Windows 10 LTSC and the dreaded KB4565349

[Riplee]

re: Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 1809, 17763, new HDD, clean install.

Greetings,

Windows Update worked perfectly just two days ago, before activation.

Following activation I thought I'd check functionality. I was fully expecting to get a message about being up to date but instead Windows Update reported I needed KB4565349. It downloaded but errored out during installation. I am on a poor connection so I downloaded the offline installer but with the same result. Among the errors given were...

Error 0x80070002
Error 0x80073712
Error 0x800F081F

I worked through online searches and repaired the first few errors but when I got to the most recent error I found my way to this site where I was willing to give SFCFix a whirl.

So, in accordance with niemiro’s Windows Update Forum Posting Instructions I have completed the following...

Step #2 - Run SFC Scan - done, see attached

Step #4 - Run SFCFix - done, see right here

SFCFix version 3.0.2.1 by niemiro.
Start time: 2020-08-18 19:03:19.523
Microsoft Windows 10 Build 17763 - 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: 2020-08-18 20:10:25.982
----------------------EOF-----------------------

It is worth noting that following SFCFix, Windows Update had KB4565349 pending. I clicked to install, the process ran to 100% and wanted to reboot. There was the usual percentage on the shut down screen, and again on the boot screen. But before windows started, there was a message “We couldn’t complete the update, undoing changes, don’t turn off your computer”. Then it rebooted and as it was starting again, the same message appeared. Eventually windows started normally. I checked Windows Update, and KB4565349 is paused with...

Error 0x8000ffff

I checked the update history and everything has been removed except the most recent error. (There were four ‘quality’ updates, four ‘driver’ updates, and the malicious software removal tool). There had been 9 in the list including KB4565349 (yes, it showed it as installed the first time I ran Windows Update after the clean install) but now there is just the failed update. Nothing else.

The “installed updates” window shows 10 in total but only two of the KB Numbers match the previous Windows Update listing. I know this because I had taken a screen shot after I ran Windows Update the first time.


Other factors may include

* I’ve installed Classic Shell and 8GadgetPack. Both seem to work perfectly

* Ultimate Windows Tweaker 2-2 appeared fine until I wanted to remove “shortcut” from desktop icons. I haven’t looked back. Winaero removed the “shortcut” from the icons but because it is not at all intuitive I did not use it for anything else.

* I have no sound. Realtek crap built in to an ASUS P5Q3 motherboard. This worked perfectly under windows 32-bit XP but refused to utter a peep in either 64-bit Win7 or 64-bit Win10.

* Most of my programs are portable. However, I installed Seamonkey, Firefox, WordPerfect, and WinCDemu. I also installed VLC but of course there is no sound.


So, some questions are...

* can we get Windows Update working again?

* did activating windows impact this situation?

* related to this, I would like Windows Update to let me know what updates are required but do nothing about them, so that I might download the offline installers to ensure file integrity over a bad connection prior to installation. This is rather important for me. Or, at least, it might be if we can get Windows Update working at all.

* Oh, and I would really like to prevent automatically reverting to saved restore points. There’s few things more frustrating than preferences undone only have to do them over again, and never knowing what has been changed and what left alone. To this end, I’ve been unable to get windows to ‘create’ restore points automatically. Any restore points on the system have been created manually by me.

If you’ve made it this far, thank you for your time.

 

[Riplee]

[ Update ]

After posting the above, I shut down for the night. This morning when restarting I was greeted with "Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart." Stop Code: Bad System Config Info. I rebooted and went straight into windows.

 

[Riplee]

I am tempted to say this problem has been solved but cannot because I can’t say with certainty what made the difference, and I am not confident the problem won’t repeat with the next update. What I can do, however, is walk through the problem(s) and see if I can’t highlight areas of concern or those in need of further attention.

* I am pretty sure some of the SFC ownership errors were the result of me attempting to customize the start menu. I think I’ve discovered that the start menu, as created by Win10, can’t be fiddled with. Once classic shell was installed, the two run side by side without issue and arranging items is best performed by drag and drop. The other file problems are still a mystery to me. I have not re-run SFC or SFCFix since I posted above.

* Editing group policies was the primary method of ridding myself of most errors. If I had my way, I would reset all group policies to MS defaults - trouble is I don’t know what those are or should be. I have read many web sites on the topic but I’m not persuaded as to which is most authoritative. I’ve considered setting all group policies to ‘not configured’ and then re-enable as issues arise. I don’t know how wise that might be but in the absence of proper guidance I don’t see a better alternative, yet.

Potential problems with Windows Updates when Fast Startup is enabled in Windows 10
Windows Updates May Not Be Installed When "Fast Startup" In Windows 10 Is Enabled

I don't know if Fast Startup was a problem or not but I find it curious we must enable hibernation in order to disable fast startup then re-disable hibernation again. Really quirky, but it's true. Note. I did not power down during Windows Update but I did over night. As best I can tell, both hibernation and fast startup were both enabled and yet that pesky KB4565349 finally installed correctly, so it doesn’t look like they were a factor. In any event, I have disabled both since, and they will remain that way. Lastly, I also find it quite exasperating that there is no graphic interface to disable hibernation in Windows 10. Nor did I find a registry tweak. I did it from the command line. Which begs the question, how does MS expect us to configure anything when they remove the tools for doing so.

Complete List of Installed Windows Updates
Obtain a Complete List of Installed Windows Updates

In addition to the above image, wmic confirms KB4565349 has been installed. I don't know if it means anything but it's curious some updates are listed as installed by the 'system' while others by the 'user'.

NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
MY-PC\My User


Installed programs don’t appear to have been factors.


Now for my own questions.


* can we get Windows Update working again?

It would seem that yes we can.


* did activating windows impact this situation?

Maybe. If yes, than the group policy editor worked around it. But no definite answers are known at this time.


* Can windows update be configured to notify without downloading?

Unknown.


* More control and proper configuration of windows restore

Unknown. However, I have discovered Restore Point Creator but I haven’t found a way to automatically create a restore point when installing programs (or Windows Updates).


Errors and possibly resolving them

* Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart.

This may or may not have been related to hibernation and fast startup. The fact I got the error after a hard boot would suggest yes. But why another restart would solve the problem is more than I can guess. And for whatever it might be worth, this error occurred even after KB4565349 was installed. At one time I was offered to let windows correct the problem but I reasoned windows created it so I’d be damned if I’d let it do more damage.


* KB4565349

Windows Update did not check to see whether or not KB4565349 was already installed, so it failed when trying to install it again and subsequently uninstalled it. Along with clearing group policies, I would also like to find a reliable explanation about the Windows Update process, including where downloads are stored, where the queue is formed, what is left behind after an update, where is the history stored, etc. Only then would I be able to speak with confidence on this subject. However, I will add that changing the location of the system temp directory seemed to play a key role for proper installation.



Not much help, I know, but for the moment it’s all I have.