Windows update error code 8024401C

Question

I got an error code whenever i try to update my windows 8 pro . I get the error code 8024401C, so i went ahead and troubleshoot, and the following information came up. my system is a 32 bit. 

		Default Windows Update data locations have changed	Issue not present		<br>	---	---	---	---
The location where Windows Update stores data has changed and must be repaired.

The location where windows Update stores data has changed and must be repaired.  Please how do i repair it.

Answer 1

Hello Kenneth,

Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community.

I can imagine the inconvenience you are experiencing and will certainly help you in the right direction to fix the issue. However, I would appreciate if you could answer a few questions to narrow down the issue in order to provide you with better assistance.

1. Are you unable to install one update or all of the updates?
2. If it is confined to one update then please provide us the KB number of the update?
3. Do you have any security software installed?

As per the description which you have posted in your post seems that you are unable to install the updates and getting error message 8024401C , this problem may occur if one or more of the following conditions are true:

1. The Windows Update database is corrupted.
2. Antivirus software is configured to scan the %Windir%\SoftwareDistribution folder.
3. The Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) service does not receive a content link header.
4. A required system file is registered incorrectly.****

Try the below methods and check if it helps.

Method 1

Try to run Windows update troubleshooter from the link provided below and if it doesn't help follow different steps mentioned in the following article.

**Troubleshoot problems with installing updates**

Method 2

If issue still persists I would suggest you to reset Windows Update components and for that try to run the fixit provided in the following article. If you had already tried the same fixit before I would request you to run the fixit again.

How do I reset Windows Update components?

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058/en-us#LetMeFixItMyselfAlways

Method 3

If issue still persist try the steps mentioned under Windows 8 in the link provided below. If you have already tried some steps mentioned in that article you can leave them and try other steps.

Fix Microsoft Windows Update Issues

Hope this would help. If issue still persists post back with current status of your computer and result of the proposed suggestion, we will be happy to assist you.

Regards,

Answer 2

I too got an error code 8024401C whenever i try to update my windows 8.

im using Kaspersky internet security

Answer 3

Hi,

Thank you for the update on the issue and good to hear that everything is working fine and Windows update issue get resolved by following the steps provided above.

You can set Windows to automatically install important and recommended updates or to install important updates only. Important updates provide significant benefits, such as improved security and reliability. Recommended updates can address noncritical problems and help enhance your computing experience. Optional updates are not downloaded or installed automatically. To learn more about the types of updates that Microsoft publishes, go to this Knowledge Base article on the Microsoft Help and Support website. 

In order to know how to install updates you may refer to the article mentioned below.

**Change how Windows installs or notifies you about updates**

Note: This article is for Windows 7 but steps holds good for windows 8 too.

Hope the information provided is helpful. Do let us know if you have any more concern related to Windows. We will be more than happy to assist you.

Regards,

Answer 4

Sorry I was not able to reply you guys immediately,  I am on a metered subscription and it ran out.

I took Method. 2 and it was awesome. 

i followed the steps and window update issue is solved.

THANKS A MILLION, you are awesome.

Pls, I did like to ask one other thing.

When the windows update issue started, I reset me system to a previous date if it could help then (it didnt)

Now i have so many update lined up (about 240 update at 3,815MB) and i cant really tell which is important and what to leave behind. 

Am on a metered subscription of 2,500MB per month and i just cant afford to download all the available update.

Do the system select the necessary update itself ? or it just download everything ?  Being that most of the update looks alike. 

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.