Cannot install Windows updates on Server 2016

[skharlamov]

Attaching CBS logs for the second server

 

[PeterJ]

Hello and welcome,

The log shows "User aborts the operation. [HRESULT = 0x800f0821 - CBS_E_ABORT]".

Restart the machine.
Run the command sfc /scannow in an elevated commandprompt and report the result.
If it fails, copy the file C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\cbs.log to your desktop.
Zip the copied file and attach the zipped cbs.log to your next reply.

 

[skharlamov]

Hello, I ran sfc /scannow and got
C:\Users\skharlamov-a>sfc /scannow

Beginning system scan. This process will take some time.

Beginning verification phase of system scan.
Verification 48% complete.

Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation.
Attached is a new CBS log

 

[PeterJ]

Run the command Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth in an elevated commandprompt and report the result.
If it fails, copy the file C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\cbs.log to your desktop.
Zip the copied file and attach the zipped cbs.log to your next reply.

 

[skharlamov]

Hello,

I ran the command and the result is the following:
C:\Users\skharlamov-a>Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.14393.4169

Image Version: 10.0.14393.7426

No component store corruption detected.
The operation completed successfully.
Still WU fails to install so I attach new CBS log

 

[PeterJ]

Provide the Components Hive
1. Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\Config and locate the COMPONENTS file.
2. Please copy this file to your desktop.
Note: If you receive an error that this file is in-use, simply reboot your computer and try again. Note: If you find that you need to reboot and are unable to because this is a server then try Option#2 below.
3. Right-click on this file on your desktop and select Send To...Compressed (zipped) folder. This will create a file named COMPONENTS.ZIP on your desktop.
4. The file will likely be too large to upload here so please upload to Gofile or WeTransfer and just provide the link here.

---

Option#2 (only if you are unable to follow the previous instructions)

• Please download the Freeware RegBak from here: Acelogix Software - Download products
  You will find it at the bottom of the page that the link brings you to.
• Go ahead and install this program and accept all the defaults. After the last install screen the program should open.
• Click the New Backup button. Accept the defaults and simply click Start.
• When it says Finished successfully, click the Close button.
• This will bring you back to the main screen of the program. You will see one entry in this list with the date that you did it. Right-click on this line-item and select Explore Backup...
• This will bring you into the folder where the backup was made. You should see a Users folder and a Windows folder along with a couple other files. Double-click on the Windows folder to open it. Then open the System32 folder and then config folder. You should see around 6 files in here, one of which is named COMPONENTS.
• Copy the COMPONENTS file to your Desktop. If the COMPONENTS file does not exist, please fetch it instead from C:\Windows\System32\config\COMPONENTS.
• Now right-click on the COMPONENTS file that is on your desktop and select Send to > Compressed (zipped) folder.
• Then please upload the zip file (COMPONENTS.zip) to your favourite file sharing website (it will be too big to upload here). Examples of services to upload to are Gofile or WeTransfer and then just provide the link in your reply.
• You can close any open windows you have as well as the RegBak program now.

 

[skharlamov]

Hello,

Thank you for your reply. Attached is the requested file

 

[PeterJ]

I repaired a database error in your COMPONENTS hive.
Please do following to replace the corrupt file.

Replace Components Hive
Warning: this fix is specific to the user in this thread. No one else should follow these instructions as it may cause more harm than good. If you are after assistance, please start a thread of your own.

1. Download the attachment COMPONENTS.ZIP and save it to your desktop.
2. Right-click on it and select Extract all.... Make sure the "Show extracted files when complete" is checked and click Extract.
3. Now we have the COMPONENTS file that we will be using to replace your current one.
4. Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\config
5. Right-click on the current COMPONENTS file and select rename. Rename it to COMPONENTS.bad.
   Note: If you get an error that the file is in use, reboot your computer and then try again.
6. Take the file from the Components folder on your desktop and paste it into C:\Windows\System32\config

Let me know if the hive was replaced or if there were any errors.

 

[skharlamov]

Hello,

I was able rename existing components folder and extract, copy and paste the one that you sent. Still
sfc /scannow

Beginning system scan. This process will take some time.

Beginning verification phase of system scan.
Verification 48% complete.
Also WU cannot be installed. Attached is a new copy of CBS logs.

 

[PeterJ]

Remove Update Manually

1. Right-Click the Start button and click Command Prompt (Admin) on the list.
2. When command prompt opens, copy and paste the following command into it, then press enter.
   wusa /uninstall /KB:4535680
   
3. Let me know if it says it was successful or if there are any errors.

 

[skharlamov]

Hello,
I ran wusa /uninstall /KB:4535680 and it found and uninstalled update successfully. I rebooted the server and tried to install Windows updates and still July 2025 cumulative update fails to install. Attached are new CBS logs

 

[PeterJ]

Run the command Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth in an elevated commandprompt and report the result.
If it fails, provide a screenshot of the result and copy the file C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\cbs.log to your desktop.
Zip the copied file and attach the zipped cbs.log to your next reply.