Troubleshoot problems updating Windows 10

In Windows 10, you decide when and how to get the latest updates to keep your device running smoothly and securely. This article will help you answer questions and troubleshoot common problems with your Windows 10 update.

If you’re looking for info on how to activate Windows 10 or to verify that your installation of Windows 10 is activated, see Activate Windows 10.

Have issues installing Windows updates? Start here.

Your device may not be able to update to the latest version of Windows 10 for a few reasons. The following tips can help you pinpoint the issue affecting your device.

Before you begin, make sure your device is plugged into a power source and connected to the internet. Then, try the steps listed below to get your PC to update.

Some updates require administrator access. If your account doesn’t have administrator access, see Create a local user or administrator account in Windows 10. Or if someone else at home or in your office has an administrator account on your device, try asking them to install the updates.

Before trying any of the solutions below, make sure you back up your personal files. You can use File History to back up your files to another drive, or insert a USB drive and use File Explorer to drag and copy important files to the USB drive. If you’re signing into Windows with a Microsoft account, your system settings will be automatically restored after updating, once you’re connected to the internet.

You can also back up your files with OneDrive. For more info, go to Back up your Documents, Pictures, and Desktop folders with OneDrive.

Make sure that your device has enough space. Your device requires at least 16 GB of free space to upgrade a 32-bit OS, or 20 GB for a 64-bit OS. If your device has a small hard drive, you may need to insert a USB drive to update it.

If your PC is running low on storage, try the techniques at Free up drive space in Windows 10.

Many updates require you to restart your device. Save your work and close all open applications. Then, select Start > Power , and select either Update and restart or Update and shut down.

Even if you have downloaded some updates, there may be more available. After trying the preceding steps, run Windows Update again by selecting Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates. Download and install any new updates.

Remove any external storage devices and drives, docks, and other hardware plugged into your device that aren’t needed for basic functionality. Then try to run updates again and see if this resolved your issue. If it didn’t, continue to the next tip.

If you’ve added hardware to your device, check for third-party driver updates and installation instructions on the hardware manufacturer’s website. Update any drivers, then try to run updates again and see if this resolved your issue. If it didn’t, continue to the next tip.

In the search box on the taskbar, type device manager, then select Device Manager from the list of results.

In the window that appears, look for any device with a yellow exclamation mark next to it. (You may have to select each category to view the list of devices.) Select the device name.

Select Action, and then choose either Update driver or Uninstall to correct the errors.

Common troubleshooting questions

If you are receiving an error message with a specific error code, try running the Windows Update Troubleshooter. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, see Fix Windows Update errors and follow the instructions to help resolve common update issues.

The time required to download and install updates depends on connection speed, network settings, and the size of the update. If the installation remains stuck at the same percentage, try checking for updates again or running the Windows Update Troubleshooter.

To check for updates, select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates.

To get help, in the search box on the task bar, type get help, then select Get Help from the list of results. To leave feedback if you run into further problems, in the search box on the taskbar, type feedback hub, then select Feedback Hub from the list of results.

Windows 10 is the most secure Windows ever, and we recommend you stay updated to protect your PC from security risks and to keep it running smoothly. However, you can temporarily pause updates as well as schedule a restart to install updates at a time that’s convenient for you.
Learn how to temporarily pause updates
Find out how to schedule a restart to install updates at a convenient time

You will only receive a notification when it’s time to restart your computer to apply the installed updates.

If you need to know where you left off in your work after an update, use Timeline to jump back in.

To get started with Timeline, select Task View on the taskbar, or press the Windows logo key +Tab and select the activity you want to resume.

Monthly quality updates on Windows 10 are quite small and have a minimal impact on data usage. Feature updates typically happen twice per year, and you can control when to install them. They require more data but are less frequent.

If you’re on a metered connection, some updates for Windows won’t be installed automatically. Metered connections in Windows 10

Your computer might be slow for a number of reasons, but updating to the latest version of Windows 10 can improve its performance. For help with a slow computer, see Tips to improve PC performance in Windows 10.

