How to fix an Windows update that will not install

Question

I have an update that needs to be installed and I have tried numerous times to complete it and it keeps giving me the message to try again.

It is 2026.02 Preview Update KB5077241 (26200.7922)

Does anyone have any suggestions how to get this install to completion?

Answer 1

Hi Barbara Rios,
Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum. I'm happy to help.

You may follow this article to troubleshoot the Windows update: Windows Update Troubleshooter - Microsoft Support.

Alternatively, you may manually download the update package to install through Microsoft Update Catalog. Just enter the KB you need to Search form then choose the package right for your system.

I hope that above information is helpful to you.

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Answer 2

KB5077241 is an optional preview update, it is basically an early beta release of the Marc update.

The optional preview updates can be hard to install sometimes, may contain bugs and there is no need to install the optional preview updates.

I am currently monitoring a possible problem in that KB5077241 preview update that is changing the Windows UI language to another language and cannot be resolved by removing the update.

If that update is continually failing, below that update is a switch to 'Get the latest updates as soon as they are released', disable that option and restart your PC, that will stop the optional update continually trying to install and wait for the full March update.

Answer 3

Follow these steps in order and retry installing KB5077241 after each major step:

1. Run the built‑in Windows Update check again

• Open Settings > Windows Update.
• Select Check for updates and let it run.
• If the same error appears, continue with the next step.

2. Clean up the component store with DISM This addresses many repeated‑failure update issues.
3. Select Start, type cmd.
4. Right‑click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
5. If prompted by User Account Control, choose Yes.
6. Run this command: cmd

dism /online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup

5. Wait for the command to complete (this can take a while).
6. Restart the PC.
7. Go back to Settings > Windows Update and try installing KB5077241 again.
8. If the update still fails repeatedly Use the in‑place repair/repair install option, which keeps apps and data but repairs Windows system files and update components:
9. Go to Settings > System > Recovery.
10. Use the Reinstall (repair install) option for the current Windows version.
11. After reinstall completes and the system is back on the desktop, open Settings > Windows Update.
12. Check for updates and install all offered updates, including KB5077241.
13. If the system is stuck or fails to boot after an update attempt Use Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to repair:
14. Power on the device and as soon as the Windows or manufacturer logo appears, press and hold the power button to force shutdown.
15. Repeat this power‑on/force‑shutdown cycle three times.
16. On the third start, Windows should show Automatic Repair.
17. Select Advanced options.
18. Try in this order:

• Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Repair.
• If that does not help, use Troubleshoot > Advanced options > System Restore (if restore points exist).
• As a last resort, Troubleshoot > Reset this PC and choose Keep my files or Remove everything depending on preference.

5. If none of the above resolves the issue

• Back up important files.
• Use a full reinstall or a vendor recovery image (for Surface devices, use the official recovery image and USB recovery process) to get to a clean, fully updated Windows build, then re‑attempt updates.

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References:

• When trying to install updates from Windows Update you might receive "Updates Failed. There were problems installing some updates, but we'll try again later" with Errors: 0x80073701, 0x800f0988
• HOW CAN Windows 11, version 25H2 Install error - 0x800f081f BE FIXED? - Microsoft Q&A
• New laptop MSI won't go past update installation at first boot - Microsoft Q&A
• Surface Pro 8 Not Updating to 24H2 - Microsoft Q&A
• My system has been on RP channel why is it downloading a Beta release? - Microsoft Q&A