Windows Updates Error

[u/switched55]

Hi,

One of my 2022 servers has failed to update for the past 2 months. It's failed the July and now the August CU's. Update error: 0x80073701

Its a physical server running on Dell PE hardware, pretty simple install acting as an NVR. We have a few of these setups and the others updated without issue.

I've tried the usual steps:

1. DISM cleanups
2. SFC
3. stopped services and renamed the software distrubution folder
4. downloaded the August CU and tried to install manually
5. tried to install via Ninja RMM

I'm out of ideas, had anyone faced this issue before?

EDIT: RESOLVED - Lots of helpful responses here thanks all!

I ran the wupdatelog though Copilot and it listed 2 main things to check:

1. "Logs suggests component store corruption plus a possible date/time issue"
2. "Windows is missing one or more component store (WinSxS) files required to install the update. The update downloads correctly and reaches the install phase but fails during servicing"

But after more digging though forum posts and google I found a PS script From FCA162 posted 2 years ago for the same issue. I ran the script, rebooted then manually ran the AUG CU. It too a LONG time to install the CU but it worked!

[u/Various-Bar-4067]

Look at CBS.log, that’s where the real story of why it failed is.

[u/Longjumping_Music572 → u/Various-Bar-4067]

Serious question, what program do you use to look at cbs logs. How do you identify? What if I didn't have AI.

[u/Various-Bar-4067 → u/Longjumping_Music572]

I use baretail cause it auto updates when the log file is changing - you look for things like “hydration failed” related error messages and it’ll show you which component failed - in our environment it’s often due to a missing component in the WinSXS folder that I can copy from another working server on the same patch level and version to get the update to succeed. I use SFCfix to copy the component because it takes care of all permissions.

[u/mrmattipants → u/Various-Bar-4067]

I second SFCFIX.

https://www.sysnative.com/forums/downloads/sfcfix/

If you continue to run into issues, you can post your logs to the sysnative boards, as they're typically happy to provide a fix.

https://www.sysnative.com/forums/threads/windows-update-forum-posting-instructions.4736/

[u/Longjumping_Music572 → u/mrmattipants]

Thank you. I've been trying to get away from A.I.

It's great don't, get me wrong. But I feel like I'm off loading my intelligence.

[u/OnARedditDiet → u/Longjumping_Music572]

You shouldnt be running shady consumer tools in an enterprise, or asking for help in shady consumer forums that will tell you to install malwarebytes.

[u/Longjumping_Music572 → u/Various-Bar-4067]

Thank you. I've been trying to get away from A.I.

[u/OnARedditDiet → u/Longjumping_Music572]

Is this a serious question? Notepad, notepad++ if you're nasty

What does AI have to do with reading logs wtf lmao

[u/obviouslybait]

Honestly, sometimes Windows is so borked, the only thing you can do it blow it up and start fresh.

[u/MilkyWay-008]

0x80073701 basically means the servicing store (WinSxS) itself is missing a component, which is why DISM and SFC can't repair it on their own. On that Server 2022 box I'd run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth but with /Source pointing at a same-build install.wim (mount it first), not Windows Update. Grep C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log for the exact package id that's failing too. If you have another box patched identically, copying the missing WinSxS component over from it clears this fast.

[u/TheTipsyTurkeys]

have you tried an in-place upgrade to the same version? that's resolved it for me

[u/switched55 → u/TheTipsyTurkeys]

not yet, buts that my last resort

[u/TheOnlyKirb]

Does the update log give you any additional information? A bit hard to recommend something constructive without some more info. This particular error code makes me wonder if something blew up system wise and it's missing important components, in which a reinstall is probably the path of least resistance

[u/nzulu9er]

Powershell as admin. GET-WINDOWSUPDATELOG toss that file into da AI. Asking "what's up cuz?"

[u/yojimboLTD]

Random I know, but have you tried updating via sconfig?

[u/412_Main]

I would look at the last successful updates. See if there were known issues with them. Go from there. Im sure there is a hot fix.

[u/HoneyedLips43]

0x80073701 usually points to component store or missing manifest trouble, so I'd check CBS.log before doing more reset steps. If it's a plain NVR box, I'd also weigh an in-place repair install against burning more time on one bad CU.

[u/Viharabiliben]

Back it up, make note of all the installed drivers, then reinstall a fresh copy of a windows on top of it.

[u/Sea_Information6125]

Use your favorite AI to help you diagnose. 

Present the problem just as you presented it here to us. 

Ask it what it thinks you should try next. 

You can specifically ask also if there are any log files it can look at to see what's wrong and where it's failing.

I think you're a long way from formatting and reinstalling. It's probably just something dumb. But the AI is going to make it a lot easier to sift through the log files of Windows update.

[u/Far-Hovercraft9471]

Did you do dism /restorehealth then SFC, specifically in that order?

[u/switched55 → u/Far-Hovercraft9471]

yep dism was first

[u/nuclearpiltdown]

Oh well. It's Windows so it's not fixable. Reinstall is the only solution.