How to fix Windows update error code 0x80070003 or 0x80070002 under Windows 8, 7 or vista (2024)

kala
April 13, 2018@6:37 am

Thank you so much for this excellent solution.

Koushik Gope
October 12, 2017@10:23 pm

Very nice. Thanx for give this value able sollution.

Kunal
May 15, 2017@8:19 am

Thank you ……. Step 2 … work for me…….
God Bless You

Dan B
March 25, 2017@4:48 pm

Thanks very much. Method 2 worked for me. After doing that, it searched for the updates and began to download immeadiately. Great

snowmastera
August 22, 2016@7:07 pm

time was ok, the other steps made it work finally, but it took a while (4 hours) before update could be installed. Thx a lot.

Bernell Ballard
August 22, 2016@5:49 pm

I am getting this error code when I try to setup Outlook 2010. I had to let Windows Update do an automatic update. The manual would hang forever. I truly believe MS is behind this somehow. I am running Windows 7. This was a clean install with a DOS format, long version. I have nothing installed but Office 2010 installed, CCleaner and zone alarm. Nothing else. Can you help?

lakonst
August 24, 2016@2:42 pm
@Bernell Ballard: Have you applied the solutions in this article? Also:
1. Uninstall Zone Alarm.
2. Then make sure that you have already installed Internet Explorer 11 on your computer.
3. Download and install the KB3102810 security update according your OS version *. (If installation hangs, restart the computer and then immediately install the Update).
4. Restart your computer and then delete the "SoftwareDistribution" folder by following the instructions on Method 1 above.
5. Restart your computer and check for updates.
Reply

Bhushan
June 15, 2016@5:19 am

I was trying to install LSRT on my windows lapi but somehow unable to install it.
Getting error notification as “The system cannot find the specified file. (0x80070002)”. Downloaded LSRT from Microsoft link. Really fade up off these thing..

Issue was stared with my phone after os update and since then my phone is not even taking breath.

Please can someone update me with above things.

hindux
June 13, 2016@8:32 pm

Hi All, I get the error 0x80070002 when I try to make a systemimage of my OS window 7 home premium. Your help in this is ver appreciate it.

Vinay
November 4, 2015@3:07 pm

I got error 0x80070002… While updating my service pack 1….I tried these methods but nothing worked…. I have activated my windows using RemoveWAT

lakonst
November 5, 2015@11:06 am
@Vinay: Download and install the "System Update Readiness tool"
Reply

Amir Danish
October 25, 2015@7:21 pm

tanx in advance!
it helps me to much n u save my lifes

kinkon
August 11, 2015@1:06 pm

I have also encountered the error 80070003. I bought new laptop HP pavilion ab032tx last week. I tried to upgrade to win10 by "get windows 10 app". But during installation I got the error code 80070003.
Then i tried through Mediacreationtools. In this process i got below mentioned steps.
1. downloading windows 10.
2. verifying download
3. Preparing installation – getting for updates
4. Making sure you are ready to install
5. Making sure your PC has enough space
6. Ready to install
7. Installing windows 10.

During installing, it goes till 22% & then suddenly one window pops up saying " something happened. Installation failed"

So I tried all ways & i tried more than 15 times. I renamed the software distribution folder as well. I deleted some .edb files.
Please suggest

lakonst
August 15, 2015@11:08 am
@kinkon: 1. First Uninstall or Disable any antivirus software.
2. Then go to Control Panel.
3. Open "Region" settings.
4. At "Administrative" tab, click the "Change system locale" button.
5. Select "English (US)" from the drop-down menu and then click OK.
6. Then click on "Copy Settings" button and check the checkboxes "Welcome screen and system accounts" & "New user accounts".
7. Click OK and Restart your computer.
7. Run the Media Creation tool as Administrator.
Good luck.
Reply

Brian
August 8, 2015@8:04 pm

This worked great for windows 10 update on second option, thanks!

Iain Macbriar
May 15, 2015@4:15 am

Alas, doesn't work for me. Running Windows 8.1.

