Windows 10: Windows 11 Not Updating - Windows Update Error 0x80080005 - Wuauserv stuck in 'Starting'

First I want to start out stating, I've fixed it.. The amount of time it took me isn't necessarily important, but I will share the wealth because it's such a wide spread issue and for what fixed it... I'm irritated upset. ALRIGHTIssue was a result of a deployed windows update 'idk the kb' because by the time i was that far into troubleshooting i was well over a nights rest with multiple hours prior into this.. Few weeks ago i received a whole mess of updates, did my normal restart for the night when i saw they'd completed. Symptoms in orderNetwork issuesSluggish performance Unresponsive periph

:)

 

Windows Update Error (0x80080005) and 'wuauserv' not starting

Hi. I am not able to update my windows because of non-functional windows update service. Every time I run 'Check for updates', I get error (0x80080005). I tried suggested methods of stopping 'wuauserv', 'bits', 'cyrptsvc', 'msiserver' and starting them again
but the 'wuauserv' won't start at all. Always throws in this error:

The wuauserv service could not be started.

A system error has occurred.

System error 2 has occurred.

The system cannot find the file specified.

I tried windows update troubleshooter and 'sfc /scannow' too, but didn't work. I am running Windows 10 (Version 1909), OS build - 18363.657. I don't have any third party antivirus installed, just the Windows Defender. I ran cmd in 'Run as Admin' mode for
all the above stated processes.

Please help me out here. Thanks in advance!

 

Windows update daily? Ugh

Windows Update seems to be stuck trying to install a particular update, so this might be of use to you.

Click Start, then type "cmd" (without quotes). Right-click cmd then it comes up and hit "Run as Administrator". At the command prompt, type "net stop wuauserv" (again, without quotes), wait for it to say "The Windows Update service was stopped sucessfully" or words to that effect. Leave cmd running.

Navigate to C:\Windows (or whatever drive your OS is installed on), and delete the "SoftwareDistribution" folder. Once that's done, go back to cmd and type "net start wuauserv" (without wuotes again) and wait for it to say "The Windows Update was started sucessfully" or words to that effect. Exit cmd.

Open Windows update, you will need to re-enable Microsoft Update as deleting the SoftwareDistribution folder resets Windows Update. Install any updates that come up and your problem *should* be fixed.

If not, all I can suggest is either downloading that patch manually and installing it, or just reinstall Windows.

 

Windows Updates failed to instal

I'm not sure how differant XP media center Edition is but you could clear the history \ cache if these folders are there.

Step 1 Register DLL files.

=================

By trying this step, we can check if the update engines are working properly.



1. Close all instances of Internet Explorer.

2. Click Start and Run, type "Regsvr32 atl.dll" (without quotes) in the Open box and click OK.



Note: There is a space between regsvr32 and atl.dll



3. Similarly, one by one, register the files listed below:



Regsvr32 msxml3.dll

Regsvr32 wuapi.dll

Regsvr32 wuaueng.dll

Regsvr32 wuaueng1.dll

Regsvr32 wups2.dll

Regsvr32 wucltui.dll

Regsvr32 wups.dll

Regsvr32 wuweb.dll

Regsvr32 qmgr.dll

Regsvr32 qmgrprxy.dll

Regsvr32 jscript.dll



Note: If you encounter errors while registering any of these files then skip that file and continue with the next one.



If the issue persists, let's move on to the steps below to verify Windows Update services and temporary folders.



Step 2 Verify the relevant Windows Update services.

=========================================

1. Click Start->Run, type "services.msc" (without quotation marks) in the open box and click OK.

2. Double click the service "Automatic Updates".

3. Click on the Log On tab, please ensure the option "Local System account" is selected and the option "Allow service to interact with desktop" is unchecked.

4. Check if this service has been enabled on the listed Hardware Profile. If not, please click the Enable button to enable it.

5. Click on the tab "General "; make sure the "Startup Type" is "Automatic" or "Manual". Then please click the button "Stop" under "Service Status" to stop the service.

6. Then please click the button "Start" under "Service Status" to start the service.

7. Please repeat the above steps with the other services:



Background Intelligent Transfer Service

Event Log

Remote Procedure Call (RPC)



Note: Event log service is enabled on all of the hardware profiles; this service does not have an option to enable or disable on certain hardware profile.



If it still does not help, let's proceed to step 3.



Step 3 Reload the Update temporary folders.

===================================

One possible cause is that the temporary folder for Windows Update is containing corrupted files. Let's erase all the files there to get the system clean.



1. Click Start, Run, type: cmd and press Enter. Please run the following command in the opened window.



Net stop WuAuServ



2. Click Start, Run, type: %windir% and press Enter.

3. In the opened folder, rename the folder SoftwareDistribution to Sdold.

4. Click Start, Run, type: cmd and press Enter. Please run the following command in the opened window.



Net start WuAuServ



Please test the Windows Update website and let me know the result. If the issue persists, to clarify the issue and provide more accurate troubleshooting steps, please assist me in collecting the following information.