[SOLVED] Windows Update 0x800703f1 error on Windows Server 2019 Datacenter Edition

[thehayk]

Hello all,

One of our VMs running Server 2019 Datacenter keeps failing Windows Updates with error 0x800703f1.

I've tried sfc /scannow, DISM, resetting Windows Update components, and a Windows repair install (which also fails). Please advise- thanks!

 

[Maxstar]

Hi and welcome to Sysnative,

Please follow the Windows Update Forum Posting Instructions and provide the requested files in your next post

 

[thehayk]

Hello Maxstar- please see attached. Thanks.

 

[Maxstar]

Hi,

Upload your DRIVERS Hive

• Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\config and locate the DRIVERS file.
• 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.
• Right-click on this file on your desktop and select Send To > Compressed (zipped) folder. This will create a file named DRIVERS.ZIP on your desktop.
• If the file is too large to upload here, upload the file to www.wetransfer.com and post the link in your next reply.

 

[thehayk]

Attached!

 

[Maxstar]

Hi,

Replace Drivers Hive Manually

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 DRIVERS.ZIP and save 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 DRIVERS file that we will be using to replace your current one.
4. Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\config
5. Right-click on the current DRIVERS file and select rename. Rename it to DRIVERS.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 Drivers folder on your desktop and paste it into C:\Windows\System32\config

Reboot the server and attempt to update. If it fails attach a new copy of the CBS logs as well as the following log file.

Upload the setupapi.dev.log file

• Open Windows Explorer and browse to the C:\Windows\INF folder.
• Right-click on the file setupapi.dev.log and choose Send to > Compressed (zipped) folder.
• Now the message will appear, "Windows cannot create the Compressed (zipped) Folder here. Do you want it to be placed on the desktop instead?"
• Click on the Yes button here.

• Attach the file setupapi.dev.zip in your next reply.

 

[thehayk]

Unfortunately, it failed again. More files attached.

 

[Maxstar]

Hi,

Here's the next fix.

Download

SFCFix and save it to your desktop.

Warning: This fix was written specifically for this system. Do not run this fix on another system.

• Save any work you have open, and close all programs.
• Download the attachment SFCFix.zip and save it to your desktop.
• Drag the SFCFix.zip file over the SFCFix.exe executable and release it.

• SFCFix will launch, let it complete.
• Once done, a file will appear on your desktop, called SFCFix.txt.
• Post the logfile (SFCFix.txt) as attachment in your next reply.

Afterwards attemt to update and post the result. If it fails attach a new copy of the CBS logs as well as the Setupapi.dev.log.

 

[thehayk]

It worked thanks! Do you know what causes these issues?

 

[Maxstar]

Hi,

You're welcome. Glad to here the issue has been resolved..

There are several reasons for such kind of corruptions, like connectivity issues, power cycle failures, forced shutdowns, system crashes, harddrive or memory corruptions. Allthough it is always difficult to ascertain what the exact cause was.