If you’re having trouble finding your files after an upgrade, see Find lost files after the upgrade to Windows 10 for other things to try.

Warning: Microsoft only recommends trying the procedures in this section if you’re comfortable working in the command line. These procedures require administrator permissions on your device.

In the search box on the taskbar, type command prompt, then select Run as administrator from the list of options. Select Yes. Next, in the window that appears, type the following commands one at a time, including the spaces as shown. After you type each command, press Enter. Then let each command complete before you type the next command.

net stop wuauserv

ren %systemroot%\softwaredistribution softwaredistribution.bak

ren %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 catroot2.bak

net start wuauserv

After all these commands are completed, close the Command Prompt window and restart your computer.

In some instances, third-party antivirus or security software can cause errors when you try to update to the latest version of Windows 10. You can temporarily uninstall this software, update your PC, and then reinstall the software after your device is up to date. We recommend using third-party antivirus or security software that’s compatible with the latest version of Windows 10. You can check compatibility by visiting the software manufacturer’s website.

Note: Before uninstalling software, make sure you know how to reinstall your programs and that you have any necessary product keys.

In the search box on the taskbar, type command prompt, and then select Run as administrator from the list of options. Select Yes. In the window that appears, type the following command, including the space as shown:
chkdsk/f C:
and then press Enter. Repairs will automatically start on your hard drive, and you’ll be asked to restart your device.

A clean restart starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This helps eliminate software conflicts that occur when you install a program or an update that may cause issues updating your PC.
Learn how to do a clean restart

In the search box on the taskbar, type command prompt, then select Run as administrator from the list of options.

In the window that appears, type this command including spaces as shown:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

Press Enter. When the command operation has run successfully, you’ll see a confirmation message from Command Prompt that says, “The restore operation completed successfully” or “The operation completed successfully”.
Note: If you don’t see a confirmation message, retype the command and try again.

Next, type this command, including the space as shown:
sfc /scannow

Press Enter. Wait until the sfc scan verification reaches 100% completion, and then close Command Prompt.

Try running the Windows Update again.

Go to the software download page and select Download tool now to download the clean installation tool. Make sure to carefully read the notes on the software download page before using the tool.

Still stuck?

Contact Microsoft support if you continue to have problems with your Windows updates.

Как использовать CAB и MSU файлы для обновления Windows 10 вручную

Установка обновлений через Центр обновления для Windows 10 иногда может вызывать трудности. Загрузка может зависнуть на определенном этапе из-за проблем с сервером обновлений Windows или серверами сети доставки контента (CDN), на которых размещена копия обновления, предназначенная для дистрибуции в вашем регионе. Также проблемы могут быть связаны с конфигурацией центра обновления Windows и служб фоновой интеллектуальной передачи файлов (BITS) на локальной машине.

В любом случае персонал службы технической поддержки может посоветовать вам загрузить обновление в автономном режиме через каталог Центра обновления Майкрософт.

Каталог Центра обновления Майкрософт предлагает для скачивания обновления системы Windows 10, а также обновления драйверов, которые предназначены для распространения по сети. Кроме того, пакеты Центра обновления Windows, загруженные из каталога Центра обновления Майкрософт, можно свободно использовать для установки в отдельные системы.

Пакеты Центра обновления Windows поставляются в двух форматах: файл автономного установщика Центра обновлений Windows (расширение .msu) и архив Cabinet (расширение .cab).

Содержание

Файлы обновления MSU для Windows 10

Файл обновления Windows Update Standalone Installer (файл с расширением .msu) содержит следующие элементы:

• Метаданные Windows Update: описывают каждое обновление, содержащееся в файле. msu.
• Один или несколько файлов .cab: каждый CAB файл представляет собой отдельное обновление.
• Файл .xml: файл XML описывает пакет обновлений .msu.
• Файл свойств: данный файл включает строковые параметры, используемые Wusa.exe. Например, файл содержит заголовок статьи поддержки в Базе знаний Майкрософт, идентификатор KB и информацию о типе пакета.

