Can’t Update WIn10 Error 0x800703e6

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I have an older Samsung that I have upgraded from earlier versions of Windows and has run very well after installing SSDs some time back. I have kept it updated until recently when I returned for an seven month trip. It updated a bit and then refuses top update further.  It seems the directories are locked down. I suspect Malwarebytes may be responsible since they offered me a free trial for the full meal deal.  I installed it but soon discovered it was too restrictive and uninstalled it. Right after that the the machine refused to update.  I did a system restore and that did not help.

I get this message whenever I try to update: There were problems downloading some updates, but we’ll try again later. If you keep seeing this, try searching the web or contacting support for help. This error code might help: (0x800703e6)

 

I tried running scf and dism from elevated prompts and get errors

 

C:\>DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.19041.572

Image Version: 10.0.19042.685

The component store cannot be repaired.

C:\>sfc /scannow

Windows Resource Protection could not start the repair service.

I consulted several advice sites and tried various things with no success.

Any thought?

OS Name Microsoft Windows 10 Home
Version 10.0.19042 Build 19042
Other OS Description Not Available
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Manufacturer SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
System Model QX310/QX410/QX510/SF310/SF410/SF510
System Type x64-based PC
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i5 CPU M 480 @ 2.67GHz, 2667 Mhz, 2 Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date American Megatrends Inc. 05MX.M008.20110525.SCY, 2011-05-25
SMBIOS Version 2.6
Embedded Controller Version 255.255
BIOS Mode Legacy
BaseBoard Manufacturer SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.

 

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Replies

1. Make sure you are up to date on video drivers and bios
2. Do an inplace install over the top see Repair install over the top – YouTube

When 10 gets its WU update, the repair install over the top is way better than sfc /scannow and dism.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

3 users thanked author for this post.

Cee Arr, WSallendick, doriel

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Thanks.  Very nice, clear video. I’m doing this right now.

I had a second issue besides the update problem and that was that the Internet on that machine was intermittent and often non-functional, so downloading was unlikely to succeed and workarounds are time-consuming.  I suspected the wifi driver but Windows, being Windows though the driver was just fine. Tethering to my phone did not work either so something in the workings was jiggered and no amount of sleuthing could solve the intermittent lack of DNS.

I finally thought, what the heck, I’ll pay for Ccleaner to update the drivers and paid for a subscription.  (At first I declined the offer but each time I declined, the price came down to where I figured, why not and bought).

Even when I managed to get enough Internet to download Ccleaner, installing on that machine was difficult.  Install failed a few times but after a few reboots it took and I ran the driver scanner and it said that about twenty drivers were old.

I replaced the wifi driver first and saw an immediate improvement and then, with solid Internet updated the rest.

So, now I am downloading Windows and will follow your instructions to see if that unlocks the directories that prevent Windows Update from working.   Here’s hoping.

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Well, after all that, and ten minutes or more of blue screen and percentage incrementing, I get the message, “Windows Installation Has Failed” with no further information  and I am back at where I began.  Maybe there is a log file?  Nothing was mentioned.

I suspect whatever locked the folders initially preventing Windows Update from installing updates thwarted this process.

The problem began initially right about when I had installed a free trial of Malwarebytes full meal deal and then uninstalled it because it was far too restrictive.  I suspect that MWB locked something and did not unlock on removal.  Too many developers do a bad job of uninstalling their products and leave all sorts of crap on the machine.

Maybe I’ll have to reinstall the same software and remove it again or use revo to make sure it is all gone. However I suspect the permissions on some folders have been changed but don’t know which or how.

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After running C:\>DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
you should run DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth.

I would also recommend downloading and installing KB4023057 !

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That is the problem in the first place.  Cannot run dism or sfc and cannot install updates.

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In settings app, type troubleshoot.  Click blue link additional troubleshooters.  In there is “windows update” troubleshooter.

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anonymous wrote:

That is the problem in the first place.  Cannot run dism or sfc and cannot install updates.

Download Windows ISO and run repair.

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I have run the troubleshooter and also tried the repair installation. The troubleshooter do nothing and the repair failed and reverted.

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You did an inplace repair install and that reverted as well?

You can dig into the Panther logs – https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/log-files-that-are-created-when-you-upgrade-to-a-new-version-of-windows-9ec8aa31-0cc1-a0b2-2d98-e9c6714349b9 or you can go drastic and do a clean install?

Sometimes when Windows isn’t updated regularly it gets into a hissy fit and refuses to update.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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Yes. Thanks for the log info.  I’ll see if I can learn something. As far as I can tell, I have a locked directory that Windows cannot unlock.

I’ve been trying to avoid a clean install and the day of reinstalling and updating involved.  The machine runs fine but I am reluctant to go too long without security patches.  I ran rootkit removers to see if I have a bug but three different ones came up empty.

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anonymous wrote:

I have run the troubleshooter and also tried the repair installation. The troubleshooter do nothing and the repair failed and reverted.

Backup your data and clean install (or move to Linux)

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I run Linux and in my experience, Linux is no more trouble-free.

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If you removed Malwarebytes and you think that the removal caused this problem, go the their website and download their Removal Tool. Run it (most likely as Administrator), then run it again in Safe Mode. Often, uninstalling virus software in the usual manner doesn’t really get it gone.

1 user thanked author for this post.

WSallendick

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Great tip.  Thanks!

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I went to the MWB site and do not see anything that is of that exact description.  Can you point me to the right spot?  Another option is to approach MWB support but have not done that yet.  The problem started at the same time I removed MWB professional, but could be co-incidence.

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“Malwarebytes Removal Tool” in Google Search

https://support.malwarebytes.com/hc/en-us/articles/360039023473-Uninstall-and-reinstall-Malwarebytes-using-the-Malwarebytes-Support-Tool

1 user thanked author for this post.

WSallendick

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