When I try the Fix-it 50202 program, I get an error message saying that it doesn't work in my version of Windows.

lakonst
May 15, 2015@5:01 pm
@Iain Macbriar: Go at https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/910336 and run the "Windows Update troubleshooter" for Windows 8.1
Reply

vicky
April 21, 2015@11:50 am

I am fed up with this error 0x80070002.. am unable to install updates and new apps in my laptop windows 8…..am using H.P am unable to change the name software distribution and my date settings are damn good and i used trouble shooter also but no use plz plz help me to get rid of this

lakonst
April 21, 2015@3:59 pm
@vicky: Try to reset Windows Update Components.
Reply

Margaret
April 9, 2015@9:41 pm

I took screenshots of the long version fix and worked my way through. I'm so pleased to advise my Windows Updates are now working! Thanks so much.

Oll Korrect
March 27, 2015@8:26 pm

Hi there I too had a very stubborn Windows Update problem (error 0x80070003 / Win 8.1 Home), and was finally able to fix it.

First, all the standard methods to fix WU failed (troubleshooter, manual reset of WU components, manual install of updates, sfc /scannow, DISM tool, etc.)

In particular, sfc and DISM never reported any errors. However, using the DISM tool led me to scrutinize the CBS.log file. When I did so, I noticed the following line:

CBS Failed to create file: \\?\C:\windows\Servicing\Sessions\30435499_3442754378.xml [HRESULT = 0x80070003 – ERROR_PATH_NOT_FOUND]

This led me to look in the C:\Windows\Servicing directory, and I noticed that the Sessions folder did not exist. Or more accurately, there was a *file* called Sessions – apparently a corrupted version of the folder (dated about the time when updates stopped working). I compared this to a working installation of Windows on another laptop, and saw that the folder did exist, and contained many xml files.

After playing around with the permissions I recreated the Sessions folder, tried again to (manually) install updates – and – it worked! So far I have been able to install upates, both manually and using the Control Panel.

The moral is, I think, take a close look at the CBS.log file and follow any leads it gives.

It's beyond me how the sfc and the DISM tool could fail to detect this problem. I'm guessing they both saw the "Sessions" file, and figured all was well.

Not sure if my situation applies to anyone else, but just in case, here it is.

Pedrops
March 9, 2015@5:02 am

The second method works great for me. Thanks a lot !!!

Holger
February 19, 2015@3:40 pm

For me nothing of the really good tips worked. But I could solve the problem. I've installed another Netwok Card and the updates are running fine. Don't know, if a bad driver (possibly installed via Windows update) or a cheesy network onboard chip was the cause.

Porfi
January 7, 2015@12:53 am

Thank you very much!!! The first method worked great.

Doug
December 30, 2014@6:19 am

Nothing works for me. I am STUMPED !!

Robinski
September 13, 2014@3:40 pm

THANXS…. “The Microsoft Fix it 50202 Tool”…..Worked great, resolved the update error problem, my PC has now installed all the latest updates, no problem..saved a lot of time and effort.

secretdec
August 22, 2014@5:14 am

Great. Thanks in advance

Ali
May 4, 2014@5:57 pm

thank you so much for this post, been struggling with my new Lumia 2520 refusing to update \, after trying option 2 and restart everything work :). just one question can I delete the old file softwaredistributionold?.
chers

lakonst
May 5, 2014@8:55 am
Hello Ali, yes you can delete the old file (softwaredistributionold).
Reply

BurnDaddy
April 23, 2014@6:53 pm

What an asinine comment. My Windows IS Genuine and I still got the 80070003 error.

XpanD
February 24, 2014@4:36 pm

Your first method worked great for a machine I was setting up, thanks! Still not entirely sure how it went screwy, but everything is running smoothly now, updated and all. :P

Steve
February 2, 2014@2:38 am

Method 2 Worked – thank SO much. Clear, concise, exact.

mani
December 27, 2013@11:04 am

GREAT …Very good ways to remove errors…Thanx

Luke
December 14, 2013@12:32 am

None worked for me either, not even the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool to fix corruption errors with elevated Command Prompt (Win 8 Pro x64 WMC). The latter tool did find and fix some errors but the updates still wouldn't install (three). I'm sure that this is the reason I can't do the upgrade to 8.1, it fails every time right at the end

Hedam Lafana
December 8, 2013@3:54 am

all 3 methods did not work for me.

