Windows update fails to install monthly security patches with error 80073701

[XavierFoxR]

Hi Guys,

I've been having a problem with installing security updates on my Window 7 machine.
The problem started with Security monthly roll-out of 2018-09 (KB4457144) and persisting every month since (KB446923,KB4467107, KB4471318, KB4480970, KB4486563).
The error code is always 80073701.

I have tried various solution I found online but none solved the problem.
Several times during my investigations I came accross your forum, so when I saw so many times similar issues as me, and so many solved, I decided to post this!

Hope you'll be able to help!

1- sfc scannow after 18% finished says that it cannot perform specified operation.
2- SFCFix seems all good.
3- The CBS logs and cab files can be downloaded from here CBS.zip

Many thanks for your help!

Regards,

XR

 

[Sysnative Windows Update]

Hello and welcome!

GSmartControl
Follow the instructions below to test your hard drive health with GSmartControl:

• Download GSmartControl and save it on your Desktop;
• Execute gsmartcontrol.exe; Let the install complete and launch the programme.
• Identify your drive in the list, and double-click on it to bring up it's window (usually you'll find your drive by it's size or it's brand name);
• Go in the Perform Tests tab, then select Extended Self-test in the Test type drop-down list and click on Execute (this test can take a few hours to complete);
• Once the test is over, the results will be displayed at the bottom of the window. Please copy and paste these results in your next reply;
• Also, go in the Attributes tab and if you have any entries highlighted in red or pink, take a screenshot of the GSmartControl window and attach it in your next reply;
  
  

 

[XavierFoxR]

Hello,

Here it is, does not look so good...

Thanks

 

[Sysnative Windows Update]

Yes, it appears that your drive is failing. I would suggest you backup your data and replace the drive.

 

[XavierFoxR]

Thanks for the update. Don't you think any chkdsk like could help?

 

[Sysnative Windows Update]

Insignificantly. That would be a temporary band-aid.

 

[XavierFoxR]

If I clone the ssd, which soft would you recommand?
By cloning the ssd won't I have the same issue error 80073701 on windows update, on the new cloned ssd?

Thx

 

[Sysnative Windows Update]

Cloning is not recommended here as the OS has already been damaged.

Backup your important data using the classic copy-paste method.

 

[XavierFoxR]

It is strange as chkdsk does not report any issue on drive.
Additionally all other windows update are going through, only the monthly roll up are failing.
No other issue spotted on the PC.
So according to you my OS is so damaged that even after a cloning it could not be repaired?

 

[Sysnative Windows Update]

The damaged drive caused corruption which is likely very hard to fix (talking from experience based on the number of threads I've worked on), the OS itself would work, but the updates and in some cases things like Start/PC Settings wouldn't until much work.

Actually, it is normal that ChkDsk does not report damage. We are talking about a bad sector which means physically damaged drive. ChkDsk is designed to help with the logical bad sectors, that is the corrupt data on the drive (when the drive is not the issue).