Thread: If Windows Update Fails...

I had not seen this before, so after reading Drew's post I had to see what this does. The Windows Servicing Guy explains in the TechNet Blog. Thanks for the info.

It does appear though that ScanHealth scans and logs corruption, whereas RestoreHealth scans and logs corruption, then fixes that corruption.

ScanHealth technically would not be needed, you can just run RestoreHealth.

I believe this was the same function as was released to Vista Beta testers, and updated through Windows 8 (. "System Update readiness tool". Same command line, and the same function?

System Update Readiness Tool fixes Windows Update errors in Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 R2, and Windows Server 2008


A real Magic tool. It saved a lot of reinstallations. It is , I believe, the "refresh" option in Windows 8.

David, I have had experience w/ this & I assure you it is definitely not the Refresh of Windows 8. Refresh keeps data loses applications. This does nothing like that, @ all. If I were to try to compare it to anything, I say it's closer to when we used to use MS Fix-it to solve Update issues.

Cheers,
Drew

I recently upgraded from Vista to Windows 8. The new system is running fine but every time it runs the updates it says there is a problem with the computer. Clicking on the autofix does not solve it, so I have to System Restore to get a working computer. I looked through some Windows Forum and tried using Action Center/troubleshooting problems/fix problem with Windows update. I got a message saying "Stopping Bits service" but this ran for 30+ mins without completion and I abandoned it.
Would the DISM/.../RestoreHealth work?

Moo,

Yes, it is very likely & I would certainly recommend giving it a shot, absolutely & ASAP.

Also, > Services to BITS; stop it & Restart it or Refresh it but, get it running. Make sure WU Service is active. For both of these > Properties > Dependencies and make sure their dependencies are active, as well.

> CP > Windows Update, make sure is set to (Recommended) Auto.

Keep in touch.

Cheers,
Drew

Drew,

I ran Action Center>troubleshooting problems>fix problems with WU and it ran to completion this time with the following messages:
(I also checked WU services and I had stopped it when it was causing problems and so restarted it. The dependencies - RPC & DCOM were running ok).

Windows Update components are incorrectly configured and must be repaired (not action - red cross)
Potential WU database error detected 0x80070490 (this was fixed - green check mark)
then on getting more details... Default WU data location have changed and must be repaired.

I checked the BITS service and it said it was "stopping".

I have not run the DISM.exe yet. I wanted to check with you first.

Thanks very much for your assistance.
Moofus21.

Ok, so far. Go ahead & run DISM. exe & reboot afterwards. At any point have sfc/ scannow & CHKDSC been done? If you mentioned, I don't recall.

Also, anything regarding success w/ WU (or not) is a FREE call to MS Tech Support, btw. # is 1-866-727-2338

I would recommend this rather than putting yourself through any time or fuss. Let them deal w/ it for you.

Although, I'd do the DISM thing, 1st.

Cheers,
Drew

Originally Posted by Drew

Ok, so far. Go ahead & run DISM. exe & reboot afterwards. At any point have sfc/ scannow & CHKDSC been done? If you mentioned, I don't recall.

Also, anything regarding success w/ WU (or not) is a FREE call to MS Tech Support, btw. # is 1-866-727-2338

I would recommend this rather than putting yourself through any time or fuss. Let them deal w/ it for you.

Although, I'd do the DISM thing, 1st.

Cheers,
Drew

Thanks Drew.

No I have not run CHKDSC or scannow (not familiar with this one). I believe I may have CHKDSC a while ago. No updates have been successful since I upgraded to Windows 8, so I will call MS Tech Support. And I will run DISM.exe/Online/Cleanup-Image/RestoreHealth from the command prompt first.

Thanks again fro you assistance. I'll let you know how it turns out.

regards,
Moofus21.