Ryan
December 8, 2013@3:00 am

I have tried all three options several times and I still get the error. Are there any more options?

lakonst
December 8, 2013@9:50 am
Try to download and run the "System Update Readiness Tool" from here: https://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=947821
Reply
- Ryan
  December 8, 2013@5:00 pm
  I have tried this tool a few times now. Every time I try to run it I get an error that states: "Installer encountered an error: 0x8007000d The data is invalid."
  Reply
  - lakonst
    December 10, 2013@6:16 pm
    Is your Windows Genuine? Because the 0x8007000d error happens when Windows are not genuine. If yes, then you can also try this method: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/windows-update-error-0x8007000d
    Otherwise, restore your PC to an earlier restore point and then try to update Windows again.
    Reply

camille
November 30, 2013@10:28 pm

this works! thankyou! :')

kii kiiz
October 27, 2013@12:57 pm

Thank you very very much :)

Andy Mortimer
October 19, 2013@8:12 pm

Hi .. where would i find this?

I tried this: So if you have this maybe this will work for you I tried quite a path with all having the same apparent result with the error 8024402F Coming up.
This is such a mad mad world we live in (murphies law seems to be in control.)
Do exactly the opposite what is logical
First set your update setting to NEVER RECEIVE UPDATES, then UNTICK the two boxes below if they are ticked (one about any one can update,) and the other about being informed about available updates.(That one a box comes up are you shore you want not to be notified etc.)
NOW USING MURPHIES LAW Leave all settings as is eg NOTHING SHOULD WORK
NOW CLICK THE UPDATE BUTTON SURPRISE SURPRISE YOU NOW CAN UPDATE.!!!!!
After updating ,check for further updates after the first batch.
Then the settings can be put back to normal eg Receive updates Automatically, the tick the other two boxes.

which corrected it in part. that was until i Re-ticked the last two boxes. again was unable to update. so i tried anticking one box at a time. and found when the last box was not ticked (where windows recommend other updates for windows programmers) and it was able to update.

lakonst
October 20, 2013@9:27 am
Hello Andy, glad to hear that you solve your problem.
If you like to try my suggestion then you can find and uninstall the “Microsoft .NET Framework 4 Client Profile” From "Programs and Features" (Control Panel > Programs And Features).
Reply

Andy Mortimer
October 19, 2013@12:10 am

i having update issues with window 8.1 update from 17th October with error code 8024402F

lakonst
October 19, 2013@7:43 am
Hello Andy, try this: Uninstall the "Microsoft .NET Framework 4 Client Profile" from your computer, and perform a restart. Then try to update Windows again.
Reply

Henrik
September 11, 2013@1:39 pm

Unfortunately, does not help!

Henrik
September 7, 2013@1:05 pm

Bloody well for now!!! After stoping sevice and reanaming the folder and starting service again I see changes. Now I'm going to restart windows. God bless you!

ALOK
September 4, 2013@9:05 pm

thank you.i helped by this site

Paul
August 14, 2013@7:19 pm

Thank you. I had to rename the folder and then reboot but after that, the frustrating problem was been solved. You've helped solve an issue that's been bugging me for more than a month and until now I'd been unable to find a remedy and one that was very easy to follow and implement. Thanks again.

Eding
August 6, 2013@11:18 am

thank you very much.. it worked!!

Coco
December 22, 2017@5:11 am
Which way did you used.
I am using windows 7 Ultimate, we have update Chinese ,Japanese, Korean except English. i have tried many times but still failed.
So strange.
And I will try the solution here later. Hope can fix.
Reply
- tastiera
  May 14, 2018@11:40 am
  Me too , coco windows 7 ultimate 32 bit
  Reply

kodienecaise
July 20, 2013@11:43 am

My HP says that the file cannot be renamed because it is in use in another application. HELP.

lakonst
July 21, 2013@9:30 am
Boot Windows in Safe mode and then try the operation again. (Using all steps in Method 2). When finish reboot your computer and try to update again.
Reply
PP OO ii
November 17, 2016@1:31 am
You would have had to exit out of the services window…..
Reply

Kevin
July 17, 2013@12:49 am

None of these worked for me. I am still getting the same error code.

r.vasanth
July 15, 2013@8:27 am

microsoft fix it 50202 did a splendid job, Halleluiah!!!. Thank you.

Thank you !!!
June 9, 2013@9:18 pm

The first method works great for me. Thanks !!!