Windows Update Failing - Windows 7 / Windows 8

If you're Windows Updates are constantly failing, then try out the steps below.

- Stop the Windows Update Service. Open the Control Panel, browse to System & Security > Administrative Tools and open Services. Alternatively, type "services.msc" under Start > Run, or in Windows 8, simply hit the Windows key to use the Start menu and type "services.msc" and press Enter.

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Windows 8

- Find the service "Windows Update". Right-click and choose "Stop" to stop the service running. Minimize the Services console.
(if there is no Windows Update service listed, see my other blog "Windows Update Service is missing")

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- Open My Computer or Windows Explorer and browse to C:WindowsSoftwareDistributionDatastore and delete everything within this folder

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- Then browse to C:WindowsSoftwareDistributionDownload and delete everything within this folder.

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- Go back into the Services console and Right-click Windows Update and choose "Start" to restart the Windows Update service.

- Go back into Control Panel > System & Security > Windows Update. If you've followed the above steps correctly, it will say "Last check for updates: Never". If this is so, click "Check for updates". It should find new updates and with a bit of luck, updates will download and install successfully.