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Problem Updating windows 10

Mason H 0 Reputation points
2026-03-20T15:29:04.07+00:00

Hi, I have a buddy who I've been trying to help over the last few years update his pc. We have the exact identical pc as we bought it from a prebuilt company back in 2020. Now I've never had this issue but probably around 2022 his pc just refuses to update and just gives error codes and for awhile was refusing to reset till he found his recovery USB drive. He was able to wipe it back to a clean version of windows 10 was able to push one update then it just sent him back to error codes failure to update.

Any tips would help a lot, Thank you!

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Performance and system failures

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  1. Carl-L 12,715 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-03-25T08:01:49.5933333+00:00

    Hello Mason H,

    Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum.

    Before we proceed, may I have a photo of the error code or at least what it say to check for you? Please remember to remove all personal information before posting.

    Additionally, may I know his current version of Windows 10 and if only the big update having issue or small updates have the same issues as well?

    I'm waiting for your reply.

  2. Q&A Assist
    2026-03-20T15:29:21.2233333+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    Follow these steps on the buddy’s Windows 10 PC in this order. Test Windows Update after each major step:

    1. Run the Windows Update troubleshooter
      • Select Start > Settings > Update & Security.
      • Select Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters.
      • Under Get up and running, select Windows Update > Run the troubleshooter.
      • Apply any fixes it suggests and then try updating again.
    2. Check free disk space
      • Make sure there is enough space for updates: at least 16 GB free for 32‑bit or 20 GB free for 64‑bit Windows.
      • If the drive is small, attach a USB drive and configure Windows Update to use it if prompted.
      • If storage is low, use the guidance in Free up drive space in Windows to clean up files.
    3. Remove external hardware and non‑Microsoft antivirus
      • Unplug all nonessential devices: printers, scanners, USB drives, external disks, docking station, etc.
      • Uninstall any non‑Microsoft antivirus from Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features, then restart and try the update again. Windows Defender will protect the device during the upgrade.
    4. Reset Windows Update components
      For common update errors (such as 0x80070002, 0x80070003, 0x80246007, 0x80073712, 0x800F081F):
      • Press Win + R, type services.msc, press Enter.
      • Find Windows Update, right‑click > Stop.
      • Go to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution and delete all files and folders inside.
      • Go back to Services, right‑click Windows Update > Start.
      • Restart the PC and try Windows Update again.
    5. Run System File Checker (SFC)
      • Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
      • Run: sfc /scannow
      • Wait for it to complete, then restart and try Windows Update.
    6. Check for Windows Update service and driver issues
      • Ensure Windows Update service is running:
        • Press Win + R, type services.msc, press Enter.
        • Locate Windows Update and confirm it is Running; if not, right‑click > Start.
      • If updates fail with driver‑related errors, in Device Manager:
        • For problematic Network adapters or Display adapters, right‑click > Update driver > Search automatically for drivers.
        • If needed, uninstall the device and restart so Windows reinstalls the driver.
    7. Perform a clean boot and retry
      • Perform a clean boot to disable non‑essential startup programs and services that might interfere with updates.
      • After booting in this minimal state, run Windows Update again.
    8. If updates still fail repeatedly
      • If all of the above steps fail and SFC/DISM (if run) report no issues, consider an in‑place repair/reinstall of the current Windows version using official Microsoft guidance for “fix issues by reinstalling the current version of Windows.” This preserves files and most settings but refreshes system components used by Windows Update.

    Also note that support for Windows 10 has ended on October 14, 2025. The PC will still work, but no new free updates or security fixes are provided after that date. Moving to Windows 11 is recommended where hardware supports it.

    References:

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