If you’re running Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 10130 (or any other one) you may have run into some issues like I have. I’ve had errors about access denied for certain things, but more importantly, I’ve been getting Windows Update Error 0x80080008 whenever I try to run updates.
From the Microsoft forums, you could try these options, however none of them worked for me.
1st Attempt
Method 1: First, run the Microsoft Fix it.
Fix the problem with Microsoft Windows Update that is not working
http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9830262
This option told me “Service Registration is missing or corrupt”.
2nd Attempt
Method 2: Also, follow these steps to start the Windows Update service
a. On the Start screen, type cmd.
b. Right click on CMD and select Run As Administrator
c. At the command prompt, type the following commands, and press Enter after each command:
sc queryex wuauserv
Write down the pid
taskkill /f /pid What_you_have_written
net start bits
net start wuauserv
Retry windows update
net start wuauserv
This option told me “The Service is starting or stopping. Please try again later”.
3rd Attempt
Next I tried running SFC /SCANNOW from the command prompt.
This finished successfully and found no errors.
4th Attempt
Next I found a batch script to try. Open Notepad, copy this into it and save it as a .bat file somewhere.
REGSVR32 WUPS2.DLL /S
REGSVR32 WUPS.DLL /S
REGSVR32 WUAUENG.DLL /S
REGSVR32 WUAPI.DLL /S
REGSVR32 WUCLTUX.DLL /S
REGSVR32 WUWEBV.DLL /S
REGSVR32 JSCRIPT.DLL /S
REGSVR32 MSXML3.DLL /S
After running this batch script, it finished with no visible errors. I rebooted, and still received the same error when trying to run Windows Update.
5th Attempt – THIS IS WHAT WORKED FOR ME!
Start a command prompt in administrator mode and use this command:
dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
Let it finish running, then reboot and try updates again.
Outstanding, thanks for posting this solution. The 5th attempt solution is also what functioned for me as well.
I’m glad it worked for you too! For me, it hasn’t been a permanent fix, I’ve had to apply it a couple of times. Once I see the error come up, I run the script then updates work fine again.
#5 ALSO WORKED PERFECT FOR ME THANKS FOR THE INFO
The fifth solution doesn’t work for me, it tells me I should use the 64bits version of DISM since I have a 64bits OS. Do you know I can run the 64bits version ?
I have the 64bit version and that command worked for me as posted.
Thank you for your post. Number 3 worked for me. :-)
Number 5 fixed the problem on my computer :-)
the 5th worked for me as wellbut the process is so slow
Part of the 5th steps depends on how fast your internet connection is since its downloading a healthy image from Microsoft.
Thanks a lot –> 5th Attempt – THIS IS WHAT WORKED FOR ME!
Regarding the second solution, the windows update service seems to be hanged in a stopping or starting state.
Try the following:
1) Open a command prompt with administrator access
2) Run sc queryex wuauserv
3) Write down the pid
4) Run taskkill /f /pid What_you_have_written
5) Run net start wuauserv
6) Retry windows update
Thanks for the info! I updated the article to include this in Method 2.
Make a few changes to the article, since the way you have now written it, it appears that you get the “The Service is starting or stopping. Please try again later” message AFTER you taskkill the wuauserv process.
Thanks for this solution!
Thank you for your post. Number 2 worked for me.
Thanks Man, the second method worked perfectly for me. Just saved. #salutes
thanks man! the 3rd option helped me :)
really thanks :)
the 5th method worked for me but after restarting a few hours later thwindows update error comes back.
Thank you for the fix. The 5th solution worked for me.
Tried method 1 which also gave me:“Service Registration is missing or corrupt”.
Then tried method 2 which worked for me. When I retried updates it started updating immediately.
Thanks a lot!
Tried solution #5 and it worked for me! Had tried some of the other solutions without success but the command line on #5 worked and was able to download the updates without a problem!
It works! Thank you!
How? I ran your batch sequence (#4 option) and then the command line code (#5). Rebooted. Installing updates as I type this.
Cheers!
I tried method 2 and it worked fo me.
thanks
Thank you very much! Option 5 worked for me!
Thank you for the fix. I tried method 2 and it worked fo me.
Option #4 worked for me. Thank You!
option 2 worked for me
tnx!!
1st option fixed it for me. Thankyou!
2nd option worked for me, thanks a ton!
5th worked for me too, the command dism.exe helped to start the update service again. Thousand thanks!
Second option worked! Thank you so much!
Thanks a million! the sc queryex and taskkill operation worked like a charm, while all of microsoft’s support options and “fixits” hadn’t worked at all. My updates are currently downloading. I love being able to find my specific problem and having a simple fix, again – THANK YOU for posting this solution!
I’m glad it worked for you! I try to update my articles with feedback people give me and I try to write about issues I’ve run into where the solution was hard to find. Be sure to share the link!
WU got broken after installing and uninstalling Office 2007, maybe for some incompatibilities. Last method worked for me. Thanks :)
Thanks! Method 2 worked for me. :)
2nd way worked for me :) Thanks a lot!
thank you, fix 2 restarted the updates. This issue goes as far back as July 2015. I”ve experienced this issue since the last download. Still not resolved with Microsoft?
I have to comment on this post, I just had this issue spring up on my desktop after shutting it down for a night when I usually leave it running, Option number 2 is what seems to be working so far and I had to say thank you!
Thank you! #5 worked for me.
Hi everybody,
I had the same update problem with this error code.
#5 worked good for me, but not every time.
At least it didn´t work anymore.
Now I got the newest issue of my favourite pc-magazin. There I found the solution for my problem.
Just download “Reset Windows Update Agent” from here:
https://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/scriptcenter/Reset-Windows-Update-Agent-d824badc
Right click the cmd-file and run as administrator.
Then press Y and then 7 and then Enter.
Restart the pc now and start the update.
For me it worked well.
Sorry for my “school english”, I hope everybody did understand.
Best regards
Amazing post, option number two fixed mine :D THanks
I got lucky and only needed to get to option #2 to work… THANKS!
Method 2 works like a charm! Windows 10 x64 Build 10586.
windows suckes
Thanks, 1st option gave the same error as you reported, 2nd option worked for me.
Thank You ,Thank You,Thank You so much for your help..!
Worked for me after trying for 2 days to find a fix (I think it was the 5th one, but i also tried the 4th one so I’m not really sure which one succeded….) Anyway, thanks a lot
!
From time to time servicing many computers of my clients I strike this problem of Windows Updates not working. Computer is a Windows 10. The steps to fix are hard to remember so I looked up the web and your site listed the commands- just what I wanted. By feel I thought method 5 would work and it did! Thanks.
I’m glad to hear one of the methods worked for you. What you wrote was one of my main reasons for starting this blog. I figured if I’ve run into the problem, so have others.