Hi there:
This bizarre case is driving me crazy. Any help would be appreciated.
About 3 months ago, Windows Update on my Mom's PC couldn't connect to the update servers. After trying dozens of fixes and the usual scripts for resetting
Windows update, I did a clean install of Windows 10. For the clean install, I used a different .ISO and different media than I did earlier installs, just in case
something was corrupt on the media. Everything fine for a while, until it didn't.
Soon, Windows was refusing to update. AGAIN. It's currently stuck at 20H2 build 19042.928 .
"We couldn't connect to update servers".
This is the third time this has happened on this same PC. I'm not reinstalling Windows again until I find out what the heck is going on here. So far, I've tried:
- Changing DNS servers
- Reset all the Windows update folders
- Reset IP
- Ran the WU troubleshooter
- Ran multiple WU repair scripts
- Ran SMART test on HDD and new SSD
- Ran chkdsk on the earlier WD Red HDD (no errors)
- Ran chkdsk on the brand new Samsung 970 EVO SSD (no errors)
- Ran Memtest86+ for 12 hours (no errors)
- Ran Defender and MBAM scans.
(Only my sister uses the PC and she's mature and VERY cautious).
I think I may know the problem, but not what's causing it. When I went to reset WU components, I got errors when trying to re-register some of those .dll and .ocx libraries.
Regsrvr32 reported errors for a bunch of them:
Code:
The module ""%1"" failed to load.\n\n Make sure the binary is stored at the specified path or debug it to check for problems with the binary or dependent .DLL files.\n\n%2.
For a bunch more, it reported:
Code:
The module ""%1"" was loaded but the entry-point %2 was not found.\n\nMake sure that ""%1"" is a valid DLL or OCX file and then try again
Now, I got these same errors when I was having trouble in my first round of trying to fix this.
ArsTechnica: Windows Update won't work and DISM error 0x800f081f
Windows Update won't work and DISM error 0x800f081f - Ars Technica OpenForum
- Reran CHKDSK
- Reran checked SMART stats.
All checked out fine.
I'm assuming WU not connecting server is caused by these .dll and .ocx problems.
I ran SFCFIX, but it seems to have paused/got stuck here:
I waited 15 minutes and it still appears to be doing nothing. Taskmgr shows it as using 0 CPU time.
The question is why do I keep getting corrupted system files if CHKDSK and SMART both report drives are okay.
Keep in mind, there are zero other problems with this PC at the moment that I'm aware of. It runs flawlessly otherwise.
==============================
SFCFIX Results:
SFCFix version 3.0.2.1 by niemiro.
Start time: 2021-07-07 12:21:27.130
Microsoft Windows 10 Build 19042 - amd64
Not using a script file.
AutoAnalysis::
SUMMARY: No corruptions were detected.
AutoAnalysis:: directive completed successfully.
Successfully processed all directives.
Failed to generate a complete zip file. Upload aborted.
SFCFix version 3.0.2.1 by niemiro has completed.
Currently storing 0 datablocks.
Finish time: 2021-07-07 12:50:30.306
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