Windows 10: Persistent "Requires a restart to finish installing" after most updates

Winver = Version 1909 OS Build 18363.900


Some time ago I noticed in my Update History that at least one update was signified asRequires a restart to finish installing although it does appear in the list of installed updates seen by clicking the "uninstall updates" list.


I followed these directions:

Elevated Command Prompt:
net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver
ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 Catroot2.old
net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver
exit, restart

which cleared the entries.


However the same thing has occurred since on more than one occasion. Same solution and same outcome.


This morning, two recent updates were downloaded and installed, pending restart.

I restarted the machine from the Windows Key/Power menu item and it clearly went through the usual ...percent complete.... cycle, restarting as usual after 30% and continuing to 100% before presenting the sign on screen. The machine is working correctly as far as I know.


These two updates are

2020-06 Security Update for Adobe Flash Player For Windows 10 version 1909 for x64 based systems KB4561600

2020-06 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1909 for x64-based systems KB4560960

and both are showing as Requires a restart to finish installing, despite my having restarted the machine twice since the installation.


There are no error messages/codes.


I suspect that, if I follow the process to rename the software distribution and catroot folders yet again, these annotations will clear along with the rest of the update history as before.


However this is something of an annoyance.


Are there any suggestions for an ongoing solution that does not require this manual intervention every time. There is clearly something underlying this, beyond these two folders, that is preventing the update process from recording itself properly as complete.


In case it is relevant, sfc/ scannow finds no corruption.

:)

 

Updates keep showing as 'require restart to finish installing'


Here's what I see:








Which both look good until I see this...





And it seems doing a restart doesn't help.

 

KB4074588 Requires a restart to finish installing

I have a similar issue: Windows 10 Update View installed update history displays "Requires a restart to finish installing" for the KB4088776 Update, see the following screen capture:





I have restarted the PC several times to no avail. I tried Windows Update Troubleshooter which reported finding and correcting an Update error: Updates waiting restart. Every time I run the Windows Update Troubleshooter, it reports the same error which
it says it fixed. The "Requires a restart to finish installing" message persists. I downloaded the KB4088785 Update, but when executed, a message displays the update is already installed. The Windows Version 1709 (Build 16299.309) displays in Settings| About
which is the correct version and build for the KB4088785 Update.

How do I complete the "Requires a restart to finish installing"??

 

Problem Re: KB4048954 patch Requires a restart to finish installing

I'm not ready to install Fall update yet. This pertains to the Nov 2017 cum. update. I have the exact same situation and see what this guy sees in windows update in the link below."I looked at update history and the above patch is marked as "Requires a restart to finish installing".No matter how many restarts KB4048954 says the same thing. Not home now to check on the fix referenced below but curious if anyone ran into the same thing. win 10 pro.

.KB4048954 patch Requires a restart to finish installing - Microsoft Community

I have since gone into windows update and un-installed KB4048954 and installed KB4055254. Both are cumulative updates from November the former the problem one was from earlier in the month and the latter is from later in the month. KB4055254 installed successfully and does not say that it needs to be restarted. First picture shows KB4055254 installed but I still see KB4048954 listed. In the second picture right below it If I go to uninstall updates I see KB4055254 which is good and I no longer see KB4055254 so I am assuming that it was successfully removed. I believe now that this is mostly an aesthetic thing for me. I would like to remove from the list of updates KB4048954 so that I no longer see "requires a restart." Right clicking it does no good. Anyone have a solution? TIA.