====== Fixing Troublesome Windows Updates ======

===== Windows Update Missing from Settings =====

Edit the Windows Registry:

**HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE -> SOFTWARE -> Microsoft -> Windows -> CurrentVersion -> Policies -> Explorer**

**Delete** the key: ''SettingsPageVisibility''

===== CLI =====

The first thing to try if Windows Updates fail is:

<file>
sfc /scannow
</file>

If it doesn't complete, try something like:

<file>
chkdsk /x /f /r
y
shutdown now -t 0
</file>

then:

<file>
dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
sfc /scannow
shutdown now -t 0
</file>

<note tip>If Windows Update fails to install an update, try downloading the update from the Microsoft Update Catalog and installing it locally.  https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com</note>

===== WUReset.bat Script =====

FIXME This didn't work on Windows Server 2016, but the concepts do.

Run as an administrator:

<file>
@ECHO OFF
echo Simple Script to Reset / Clear Windows Update
echo.
PAUSE
echo.
attrib -h -r -s %windir%\system32\catroot2
attrib -h -r -s %windir%\system32\catroot2\*.*
net stop wuauserv
net stop CryptSvc
net stop BITS
ren %windir%\system32\catroot2 catroot2.old
ren %windir%\SoftwareDistribution sold.old
ren "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\application data\Microsoft\Network\downloader" downloader.old
net Start BITS
net start CryptSvc
net start wuauserv
echo.
echo Task completed successfully...
echo.
PAUSE
</file>

===== Servers =====

==== Windows Server 2012 R2 ====

https://serverfault.com/questions/625332/windows-update-not-working-on-windows-2012-r2-standard

  - Stop the Windows Update service:
    - ''net stop wuauserv''
  - Delete the Windows Update cache directory ''C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution''
    - ''Remove-Item -Recurse -Force C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution''
  - Restart the computer
    - It may require several restarts to get everything deleted from this directory
  - Run Windows Update manually again
    - It will fail almost instantly and offer to run a diagnostic tool
    - Download the tool and allow it to run
    - http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9830262
  - The tool will find and fix some problems
    - Reboot the server
    - Wait a while, or you may get another error
    - Run ''Windows Update'' manually again

===== Workstations =====

Take these steps to **reliably fix troublesome Windows Updates**:

  - **Turn off automatic updating**
    * Control Panel -> Windows Updates -> Change Settings -> Never Check...
  - **Reboot**
  - **Search** the Internet for "Windows XX latest update client"
    * Where XX is your Windows version
  - **Download and install** the latest update client for your version of Windows
  - **Install Windows Updates**

{{ :computing:windows:windows_update_disable_auto.png?750 |Disable Auto-Updates}}

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{{ :computing:windows:windows_update_latest_client_search.png?750 |Search for Latest Update Client}}

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{{ :computing:windows:windows_update_latest_client_download.png?750 |Download the Latest Update Client}}

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{{ :computing:windows:windows_update_install_updates.png?750 |Install Windows Updates}}