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Windows Update not working.

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Hello everybody,
I am a new member and this is my first post. I was browsing the site and saw this thread so I thought I would start here. My problem relates to Windows Update. For a while now, about 3-4 weeks I have been hseeing a pop-out saying "We are installing a new feature in Windows" (or something like that) and a few seconds later another one which says there was a problem, but doesn't specify what it was. Then I tried to download an app from the Microsoft Store and couldn't. That issue related back to Update as well, so I tried to fix that issue with some help from YouTube and Google. When I go into the Services app as administrator and right click on the Windows Update service, it tells me the startup type is disabled. If I change it to Automatic and click "Apply" I get a message which says @The delayed auto start-flag could not be set. Error 5: Access is denied"

Can anybody offer an opinion on what is wrong here. I really don't want to fiddle with Registry keys unless under guidance. I was thinking that maybe I could just re-install Windows but I don't want to lose program or data by doing so.

Some specs: Machine is an Asus ZenBook Duo model UX481F with a 64 bit operating system and x-64 based processor. Windows 10 Home Edition Version 20H2.

Anything else please ask.

Regards

P
«134

Comments

  • cx6
    cx6 Posts: 1,176 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 22 November 2021 at 12:31PM
    Have you seen this page and run the windows update troubleshooter?

    Windows Update - Additional resources - Windows Deployment | Microsoft Docs

    Also, from an elevated command prompt if you run

    net start wuauserv

    does anything happen?
  • Before we start trying things, we should investigate what the current state of the machine is and why it is in that state.

    Search the start menu for:
    "View your update history"

    Click the top search result. What was the last succesfully installed update?

    What happens if you search the start menu and open "Check for Updates" Are there any pending updates?

    The "Windows Update" service should have "Startup Type = Manual"

    Not being able to install programs from the Windows Store is also telling. I suspect a component-based servicing problem, but before we start to try and solve problems we need to determine what is actually causing them.
    A dream is not reality, but who's to say which is which?
  • Thanks for your message
    I am attaching 3 screenshots from the searches you mentioned. Perhaps that can tell you something. What I am getting from that is that my updates are current, none pending, but the update service is disabled, which is the opposite of what I would expect.
    Appreciate your comments.
    Regards
    P
  • cx6
    cx6 Posts: 1,176 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 23 November 2021 at 12:25PM
    From an elevated command prompt if you run

    net start wuauserv

    does anything happen?

    If you get an error, try

    sc config wuauserv start=auto

    then run the net start again

    Is the windows update medic service running (WaaSMedicSvc.dll)

    Note: my initial suspicions are malware, as by disabling the Update service you can also no longer recieve windows defender virus definition updates.
  • Popinoz said:
    Thanks for your message
    I am attaching 3 screenshots from the searches you mentioned. Perhaps that can tell you something. What I am getting from that is that my updates are current, none pending, but the update service is disabled, which is the opposite of what I would expect.
    Appreciate your comments.
    Regards
    P

    Can you please try changing the Windows Update service to be Manual rather than disabled, and then force a Windows Update and see what happens?

    Note the time that you do this, so we can take a look at the event log after.
    A dream is not reality, but who's to say which is which?
  • Popinoz
    Popinoz Posts: 16 Forumite
    10 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    I am unable to change the Window Update service. I get an "Access is denied" message.
  • Popinoz said:
    I am unable to change the Window Update service. I get an "Access is denied" message.
    Are you logged into the machine with an administrator account or a limited account?

    Can you search the start menu for "services.msc", right click on the result and select run as administrator?

    Thanks.

    A dream is not reality, but who's to say which is which?
  • Popinoz
    Popinoz Posts: 16 Forumite
    10 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    I have tried both. I am on a personal laptop with not network. I generally log on as myself using my Microsoft Account, and have done so for ages. This problem that I am encountering has only been a problem for a few weeks. I just did what you asked, again, and got the same result - "Access is Denied"
  • Popinoz said:
    I have tried both. I am on a personal laptop with not network. I generally log on as myself using my Microsoft Account, and have done so for ages. This problem that I am encountering has only been a problem for a few weeks. I just did what you asked, again, and got the same result - "Access is Denied"
    Are there any AV products running on the machine, other than Windows Defender?

    A dream is not reality, but who's to say which is which?
  • cx6
    cx6 Posts: 1,176 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 23 November 2021 at 2:12PM
    Did you run the commands from an elevated command prompt (just checking)

    You should not get 'access denied'

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