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I'm having problems updating a laptop which is stuck on Windows 17??. Update fails with various error codes like 0x80000ffff. It seems the pending.xml file is showing a pending update and the update operation is failed. I tried using the MS RESET WINDOWS UPDATE AGENT TOOL as administrator but it, too, fails to remove the pending.xml file. Is my only option to boot into Linux and delete it?
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
Well after installing Unlocker and deleting the pending.xml file, I was able to successfully install 18-05 and 18-09. 19-03 is in process of being installed. Hopefully, this will complete today and I can take a rest from this mess before tackling the remaining updates to bring this puppy current.
Hello GuyBruner,
I am Antonio, a Microsoft Community independent advisor, a Windows 10 and Microsoft office user like you. I hope I can help you on your concern.
Please try to go to this location in your PC - C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution
Do you see any files there?
If your Windows Update is not working properly or not working at all or if you find that the size of this folder has really grown large, then you can consider removing the Software Distribution folder in Windows.
Please kindly check and read the instructions on link below for more information.
[Source of information]:
https://www.thewindowsclub.com/software-distrib...
You're response is highly appreciated. Please let me know if the issue is fixed, if not, we will find another way.
Please let me know if you need further assistance.
Keep safe always.
Sincerely,
Antonio
Hello GuyBruner,
Thanks for the update. Can you please try the following method below? Let's try to refresh the SoftwareDistribution folder by renaming it to another folder.
Rename SoftwareDistribution folder
If you wish to rename the Software Distribution folder, open an elevated command prompt windows, type the following commands one after the other, and hit Enter:
net stop wuauserv
net stop bits
rename c:\windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.bak
net start wuauserv
net start bits
Please try to check now updating Windows if it is already successful.
[Source of information]:
https://www.thewindowsclub.com/software-distrib...
Please let me know if you need further assistance.
Keep safe always.
Sincerely,
Antonio
Well FixWIN makes the 3rd script I have tried that doesn't fix the problem. The PENDING.XML file is probably corrupt and is keeping it open. After running FixWIN and rebooting, I get the same 0x8000ffff failures as before. Any other ideas before I use a Linux utility to delete it?
Hello Antonio,
The only file in that folder is the events log. There are subfolders that contain some bin files. Such as EventCache, SLS and Download. Total size is 418 MB.
