Windows 10: Error 0x80070020 updating to version 1709

Sorry, I'm new to this forum.
My wife's Dell desktop on Windows 10 is locked in a continuous loop downloading Feature version 1709.
Huge downloads up to 15GB per day, and hogging the entire bandwidth of my broadband. I've tried everything I know - 4 tries to the Microsoft tech guys, clean boot, stop updates via service.msc (it didn't stop) etc etc.
Any help will be gratefully accepted.
Mike

:)

 

Windows update error 0x80070020 in Windows 10

Feature update to Windows 10, version 1709 - Error 0x80070020

 

Windows update error 0x80070020 in Windows 10

• Feature update to Windows 10, version 1709 - Error 0x80070020

 

Hi - you should be able to block the upgrade specifically using this as an interim measure:
Hide or Show Windows Updates in Windows 10 Windows Update Activation Tutorials
There are at least a couple of posts referring to doing this.

If you have Win 10 Pro you have more options.
There's also this- find relevant sections for Home if you have Home.
Enable or Disable Windows Update Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Windows Update Activation Tutorials

You can then do the usual checks:
- research the error message
- check the disk (Hard Disk Sentinel (trial) )
- from an admin command prompt run this to check for file corruption
chkdsk c: /scan
If problems, run chkdsk c: /F
- restart needed.
- from an admin command prompt run
SFC /SCANNOW

Check you have at least 28Gb free on C: (for windows.old + working space)
Check you have at least 1.5Gb of unallocated space on the system disk (for new Recovery partition)
Disable security software when upgrading
Uninstall any possible conflicting programs that modify the UI
Disconnect unnecessary peripherals.
Delete content of
%temp%
and
Software Distribution\Downloads
folders

See
Windows update error 0x80070020 in Windows 10 - Microsoft Community
- a good guide
Try running the Windows update troubleshooter

See the yellow section here:
Upgrade to Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials

 

Hello all. Thank you for your input Dalchina.
I have tried everything within my ability tio fix it.
Unfortunately the PC is still broken.
NOTHING will fix it.
I spent 4 or 5 days on it. My download costs are huge.
Then I resorted to Microsoft tech guys - who finally used remote access.
They could not fix the problem. They too ran up huge download costs.
(so much for 'security' - I had strangers using remote access for over 24 hours - they couldn't fix it, but they did completely remove my Trend Micro Antivirus)
Microsoft Tech finally managed to download a new iso file, (it took over 15 hours to download), but when activated, it went looking for updates - which stalled after 4 hours.
The problem is that the 'existing' version is continually trying to download updates (even Microsoft Tech cannot stop it).
Therefore I *think* I need to back up my hard drive, reformat the hard disc, and re-install the latest version of Windows.
But I don't know how to do it - I don't have a 'disc' - It came with the computer.
Can anyone help? After 5 days, my wife says "throw it in the bin, and buy a new computer".

 

Does not sound like anything is actually wrong. They uninstalled Trend Micro Antivirus which is what they suggest people do as it can prevent version updates to Windows 10.

A version update to Windows 10 here takes something over 4 hours in total, part of that is due to the slow download speed here as well (7 Mbs).

What is your download speed ? I'm guessing around the 1 Mbs area, or even less.

That will take maybe a day or more in all, with several apparent stalls along the way.

That will probably be quickly followed by a cumulative update which maybe several hours more.

Once you are running Windows 10 again with Windows Defender then you re-install Trend Micro AV but that might be a few days hence after things have settled down.
These major Version updates are around every 6 months so you have to get used to it. It is essentially a replaced version of Windows 10.

People with expensive SSDs and very fast Internet connections saying it takes 20 mins can get annoying and a very unrealistic expectation for most consumer users.

 

Note that when you upgrade, you can specify NOT to install updates at the same time as upgrading.

I.e. you can attempt your upgrade with the internet disconnected as you now have an iso available to you.

Please advise the current Windows build.
(Windows key + R, winver)
and post a screenshot of your Update History.

It should be relatively easy to disable Windows update in build 1703, but I can't advise doing that if you intend to upgrade the PC.

I would also strongly advise you create a disk image (written to and external storage medium) using e.g. Macrium Reflect (free) - we advise disk imaging as a matter of course as it makes disaster recovery relatively painless.

 

Hi Helmut
My download speed is 1.7 Mbs, so 16 hours for my download sounds right. But my issue is that is downloading two versions. Combined with the very slow speed, it will always fail.

Hi Dalchina
Great - I can choose NOT to install upgrades.
Can you help me - in order to install the iso file, which file do I click - clicking on the 4.5 GB iso file opens up another directory (on a DVD drive?).
My Windows build is Version 1607 (OS 14393.19040
Cannot post a screenshot because I have to answer this on another computer .
There was a full page of updates that failed to install.
Since the Windows tech guys had a go, there are now only 3 updates showing - all failed to install
GDR-DU update Ver 1709
Dynamic Cumulative ver 1709
And strangely Ver 1703 (maybe this was the failed iso)
Thank pou both for your ongoing help
Mike

 

Hi, ok, you're usig the Anniversary build (1607) - which tends to suggest Windows update has not been functioning properly for a long time, for whatever reason - (or maybe MS has not offered you an upgrade until now).

Please post a screenshot of your Update History - if necessary you can
a. Create the screenshot
b. Copy the jpg to a flash disk, transfer that to the other PC, and so upload it
or
c. take a photo and upload that.

You make no comment on the sequence of basic checks I recommended.
Upgrades can fail for many reasons- and in the worst case leave a PC unbootable.
Please make sure you have created a disk image of Windows (Macrium 'Windows', 'Backup Windows'.

ISO:
rt click and Mount it and run Setup.exe

If you have no Mount option, you can extract the iso contents using e.g. 7-zip (free) or any other such program that can handle iso's.
Extract the content to a new folder and run setup.exe

Or you can burn the iso to a DVD, which gives you a useful bootable tool - if you have a DVD drive- and again, while logged in to Windows, run setup.exe from the DVD.

Or create a bootable flash drive from the ISO which gives you a useful bootable tool - and again, while logged in to Windows, run setup.exe from that drive.

Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials

If your image creation succeeds, it also tends to suggest but not prove your disk is good ('cos everything used has been read).

 

SUCCESS !!! Thank you for all your input.
My computer is now running properly and fully updated (with the green tick).

Thank you Dalchina for telling me that I could specify NOT to download and install updates at the time of running the iso file.
This was the key to it - I could run the iso offline, then go online with the 'new' build to update.
Thanks again.