Error 0x80070003 when updating Windows Defender

Hi Tito,

Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community.

This issue might occur due to corruption of Windows Update component files. I suggest you to follow the below given method and check if it helps.

Method 1: I suggest you to run the Windows Update troubleshooter and check if it helps.

• Press Windows key, type troubleshooter in the search box and then press enter.
• Select Troubleshooting. Click on view all and select Windows Update troubleshooter and follow the on-screen instructions.

Try below given method if issue persist.

Method 2: If issue persist I suggest you to reset Windows Update component. Kindly follow the below given steps.

• Press Windows key + X, select Command prompt (Admin) to bring up elevated Command prompt.
• Stop the BITS service, the Windows Update service, and the Cryptographic service. To do this, at a command prompt, type the following commands. Make sure that you press Enter after you type each command.
  • net stop bits
  • net stop wuauserv
  • net stop appidsvc
  • net stop cryptsvc
• Rename the softare distribution folders backup copies. 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
• Restart the BITS service, the Windows Update service, and the Cryptographic service. To do this, at a command prompt, type the following commands. Make sure that you press Enter after you type each command.
  • net start bits
  • net start wuauserv
  • net start appidsvc
  • net start cryptsvc
• Restart your PC and check if it works.

Method 3: The system file may have got corrupted due to corruption in system file. I suggest you to try the following steps: 

• Open command prompt by pressing Windows key + X and selecting “Command prompt admin”.
• In command prompt, type the following commands and press Enter after each command:

                DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

• Close the command prompt and restart the PC and check if it works.

Hope this information is helpful. Please feel free to reply in case you face any other issues with Windows in future.

I think so, Tito_Santos_892,

Look at the top of this question:            

Applies to

Virus and Malware/Windows Defender/Updating Virus and Spyware Definitions / Windows 10

Any positive result?

I am having the same issue. Trying to fixing it; probably a bad disk is provoking file corruption, in my case.

I am waiting for the  sfc /scannow repair tool finishing a system file check, after applying the two DISM commands mentioned before to repair store corruption**.**

http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/7808-dism-repair-windows-10-image.html

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/929833

I forgot to say that I have Windows 10. These methods that you gave me work in this OS?

Hi Tito,

Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community.

This issue might occur due to corruption of Windows Update component files. I suggest you to follow the below given method and check if it helps.

Method 1: I suggest you to run the Windows Update troubleshooter and check if it helps.

• Press Windows key, type troubleshooter in the search box and then press enter.
• Select Troubleshooting. Click on view all and select Windows Update troubleshooter and follow the on-screen instructions.

Try below given method if issue persist.

Method 2: If issue persist I suggest you to reset Windows Update component. Kindly follow the below given steps.

• Press Windows key + X, select Command prompt (Admin) to bring up elevated Command prompt.
• Stop the BITS service, the Windows Update service, and the Cryptographic service. To do this, at a command prompt, type the following commands. Make sure that you press Enter after you type each command.
  • net stop bits
  • net stop wuauserv
  • net stop appidsvc
  • net stop cryptsvc
• Rename the softare distribution folders backup copies. 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
• Restart the BITS service, the Windows Update service, and the Cryptographic service. To do this, at a command prompt, type the following commands. Make sure that you press Enter after you type each command.
  • net start bits
  • net start wuauserv
  • net start appidsvc
  • net start cryptsvc
• Restart your PC and check if it works.

Method 3: The system file may have got corrupted due to corruption in system file. I suggest you to try the following steps: 

• Open command prompt by pressing Windows key + X and selecting “Command prompt admin”.
• In command prompt, type the following commands and press Enter after each command:

                DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

• Close the command prompt and restart the PC and check if it works.

Hope this information is helpful. Please feel free to reply in case you face any other issues with Windows in future.