Although the most common cause of this issue is the Windows Installer service, other factors include corrupted Windows update files and problems with the registry values. As we have discussed the causes, let’s look at the solutions to this issue.
1. Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter
Windows Update Troubleshooter can help you troubleshoot common issues with the Windows update component. This utility restarts stopped Windows update services, checks for corrupted registry values, and restores missing Windows update files. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you start troubleshooting by running the Windows Update troubleshooter.
2. Restart the Windows Installer Service
The Windows Installer Service is responsible for installing and uninstalling software components. If this service is stopped for any reason, you won’t be able to install software and Windows updates. Therefore, make sure that this service is running in the background.
3. Reset Windows Update Components
Resetting the Windows update components will restore the Windows update component to its default state. This process involves stopping essential Windows update services like Windows Update or Background Intelligent Transfer Service, renaming the folders that store the Windows update files to clear the corruption, and finally restarting the services that were stopped initially. This method can effectively resolve the Windows update error by clearing the corrupted data or settings that may be preventing the Windows update from installing. To do so, follow these steps:
4. Download the Windows Update Manually
If none of the solutions helped, you can download the Windows update manually by navigating to the Microsoft Catalog. This is the most effective method when the Windows update utility displays error messages when trying to download the updates. In case you are unable to download the Windows update manually, you have two options. You can either use a System Restore Utility to go back to the previous state when you were not encountering any issues or reset Windows without losing data. We recommend using the System Restore Utility. However, if you have not created a restore point, you can reset your Windows without losing data.