Когда вы запускаете файл .msu, процесс автономного установщика Центра обновлений Windows (wusa.exe) извлекает содержимое пакета в папку, считывает метаданные Windows Update, чтобы выполнить поиск обновлений, подходящий для конкретной системы.

Предположим, что в вашей системе установлено более новое обновление или обновление, которые вы хотите применить, предназначено для другой архитектуры процессора (x86, а не x64) – тогда WUSA прекратит процесс установки и выдаст сообщение об ошибке.

Если WUSA определит, что обновление применимо к вашей системе, то запустится процесс установки с помощью компонента Windows Update Agent API.

Установка пакета обновления MSU

Для установки файла MSU, достаточно дважды кликнуть по файлу. Вы можете применить дополнительные параметры (например, /silent для фоновой установки). Полный список параметров доступен на странице описания автономного установщика Центра обновлений Windows.

Файлы обновления CAB для Windows 10

Файлы Cabinet (файлы с расширением .cab) представляют собой сжатые архивы, которые содержат системные файлы и драйверы. Иногда пакеты Центра обновления Windows выпускаются в формате CAB и не содержат механизма установки, файла XML и метаданных. Например, обновление KB4482887 для Windows 10 а канале Release Preview вышло в формате .cab вместо привычного формата .msu.

Как установить обновление CAB

Чтобы установить обновление CAB, нужно воспользоваться инструментом системы обслуживания образов развертывания и управления ими (DISM).

Запустите командную строку с правами администратора и введите команду:

Нажмите Enter. Приведенная для примера команда установит обновление KB4482887 для систем с 64-разрядными процессорами. Файл Windows10.0-KB4482887-x64_91972906e945d162992324224e703e89c208de3d.cab для удоства был переименован в Windows10.0-KB4482887-x64.cab .

Если обновление поставляется в двух форматах – CAB и MSU (например, KB4487044), то удобнее использовать MSU.

Добавляем опцию «Установить» для файлов CAB

Можно добавить команду «Установить» в контекстное меню для файлов CAB. В этом случае вам не придется вручную запускать команду DISM.

Скопируйте следующий код в Блокнот и сохраните его в формате .REG. Затем дважды щелкните по файлу, чтобы применить его содержимое к системному реестру:

После данных манипуляций, в меню правой кнопки мыши для файлов CAB будет доступна опция «Установить».

How to force Windows to start downloading the Windows 10 update files

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Windows 10 is here! Well, it’s here for a lot of people, but many of us still cannot download it until Microsoft says it’s OK (unless you want to do it manually).

Windows 10

You see, Microsoft plans to release Windows 10 in waves. That means even if your computer is ready, you won’t necessarily be able to download Windows 10 right away. Waiting, however, is for suckers.

Even if the Windows 10 install app still says it will “notify you when ready,” you can force Windows 7 or Windows 8 to start downloading the Windows 10 files (thanks to Reddit’s Windows 10 subreddit for helping us figure this out). We’ve laid out the instructions with screenshots to guide you through it.

First, navigate to “C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download” (you may need to replace C: with a different drive letter if you installed Windows elsewhere) and delete all the files there. This will give Windows Update a clean slate.

Open Windows Update by hitting the Windows key, typing “Windows Update” and clicking on it.

Open up the command prompt by hitting the Windows key and typing in cmd. Don’t hit enter. Right click and choose “Run as administrator.”

Type (but do not enter yet) “wuauclt.exe /updatenow” — this is the command to force Windows Update to check for updates.

Back in the Windows Update window, click “Check for updates” on the left hand side. It should say “Checking for updates…”

While this is happening, switch back to the command prompt and enter the command you already typed in.

You should now see Windows Update say that it is downloading Windows 10. Before you actually install it though, back everything up and make sure you’re ready.

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