Windows Update - "Something went wrong"

Question

Hello,

Windows Update has stopped working - if I check for updates, I'm told

"Something went wrong. Try to reopen Settings later."

I've tried the Virtual Agent (Get Help), the Windows Update Troubleshooter, and the Windows 10 Update Assistant, but none of them helped. The Virtual Agent offered to contact an agent for me, but an error occurred whilst making the connection... 

I've also tried running the System File Checker tool, using a Windows DVD as the repair source to allow for the fact that my Windows Update client is already broken, as per the instructions here:

Use the System File Checker tool to repair missing or corrupted system files

However, none of these troubleshooting steps have resolved my problem.

The only clue I've found about what might be wrong is an Application Error in the Event Log:

Faulting application name: mousocoreworker.exe, version: 10.0.19041.906, time stamp: 0xaaf4d0be

Faulting module name: ucrtbase.dll, version: 10.0.19041.789, time stamp: 0x2bd748bf

Exception code: 0xc0000409

Fault offset: 0x000000000007286e

Faulting process id: 0xe90

Faulting application start time: 0x01d731537ad1b5ff

Faulting application path: C:\Windows\System32\mousocoreworker.exe

Faulting module path: C:\WINDOWS\System32\ucrtbase.dll

Report Id: a75ae5e3-455b-4721-80a3-28dcda45fd25

This error has appeared 13 times in the last hour and 57 times in the last 24 hours / 7 days, so the problem appears to have only started today - it may be associated with yesterday's update.

Can anyone help me to get Windows Update working again?

Thanks,

Robert

Answer 1

Hello RobertJStroud,

Thank you for updating me with that information. Glad to hear the issue has been resolved by performing a Reset this PC.

You can send comments and suggestions about the issue through the Feedback hub app. Hopefully Microsoft will notice this and provide a simpler solution in the near future.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/sen...

You're welcome. Stay safe and have a great day!

Kind regards,

John DeV

Independent Advisor

Answer 2

Hello John,

Thank you for your suggestions - unfortunately, none of them worked. I tried various other suggestions that I found on this forum, including renaming the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder and disabling / re-enabling the various services related to Windows Update manually, but none of them worked.

However, to my surprise, I discovered that the Windows Update service was working, despite the error message from Settings / Windows Update to say that something had gone wrong.

In the end, I concluded that the only way to get rid of the error message was to reset my copy of Windows, and this had the desired effect.

I still don't know exactly what went wrong, but it is clear from other threads in this forum that I am not the only person to have encountered this annoying and unhelpful error message from Windows Update - I hope Microsoft are listening and do something to fix the problem. It would be nice if the Windows Update troubleshooter could deal with this situation.

Best wishes,

Robert

Answer 3

Hello RobertJStroud,

I'm John an Independent Advisor and a Windows user like you. I'll be happy to assist you today. When was the last time it worked properly?

**Make sure Windows Update service is available and running.

Click Start, type services.msc in the Start Search text area, and then click services.msc in the programs list. If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.

Double-click Windows Update.

If the Startup status lists Stopped, click Start and then click OK. If the status is Running, right click then select Restart

If this does not work, It looks like something is interfering with Windows update service. Please try running your Antivirus or anti-malware program and try to scan your system for any virus or malware.

**Perform a Clean Boot

Determine whether a background program or a software conflict is interfering with windows update service.

Go to the search box > type MSConfig.

Select System Configuration > go to the Services tab.

Select and put a check mark on "Hide all Microsoft services" > Click Disable all.

Go to Startup tab > Open Task Manager > Disable all the unnecessary services running there. Restart your computer.

Please try to enable Windows update service then check for updates again.

Kindly check the support article below for more details

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/929135...

If this does not work, please try checking this older thread with a similar problem. Solved by auggy.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for...

Kindly let me know if this helps or if you have any further concerns.

Kind regards,

John DeV

Independent Advisor