‘We couldn’t install some updates’ error message

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I have 1903 with Group policy set to ‘Defer Feature Updates’ for 180 days and ‘Notify for Download and Install’. I just received notice that version 1909 is available for download, so I clicked ‘Download’. Then I received this error – We couldn’t install some updates using the account you’re signed in with – Error 0x80246017 – Does anyone know what this means?

I sign in to Windows with a local account (administrator) and I have no Microsoft or Live accounts set up on this PC. My privacy settings are set for max. privacy using O&O Shutup10. I did look for this on the Internet and someone suggested clearing anything in C:\Windows\SoftwreDistribution\Download which I did. Now I get the message “You’re up-to-date” when I go into Update and Security.

What did I mess up?

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This Microsoft Answers reply may assist your problem:

We understand the difficulties you are facing in installing the new 1909 update on your PC. In this scenario, we would like you to enable the hidden admin account on the PC and perform clean boot on that account. Later install the updates from the same account, once the updates are installed you can switch to the actual account and disable the hidden admin account.

Steps to enable and disable the hidden admin account.

Click on start menu and type CMD. Right click on the CMD icon and select Run as an Administrator.

Copy and paste this command: Net user administrator/ active:yes

Click on enter and close the command prompt.

Login to the Administrator account

To disable the hidden admin account open command prompt and Copy and paste this command: Net user administrator/ active:no

Please Boot the PC in Clean Boot. Refer the article How to perform a clean boot in Windows. A ‘clean boot’ starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs.

Note: After you finish troubleshooting, follow the section Reset the computer to start normally after clean boot troubleshooting to reset the computer to start normally.

Once the PC is in clean boot, try to initiate windows update in the same hidden Administrator account and check.

If it fails, perform the steps from Download the most recent Servicing Stack Update (SSU) and follow the complete article: Fix Windows Update errors

Let us know how it goes,
Aditya Roy
Microsoft Community – Moderator

That final paragraph is probably your first step, though – make sure you have the latest SSU 🙂

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I checked the Servicing Stack Update and I had the latest one. Then I went to Microsoft to download the Upgrade Assistant for 1909 but they only offered 2004 so I didn’t bother. I activated the Administrator account, signed in and opened Update and Security. Nothing. Then I was about to perform a clean install but got distracted and had to go back to development mode. So I logged in as my usual self, disabled the administrator account and did what I had to do. Then I “checked for updates” and 10 minutes later I was running 1909. Go figure.

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Thanks Kirsty. I’ll try SSU first.

If I have to boot into the hidden admin account, does it have a password? I don’t remember ever setting a password for that account.

This Windows10 stuff is driving me nuts. I’d restore my last Win7 system’s image except that some features in Visual Studio I want to start using only work with Win10.

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clean install s/be clean boot.

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