[SOLVED] Win10 22H2 update KB5031356 fails to complete at restart... "undoing changes"

[Jay11]

Hi. Thank you for your support! I hope you can help me with my issue.
About OS: Windows 10 Pro / 22H2 / Build: 19045.2965 (Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.19041.1000.0)
Background: The start menu and notification panel stopped working. After failed attempts to resolve this I was forced to restore from a previous backup which was a few months old.
After the restore some updates complete successfully, then at update KB5031356 the update failed. It downloaded, installed to 100%, then after system restart the installation continued but at the end it said: "...couldn't complete... undoing changes..." and the system restarted.

Have tried:
uninstalled Kaspersky Antivirus
ran Windows troubleshooter;
did Disk Cleanup / ren of softwaredistribution and catroor2 folders at restart;
DSIM commands... scanhealth / restorehealth & sfc scannow (no errors, completed successfully).

I also tried to install KB5031445 & same result, nothing seems to work. So, instead of scouring the "web-of-potential-fake" and potentially causing more damage, here I am. I thank you in advance and hope I can find a solution here.

1. Attach the following files to the thread:
   1. The CBS.zip file created in Step #4
   2. The ComponentsScanner.txt file created in Step #3

 

[Maxstar]

Hi,

Download the

Farbar Recovery Scan Tool and save it to your Desktop:

Download the 64 bit version: - Farbar Recovery Scan Tool Link

• Note: Your antivirus program may report FRST incorrectly as an infection. If so, disable the real-time protection when downloading and running FRST.
• Right-click to run the tool as administrator. When the tool opens click Yes to disclaimer.
• Note: Ensure that the List BCD check box is checked at the bottom of the form within the Optional Scan area.
  
  
• Press the Scan button.
• Please wait for the tool to finish. It will produce two logfiles called FRST.txt and Addition.txt in the same directory the tool is run from (which should be the desktop)
• Post the logfiles FRST.txt and Addition.txt as attachment in your next reply.

 

[Jay11]

Hi,
Thanks. Please find attached as requested.

 

[Maxstar]

ATTENTION: ==> Could not access BCD.  -> The boot configuration data store could not be opened.
The requested system device cannot be found.

Hi,

Open the start menu and type diskmgmt.msc maximize this window and take a screenhot of it and post it in your next reply.

 

[Jay11]

Hi.
As requested, screenshot attached. Thanks

 

[Maxstar]

Hi,

Please follow the instructions below to recreate the EFI partition.

Boot the computer using a USB-stick into the RE environment and open the command prompt.

1. Run the following commands.
2. Replace 0 with the actual number for the HDD/SSD where your Windows is installed.

diskpart
list disk
select disk 0
list partition

3. Then run the following command and replace 1 with the actual number for the Windows OS partition.

select partition 1

4. The following commands will resize the Windows OS partition and create a new EFI partition.

shrink desired=100
create partition efi size=100
format quick fs=fat32
assign letter=w

5. Run the following commands

list partition
list volume

6. Note the drive letter where the Windows OS is installed, which is displayed after running list volume.
7. Close diskpart with the following command

exit

8. Run the following command: Replace X with the volume letter of the Windows OS partition.

bcdboot X:\windows /s W:

9. Now the BCDBoot copies the boot files from the Windows partition into the EFI System partition and re-create the BCD store in the same partition.

 

[Jay11]

Hi. Done. See screenshot attached.

 

[Maxstar]

Please attempt to update again and let me know the result. If it fails attach a new copy of the CBS logs.

 

[Jay11]

Hi. Thanks.
Update KB5031356 completed successfully.

The only other update is optional: 2023-10 Cumulative Update Preview for Windows 10 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5031445)
I'm not sure if it's needed at present and if I should run it.

 

[Maxstar]

Hi,

You're welcome. Glad to hear the update installed successfully this time.

The optional update is just a preview (beta) update of the upcoming release on patch Tuesday. So there's no need to install such updates. Since the system is up-to-date now, we can mark this thread as solved...