Windows Update Cache Cleaner

I had my laptop running in circles re-downloading same update over and over again and failing at 95% every single time. Restarting Windows Update only caused download to start at 95% every time and again, failing as well. The solution was easy, cleaning the Windows Update download cache. Update was re-downloaded and installed successfully. But since casual users aren’t in the mood of messing up with files inside Windows folder, I’ve made this simple tool that does that for you, 100% risk free.

The instructions are pretty self explanatory. Just follow them and Windows Update should work again.

Works on Windows XP/Vista/7/8.x/10 and probably future Windows versions since Windows Update cache has the same folder location for years.

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Windows 10 system integrity check (SFC & DISM)

Just like with Windows 7 and Windows 8.x, Windows 10 supports integrity checking and repair using two tools, SFC and DISM. Very useful when you’re experiencing errors and you’re suspecting corrupt Windows files might be the reason for that. There are however often complications with SFC and DISM tools in Windows 10 and all the guides I’ve found online didn’t provide sufficient help or guidance to make them work. This one however does thanks to fellow users from TechPowerUp (especially “jboydgolfer” 🙂 ) who helped me figure out why SFC and DISM tools fail to repair OS.

Basic Integrity Repair

Right click Start button and select Command Prompt (Admin). Into the command prompt, type in (or copy&paste it):

sfc /scannow

If you get a message there were corrupt files found, but SFC was unable to repair them, type in this (or copy&paste it):

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

If this one ends with error 0x800F081F – The source files could not be found you’ll have to use the Advanced Repair guide below…

If DISM completes and repairs errors, use the sfc /scannow again. It should also repair files without any problems this time around. If it doesn’t, continue reading below…

Advanced Integrity Repair

You’re reading this part if both, SFC and DISM ended with error messages.

You’ll have to download Windows 10 ISO image from here first. Make sure you download the edition and version (32bit or 64bit) that you’re using for the given system.

Find the ISO image file you’ve just downloaded from Microsoft webpage on your drive, right click it and select Mount option. This will mount the ISO image to your This PC (just like USB drive). Check which drive letter it is using. You’ll need it down below…

Right click Start button and select Command Prompt (Admin). Into the command prompt, type in (or copy&paste it):

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:WIM:X:\sources\Install.wim:1

Replace X with the actual letter to which Windows 10 mounted your ISO image. It looks like this on my system. For me it was letter E. It might be some other for you.

If DISM completes with message:

The restore operation completed successfully.
The operation completed successfully.

Yay, you made it! 😀 Now, use the sfc /scannow again and it should complete fine as well. It should report finished task with message:

Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired
them.

Congrats, you’ve managed to get SFC and DISM to work and do their job. You can now right click the mounted drive in your This PC and select Eject. This will unmount the ISO image. That’s it. Store the ISO for later use, either for OS re-installation or for repairs like this.

If you have any other issues or you’re unsure what to do in certain step, drop me a message below and I’ll try to figure it out or update the guide to make it more understandable.

Repair Windows Search function

If you have a problem with Windows Search function, either not working properly or not working at all, there is one method that will most probably solve the issue.

Just follow these steps:
Go to Control Panel -> Programs -> Turn Windows features on or off

Look for Windows Search on the list and remove check mark in front of it.
Restart the system.

Go back to the same menu and add check mark in front of it this time.
Restart system again.

Voila, on this boot, Windows Search will most likely function properly again.
There are also many other features that can/might be repaired this way if you ever encounter issues for components listed there.

I have to verify Windows Vista as well, but I think it has the same control panel for internal components. Should also work for Win 8 as well…

 

Repairing broken Windows Update

If you are having problems with Windows Update component like error messages when opening Windows Update, fails to check for updates when you click “Check for updates”, is complaining that Windows Service isn’t running even though it is, Windows Update component not responding or hanging, missing updates even though they should be visible etc, there is a way to fix that.

STEP 1: MICROSOFT REPAIR TOOL
First stop should always be this tool:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058

It’s Microsoft’s own tool to repair Windows Update. In very simple so I don’t expect any problems here.
Go to Windows Update and check if it’s working properly after repair attempt.

STEP 2: RESETTING WINDOWS UPDATE
If Windows Update is still not working after using the above tool, do the following:

Go to Run command and type in “services.msc” (without quotes) or in other words just get to Services control panel. Look for “Windows Update” service and stop it.

Go to folder:
C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\

And delete all its content (just the content of the folder SoftwareDistribution, not the folder itself). Now go back to the services panel and start Windows Update service again.
Restarting the system is highly recommended in which case Windows Update service will auto-restart by itself.
Go to Windows Update and check if it’s working properly after repair attempt.

STEP 3: FIX WU UTILITY
If things still don’t function properly, try using this tool:
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/repair-fix-windows-updates-with-fix-wu-utility

It’s called “Fix WU Utility” and it will re-register all important components of the Windows Update.
After repair attempt, go to Windows Update and check if it’s working properly.

If you ever had a Windows Update problem and you resolved it in some other way, let me know and I’ll add it to the list so others will be able to fix it as well.