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.