrupt files, reset services, and resolve network-related problems, allowing the Windows Update process to function smoothly.
Stop Windows update and related services
To Manually Reset Windows update components, First, we need to stop Windows update and its related services. Open Windows services using service.msc, Right click on Windows update and select stop. Or you can open the command prompt as administrator and run the following commands.
- net stop bits
- net stop wuauserv
- net stop appidsvc
- net stop cryptsvc
Delete the Existing Update Files
Next, we are going to delete the qmgr*.dat files. In order to reset Windows Update components, you will need all the qmgr*.dat files created by BITS from your PC. You can delete them by performing the below command.
Del “%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Network\Downloader\*.*”
Next, Rename the SoftwareDistribution and catroot2 folders. So that Windows automatically creates new SoftwareDistribution and catroot2 and installs fresh update files.
To do this, at a command prompt, type the following commands. Make sure that you press Enter after you type each command.
Ren %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.bak
Ren %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 catroot2.bak
Now We are going to Reset the BITS service and the Windows Update service to the default security descriptor. To do this run following command and press Enter on each line:
exe sdset bits D:(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;SY)(A;;CCDCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRSDRCWDWO;;;BA) (A;;CCLCSWLOCRRC;;;AU)(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;PU)
exe sdset wuauserv D:(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;SY)(A;;CCDCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRSDRCWDWO;;;BA) (A;;CCLCSWLOCRRC;;;AU)(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;PU)
Re-register Windows Update Files
Now, Re-register the BITS files and the Windows Update related dll files. To do this perform the following commands one by one and press enter key to execute.
cd /d %windir%\system32
regsvr32.exe /s atl.dll regsvr32.exe /s urlmon.dll regsvr32.exe /s mshtml.dll regsvr32.exe /s shdocvw.dll regsvr32.exe /s browseui.dll regsvr32.exe /s jscript.dll regsvr32.exe /s vbscript.dll regsvr32.exe /s scrrun.dll regsvr32.exe /s msxml3.dll regsvr32.exe /s msxml6.dll regsvr32.exe /s actxprxy.dll regsvr32.exe /s softpub.dll regsvr32.exe /s wintrust.dll regsvr32.exe /s dssenh.dll regsvr32.exe /s rsaenh.dll regsvr32.exe /s cryptdlg.dll regsvr32.exe /s oleaut32.dll regsvr32.exe /s ole32.dll regsvr32.exe /s shell32.dll regsvr32.exe /s wuapi.dll regsvr32.exe /s wuaueng.dll regsvr32.exe /s wups.dll regsvr32.exe /s wups2.dll regsvr32.exe /s qmgr.dll regsvr32.exe /s wudriver.dll
Delete incorrect Registry values
Open Registry Editor and navigate to the following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\COMPONENTS
Right-click COMPONENTS. Now in the right pane, delete the following if they exist:
- PendingXmlIdentifier
- NextQueueEntryIndex
- AdvancedInstallersNeedResolving
Reset network configuration
Now, reset your network configuration. It might be broken by custom setup or a virus, by some dangerous tweaker app or even by another user on the PC you are using.
ipconfig /flushdns netsh winsock reset netsh winsock reset proxy
Start The Services
Once all is done, restart the BITS service, the Windows Update service, and the Cryptographic service Which We stopped before. perform the following Commands one by one.
- net start bits
- net start wuauserv
- net start appidsvc
- net start cryptsvc
After completing all the steps, restart your computer to apply the changes effectively.
Run SFC and DISM command
Again Corrupt Windows files can indeed be a significant reason for Windows Update failures. When the system files essential for the proper functioning of Windows become corrupted or damaged, it can disrupt various processes, including Windows Update. And you can the System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) commands, to fix such issues on your computer.
- Press Windows key + S, type cmd right-click on the command prompt select run as administrator,
- First, run the DISM command dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
- Next, run the system file checker command sfc /scannow
The above command performs a comprehensive scan of all protected system files. If any corruption is detected in these files, the command will automatically replace the corrupted ones with cached copies found in a compressed folder located at %WinDir%\System32\dllcache. This ensures the integrity of crucial system files, potentially resolving issues that could cause Windows Update failures.”
Once the scanning is complete 100% reboot your computer to take effect the changes.
Check For Windows update
Now let’s check for and try to install the latest Windows updates again on your computer.
- Press Windows key + S, type Windows update and select Check for updates
- If new updates are available or pending allow them to download and install on your computer,
- After the updates are installed, your computer will prompt you to restart.
- Save any open work and allow the system to restart to apply the updates.
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