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I have a PC with Windows 10 x64 Home which fails to install Windows cumulative updates with error code 0x80070002, but if I open the Update History, a different error code is reported there, 0x80240034.

I have tried deleting \Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder, but it doesn't help - after I start Windows Update service again, the update runs for a while (obviously re-downloading files I have deleted), then fails again with the same error.

I also performed a clean boot, but it didn't change anything.

Does anyone know what this error code means and what possible actions I could take to fix it?

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  • Try to test Windows integrity by running Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and then sfc /scannow. Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter in Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters > Windows Update > Run.
    – harrymc
    Sep 23, 2022 at 11:55
  • @harrymc Thanks for the hint. dism complained about missing files, so I tried to share the Windows folder on my other laptop and run dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth /source:\\other_laptop\windows /limitaccess, but it still complains that "The source files could not be found". Do you know if it's possible to use a network share as a source with dism, or do I have to copy the files on a removable disk first?
    – Dmitry Grigoryev
    Sep 23, 2022 at 14:07

3 Answers 3

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As dism has found errors, Windows is missing pieces. This is abnormal, and you should check seriously if your computer wasn't infected.

To return Windows to a working state would require to Do a Repair Install of Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade. This is exactly equal to doing a major upgrade of Windows, so take precautions and backups of your data.

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I started by running dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth which reported missing or corrupted files (I couldn't understand which ones though, the log file is not easily readable). Then I tried to "bootstrap" the system using files from another laptop which is also running Windows 10:

  • On the other laptop I shared the C:\Windows folder
  • On the target laptop I have run dism
dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth /source:\\other_laptop\windows /limitaccess
dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth /source:\\other_laptop\windows\SysSxS /limitaccess

The progress went further than the first time but dism was still failing to complete. I assume it was because the other laptop already had recent updates installed.

I ended up downloading Windows update assistant, which was able to perform the update.

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    You forced through one update, but I'm not sure that the underlying problem was fixed.
    – harrymc
    Sep 23, 2022 at 17:47
  • @harrymc I have run dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth again, and now it reports "The restore operation has completed successfully", and the system is installing additional updates on its own. It seems that forcing that one cumulative update was enough to get it going. Thanks again for your help!
    – Dmitry Grigoryev
    Sep 24, 2022 at 12:29
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The simple solution for this can be:

Solution 1. Turn OFF the Windows Developer Mode. Solution 2. Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter. Solution 3. Force Windows to re-create the Windows Update Store folder. Solution 4. Update Windows 10 using the ISO file.

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