[SOLVED] 'No updates are installed on this computer' on Server 2012 image

[jaykay]

Hi,
I have a Server 2012 image that I have not been able to update for a while. If I go to win updates, it tells me 'No updates are installed on this computer'. I have installed many patches on it over the years. But because it doesn't seem to know what patches are installed, it doesn't allow me to install new updates.
I had previous windows updates issues on this image where some services had disappeared (BITS and Windows update services), which were resolved by DISM and re-registering some dlls.
-Sfc /scannow runs ok and 'did not find any integrity violations'.
-Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth took a long time to run and completed with 'The component store corruption was repaired'
-CBS and ComponentScanner zips attached

Any help greatly appreciated.

 

[jaykay]

Hi,
Let me know if I need to add more details.
Any help greatly appreciated.

 

[Maxstar]

Hi and welcome to Sysnative,

Open an elevated command prompt and run the following command. Attach Dirlist.txt to your next post.

dir /s /a %systemroot%\WinSxS\amd64_microsoft-windows-w..wsupdateclient-core_31bf3856ad364e35_7.9.9600.18696_none_4221119ec141b890 > "%userprofile%\Desktop\Dirlist.txt"

 

[jaykay]

Thank you Maxstar, txt file attached.

 

[Maxstar]

Export CBS (Component Based Servicing) hive

• Click on the Start button and type regedit
• When you see regedit on the list, right-click on it and select Run as administrator.
• When regedit opens, using the left pane, navigate to the following registry key and select it by clicking on it once.
  

  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Component Based Servicing

• Once selected, click File > Export....
• Change the Save as type: to Registry Hive Files (*.*).
  
  
  
  
  
• Name this file ComponentBasedServicing (with no file extension) and save it to your Desktop.
• Right-click on the saved file and choose Send > Compressed (zipped) Folder.
• Attach the .ZIP file to your next post.
• If the file is too large to upload here, upload the file to www.wetransfer.com and post the link in your next reply.

 

[jaykay]

Zip file attached

 

[Maxstar]

Please post the following logfile as well.

C:\Windows\WindowsUpdate.log.

 

[jaykay]

Log attached-thanks

 

[Maxstar]

Is this server a cliënt of an WSUS server?

 

[jaykay]

It was, but I have removed that GPO. I have tried searching online too, but it doesnt find any.

 

[Maxstar]

2022-11-04    13:35:12:894    2072    48a0    AU    WARNING: Failed to get Wu Exemption info from NLM, assuming not exempt, error = 0x80240037
2022-11-04    13:35:12:894    2072    48a0    AU    WARNING: Failed to get Network Cost info from NLM, assuming network is NOT metered, error = 0x80240037

Okay, please provide an export of the following registry key, and attach regexp.txt.

Note: if this export contain personal information (like specific server names), rename that part to something random.

• Click the Start button and in the search box, type Command Prompt
• When you see Command Prompt on the list, right-click on it and select Run as administrator.
• Copy and paste the following command line and press Enter.

reg export "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate" "%userprofile%\desktop\regexp.txt"

• When finished, a logfile called regexp.txt is saved on your desktop.
• Post the logfile as attachment in your next reply.

 

[jaykay]

regexp.txt

 

[Maxstar]

Please provide an export of the following key as well.

• Click the Start button and in the search box, type Command Prompt
• When you see Command Prompt on the list, right-click on it and select Run as administrator.
• Copy and paste the following command line and press Enter.

reg export "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate" "%userprofile%\desktop\regexp.txt"

• When finished, a logfile called regexp.txt is saved on your desktop.
• Post the logfile as attachment in your next reply.

 

[jaykay]

Attaching regexp2.txt

 

[Maxstar]

Are you able to clone this server, so we can test some things safely? At this point I'm hesitant to provide a fix, which I'm not 100% sure it will work!

 

[jaykay]

Yes, this is already a clone, so I have carte blanche to try anything!

 

[Maxstar]

Perfect, let's try the following, please run the following commands in an elevated command prompt and let me know the result.

net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
reg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate" /v SusClientId /f
reg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate" /v SusClientIDValidation /f
ren %SystemRoot%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old 
net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
wuauclt /resetauthorization /detectnow
usoclient startscan
usoclient Startdownload

 

[jaykay]

C:\Windows\system32>net stop wuauserv
The Windows Update service is stopping.
The Windows Update service was stopped successfully.


C:\Windows\system32>net stop cryptSvc
The Cryptographic Services service is stopping..
The Cryptographic Services service was stopped successfully.


C:\Windows\system32>net stop bits
The Background Intelligent Transfer Service service is stopping..
The Background Intelligent Transfer Service service was stopped successfully.


C:\Windows\system32>reg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\W
indowsUpdate" /v SusClientId /f
The operation completed successfully.

C:\Windows\system32>reg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\W
indowsUpdate" /v SusClientIDValidation /f
The operation completed successfully.

C:\Windows\system32>ren %SystemRoot%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.o
ld
Access is denied.

C:\Windows\system32>net start wuauserv
The Windows Update service is starting.
The Windows Update service was started successfully.


C:\Windows\system32>net start cryptSvc
The Cryptographic Services service is starting.
The Cryptographic Services service was started successfully.


C:\Windows\system32>net start bits
The Background Intelligent Transfer Service service is starting.
The Background Intelligent Transfer Service service was started successfully.


C:\Windows\system32>wuauclt /resetauthorization /detectnow

C:\Windows\system32>usoclient startscan
'usoclient' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\Windows\system32>usoclient Startdownload;
'usoclient' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\Windows\system32>usoclient Startdownload
'usoclient' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

 

[jaykay]

If I try to rename the SoftwareDistribution folder manually, it tells me 'folder or file is open in another program..'

 

[Maxstar]

C:\Windows\system32>ren %SystemRoot%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
Access is denied.

Please run the following command and post the result.

icacls %SystemRoot%\SoftwareDistribution