Unable to install IIS on Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC Version 1809

Question

I am trying to install IIS on a Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC laptop. The version is 1809.

I used Control Panel --> Programs and Features --> Turn Windows features on or off

When I click on IIS and OK, I then receive the message:

The referenced assembly could not be found

Error code: 0x80073701

When I clicked on the link to fix the error it took me to a page that didn't even contain that error code. It took me to one about .NET Framework 3.5 (which is already installed). I downloaded the file so I could reinstall 3.5 but the program wouldn't launch at all.

Other software has been installed successfully, but a Windows Feature will not install. Has anyone experienced this? Any ideas how I can fix this?

Oh, and I'm logged in as a local administrator.

Thank you for any help you can provide.

Mary

Answer 1

The error code 0x80073701 when installing IIS on Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC version 1809 typically indicates a problem with missing or corrupted system components, often related to the Windows Component Store or system files.

Open Command Prompt as Admin and copy-paste the following commands and hit the enter key after each command:

sfc /scannow

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Reboot and retry to install.

Answer 2

Hi Mary Martin,

I know this is a late response.

However, the error you're encountering:

Error code: 0x80073701 – The referenced assembly could not be found

usually means that Windows is missing some internal components it needs to install IIS. This is tied to how Windows manages system files through something called the Component-Based Servicing (CBS) infrastructure. If that system is out of sync or corrupted, installing features like IIS can fail — even if other software installs just fine just as Lex Li mentioned.

Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC version 1809 is a long-term support release, but it reached end-of-life a while ago. That means it no longer gets updates or fixes from Microsoft, and some system components may be outdated or missing — especially if the machine hasn’t been serviced regularly. This can block IIS from installing properly.

Here's what you can try to do:

• Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run these commands one at a time:

sfc /scannow 
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth 
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth 
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth 

These will check for and repair any corrupted system files or missing assemblies that might be causing the issue.

• After running the above commands, restart your machine and try installing IIS again through Control Panel → Programs and Features → Turn Windows features on or off.
• Since LTSC 1809 is no longer supported, upgrading to a newer LTSC version or a supported Windows 10 release is highly recommended. This ensures compatibility with IIS and other Windows features going forward.

For more information, you can check:

• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/announcements/windows-10-1803-1809-end-of-servicing
• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/developer/webapps/iis/www-administration-management/troubleshooting-iis-7x-installation-issues

---

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".