Windows updater needing installed but failing

[42and19]

Ok, I apologize if this has already been addressed at this forum but i have spent a good hour searching for my issue and have not found it.

I have been having issues with my windows updater ever since I installed sp2. When I open the windows updater it says

Install new windows update software

To check for updates, you must first install and update for Windows Update.
Your automatic update settings will not change.

to install the update. Windows Update will automatically close and re-open.

If I click on the "Install Now" it asks for admin permission then shows a bar that says "downloading and installing updates". It hangs there for about 2-3 mins then switches to a screen that says

Windows could not search for new updates

Error(s) found.

Code 8E5E03FE Windows update encountered an unknown error.

If I click get help with this error it tells me to either go online or "troubleshoot problems with installing updates" (which is stupid because that is exactly what I can't do.) I have done a rather exhaustive online search for a solution to this problem and the only one that I have found is to repair or reinstall windows. However the idiots that sent me this computer did not include an install disk. Frankly, if i had money i would say screw it and upgrade to 7 or downgrade to xp. However that will not work for me so i need to fix this problem.

 

[Flavius]

I think you don't need make upgrade (repair install) to fix this error.E.g Windows 7 64 Bit Update Error Code 8E5E03FE

in this case helped resetting catroot directory -see @MowGreen posts.

My suggestions

1.Run MS Fix it from this site in aggressive mode How do I reset Windows Update components?
(in aggressive mode it also reset catroot folder and many extra things -more than advices from above link)
2.Reset all WU library Repair & Fix Windows Updates with Fix WU Utility | The Windows Club
3.Reinstall Windows Update Agent How to obtain the latest version of the Windows Update Agent to help manage updates on a computer
4.If really nothing help -uninstall all 3p security software

 

[42and19]

Quick question, does AVG anti-virus have any known compatibility issues with my OS?

Thanks for the quick response time. However nothing has worked so far. Number three failed with the same error code. A while ago I thought it might be a registry problem but my scanner shows no issues. Also I uninstalled AVG 8.5 and tried running the updater again and I am still getting the same message. Could it be possible related to windows defender? I might try turning that off and trying again.

 

[42and19]

Nope, turning off windows defender and windows firewall did not work either. If anyone else has any ideas I would love to hear them.

 

[Flavius]

1.Run cmd.exe with elevated previlliges (right click on cmd.exe and choose "run as administrator") and type

sfc /scannow

when it finish please create sfc report

copy and paste below text into the elevated command prompt

findstr /c:"[SR]" %windir%\logs\cbs\cbs.log >%userprofile%\Desktop\sfcdetails.txt

sfcdetails.txt -SFC report

2.Run Readiness Tool Description of the System Update Readiness Tool for Windows Vista, for Windows Server 2008, for Windows 7, and for Windows Server 2008 R2 ,this tool will generate CheckSur.log file in C:\Windows\Logs\CBS folder

Both sfcdetails.txt and CheckSur.log please attache to post.

 

[42and19]

Sorry it took me so long to respond, it has been a busy week.

So I ran the sfc scan and copied the command below to create the txt file on my desktop but the file is blank. If I go into the windows folder were the cbs log and attempt to open it I get an "Access is Denied" message then it pops up a blank notepad window. I hope this won't be a problem. I tried fiddling with the security setting but that did not help.

 

[42and19]

ok here are the two docs you requested. Let me know what needs to be done next


It will not let me upload the sfcdetails.txt. This is weird because if it was a permissions issue I am the admin of this computer.


Also will this problem keep me from upgrading to windows 7 form the microsoft website?
I just found out that the student discount for upgrading to 7 profession is only 30 dollars

 

[Flavius]

It will not let me upload the sfcdetails.txt. This is weird because if it was a permissions issue I am the admin of this computer.

That's strange If you have sfcdetails.txt on your desktop it shouldn't to be any problem.Try reset permissions to defaults if nothing help How do I restore security settings to the default settings?


Go to start>>Search>>services.msc and check following services:

DCOM Server Process Launcher should be set AUTO and started
Cryptographic Services should be set AUTO and started