If you experience error code 0x80073701 on your computer, it means that you have had problems installing Windows updates. This error can happen for a number of reasons, but fortunately, there are a few things you can do to fix it.
In this article, the guideonline will guide you through some troubleshooting steps to be able to roll back Windows updates.
What causes Windows Update error 0x80073701?
Windows Update errors often occur during the update process. If you encounter error 0x80073701 while updating Windows, there may be something wrong with the update files. The error can occur for a number of reasons, but it is usually caused by corrupted files.
There are several other possible causes for this error. A few of these reasons are listed below:
- Service Windows Update not running
- There is not enough disk space to install updates
- There is a problem with your Internet connection.
- Third-party antivirus is blocking Windows Update.
With this error code, you will usually get the message “Updates Failed, There were problems installing some updates, but we’ll try again later”. This message also has error code 0x80073701.
Now that you have a better understanding of the error code and why it happens, let’s move on to the solutions that can hopefully help you fix the error.
How to fix Windows Update error 0x80073701
1. Restart the computer and try again
If you are trying to update Windows and are getting error 0x80073701, you may have a corrupted or missing file that Windows Update needs to function properly. In this case, just restart your computer and try updating Windows again. This may seem too simple, but sometimes that’s all it takes to fix the problem.
2. Run SFC and DISM . scans
Windows has a built-in tool that scans your system and finds missing or corrupted files, and then replaces them if necessary. So, if restarting the computer doesn’t solve the problem, try running the System File Checker.
If the problem persists, you should run the Deployment Image Servicing and Management command line tool to restore system files and repair any damaged system images.
3. Run Windows Update Troubleshooter
If you’re having trouble updating Windows, you can fix it by running the Windows Update Troubleshooter. This is a built-in tool that can help identify and fix problems with Windows Update.
To run the troubleshooter, follow these steps:
- Right-click Start and select Settings from the menu list.
- Next, go to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
- On the next page, click the Run option next to Windows Update.
If the troubleshooter finds any problems, the troubleshooter will attempt to fix them automatically. In some cases, you may need to follow additional instructions or restart your computer. After the troubleshooter completes its work, try updating Windows again to see if the problem is fixed.
4. Delete the SoftwareDistribution folder
If you are still getting error 0x80073701 after running the troubleshooter, you may need to delete the SoftwareDistribution folder, where Windows stores temporary update files. It requires you to execute some commands through Command Prompt with admin rights. Here are the steps you need to follow.
- Open Command Prompt with admin rights.
- In the Command Prompt, type the following commands and press Enter after each command:
net stop wuauserv
net stop bits
net stop cryptSvc
net stop msiserver
- Once you have executed these commands, press Win + E to open File Explorer.
- Next, navigate to the following path:
C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution
- Delete all files and folders from the SoftwareDistribution folder.
- After you delete the SoftwareDistribution folder, restart the previously stopped services. To do this, launch
- Command Prompt with admin rights and execute the command below:
net start wuauserv
net start bits
net start cryptSvc
net start msiserver
- Once you have completed all the steps, restart the computer and try again.
5. Troubleshooting in Clean Boot
If you’re having trouble updating Windows, it could be caused by a background process or service. To fix it, you can put your computer into Clean Boot mode. This will disable all 3rd party services and start Windows with only the minimum number of programs running.
Here’s how to proceed.
- Open the Run dialog box.
- Type MSConfig in the text box and press Enter to open System Configuration.
- In the System Configuration window, you will be on the General tab.
- Put a check mark next to Selective startup.
- Uncheck the box that says Load startup items.
- Switch to the Services tab now.
- Select Hide all Microsoft services, then click Disable all.
- Click the Apply button to save the changes.
- Now go to the Startup tab and select the Open Task Manager link.
- Right-click each service on the Startup tab and disable them.
- When you are done editing System Configuration, click OK to save your changes
Once you have completed the above steps, restart the computer and then try updating it to the latest version of Windows. If this method works, you may have disabled a service that is causing the problem. When this happens, you need to enable the services one by one and figure out which one is causing the problem.
