Windows 10: Windows Update Running Out of Control!!

Help!! I have been failing to install the 1803 update on my Windows 10 Home desktop ever since it first came out in April, and had been able to stop the update trying to install until I have time to do a clean install (some weeks away I think). A couple of weeks ago I got this message in the Windows Update screen "Your device is at risk because it's out of date and missing important security and quality updates. Let's get you back on track so Windows can run more securely. Select this button to start:" Now the Windows Update has gone out of control and keeps repeatedly try to install the 1803 update without any prompts, interrupting whatever I am doing at the time, and then fails at 28% every time. It is now gobbling up all my disk space making the PC unusable - just now the $Windows.~BT folder grew to 50GB in a matter of minutes and as soon as I try to delete the folder it gets recreated.
I have accepted that I will not be able to do the Update, or even a Repair install as that also fails at 28%, but I need to buy some time where I just freeze the PC where it is so I can use it until I have time to do a clean install and reinstall everything from scratch.
I have stopped the Windows Update Service but it still seems to be trying to do the update and keeps repeatedly downloading the update files. What do I need to do to stop these updates for good!!

:)

 

Windows Updated(16299.309).KB4088776 Restart is required to complete.


Hi dalchina. Good news, I followed your suggestion and reinstalled the update and now it appears as "installed correctly" *Biggrin Maybe it was not necessary to run the Windows Update Troubleshooter or maybe if necessary. But using it I do not think it could have worsened something. The installation was very fast, unlike the first time it showed step 1 and step 2 completed.

Thanks for the suggestions and for the time to respond Best regards.


And thanks for the tip of that program, I'll have it on my list.

 

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.

 

Windows 10 fails to update


Thanks,

The Users list compared to the Profile list you posted earlier tell me there is not an issue with Users (a known issue where there is a profile in the list, but not actual User folder).

The error code suggests corruption in the CBS manifest:
Try these steps one at time until the issue is resolved or you run out of steps.

Is Windows activated?
No? Activate Windows 10

Launch Command Prompt (Admin)
enter the following line
reg query HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate /s
If DisableWindowsUpdateAccess REG_DWORD 0x1

launch regedit
navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate
change the value of DisableWindowsUpdateAccess to 0
exit regedit
exit Command Prompt

Launch Windows Update

Try the next suggestion if the issue is not resolved.

Restore health to the component store
DISM - Repair Windows 10 Image
Step 6. To Use DISM /RestoreHealth /Source:wim Command
- OR -
Step 7. To Use DISM /RestoreHealth /Source:esd Command
Check System Files
SFC Command - Run in Windows 10
Read the front material, then
follow >> OPTION THREE <<
To Run SFC /SCANNOW Command in Windows 10

If there are integrity issues reported on screen,
Follow the instructions in >> OPTION FIVE <<
To View Only the "SFC" Scan Results from the CBS.LOG

If there are no integrity errors, Launch Windows Update

Try the next suggestion if the issue is not resolved.

Paste the following line into the address bar of File Explorer
Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\TroubleshootingLaunch System and Security > Fix problems with Windows Update
Press Advanced
Select Run as administrator
Press Next

Launch Windows Update

Try the next suggestion if the issue is not resolved.

Automatically reset Windows Update components
Download and run MS Windows Update diagnostic cab (direct download)

Launch Windows Update

Try the next suggestion if the issue is not resolved.

Manually reset Windows Updates via batch file

Windows Update - Reset in Windows 10

Launch Windows Update