The Windows Operating System can do wonders for its users. Users can run the software, applications and innumerable functions through this medium. Interestingly, the users even get updates from time to time which let them take advantage of newly designed functions and applications. However, the glorious path of wonders comes together with certain obstacles. One such obstacle is when the user witnesses an error while updating the operating system; it accompanies with the error code 0x80004005 – pointing us to the direction of what could have possibly gone wrong during the process.

Error Code 0x80004005: Unspecified Error

In computer language, error codes play an important role in making us recognize the crux of the problem. The error code is most likely to occur when the user is trying to update the windows 7 version to the newly designed Windows 10 version. The problem hampers while updating the system as the operating system finds itself deviated from certain features necessary for the process to run smoothly.

The system starts crashing and reboots itself, freezes quite often and takes time to respond to the commands. The error then gets cast to the screen saying ‘Feature update to Windows 10, version 1607 – Error 0x80004005: Unspecified error’. There might be various reasons for the error to arise; let us look at some of the reasons for the error to occur and then proceed rectifying the problem.

The error generally stems when the driver version hampers with the update process, some virus or protective malfunctions hampers with the update process or corrupted files get downloaded during the process.

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How to Fix Windows Update Error Code 0x80004005 Issue  

Let us briefly look at some of the methods to fix the error.

Method 1: Run the System File Checker

If the error continues to persist there is a good chance that some of the system files have been corrupted. There might be various causes for such system instability to arise. Fortunately, the operating system has provided a tiny yet dominant command prompt facility called System File Checker (SFC).

The problem can be resolved by running this simple facility. Before running this, the user is advised to create a full back-up restoring of all the files and features present in the computer to avoid any loss of data. The task can only be done with administrator privileges.

Perform the following to run the SFC command:

Step 1 >> To begin with, press the Windows logo key + R at the same time.

Step 2 >> A Run dialog box will appear on the screen. . Type ‘cmd’ in the address bar and to open the command prompt with administrator privileges press Control + Shift + Enter.

Step 3 >> The command prompt will appear on the screen. Finally, type the following command to run SFC and then hit enter.

sfc / scannow

Step 4 >> The utility will check the system for corrupted files. Once the process gets over restart your computer so that the new settings can take place and check if the error persists or not.

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Method 2: Activation problems

Microsoft software license terms allow only a certain number of devices to run the operating system. The error might arise as the number of license terms might have been exhausted. Use the following link for the same.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/10738/windows-10-get-help-with-activation-errors

Execute the following steps for the same.

Step 1 >> To begin with click on the Windows logo button and go to ‘Settings’ in your computer.

Step 2 >> Now, from the available options, click on ‘Update and Security’ and then click on ‘Run the troubleshooter’ under ‘Windows update’ option.

The computer will run the troubleshooter and try to resolve the problem. Once the process gets over, check to see if the error persists.

Method 3: Driver issues

As mentioned above faulty driver in your device can be a cause of the problem. The faulty driver meddles with the update process resulting into the error. Simple and adapted method for solving this error is to update the device drivers.

The user can resolve the problem by simply downloading the latest version of the device drivers which will get substituted by the buggy or older one. The user should update all the drivers to fix Error Code 0x80004005: Unspecified error. The latest driver version is essential in case the previous version gets damaged. To update the device drivers use these steps:

Step 1 >> To begin with, right-click on My Computer / This PC icon of your device and select the last option ‘Properties’.

Step 2 >> Now, from the options visible on the left panel of the screen, select ‘Device Manager’.

Step 3 >> A new window will pop-up on the screen. Various system devices will be visible on the screen. Navigate for the one with a yellow exclamation mark on it.

Step 4 >> Right- the ones with the yellow exclamation mark and choose the first option ‘Update driver’.

After this, the computer will update the latest version of the device drivers (if required). Finally, restart your device so that the new changes can take effect and use the computer for a while. Check whether the ‘0x80004005’ error persists or not.

Method 4: Run the ‘Windows Update Troubleshooter’

Troubleshooting solutions should be on the top of the list for resolving the error. It is quite simple to troubleshoot in case of an error. Windows update is an entire package of applications designed by Microsoft.

The Microsoft’s service can smoothly update the operating system into the latest version. Interestingly, the service comes with an in-built troubleshooter in case of some flaw in the update process. All the user needs to do here is to run the windows update troubleshooter to resolve the error. Execute the following steps for the same.

Step 1 >> Press the Windows logo key and search ‘Troubleshoot’ in the first place.

Step 2 >> A window will pop-up. From the options available in the left panel of the windows choose ‘View all’. Click on the ‘Troubleshooter’ from the list.

Step 3 >> To make sure that the troubleshooter runs properly, hit ‘Advance’. Please tick the ‘Apply repairs automatically’ checkbox. Also, click on ‘Run as Administrator’.

Step 4 >> Finally, click on next and simply follow the on-screen prompts and complete the process.

Check if the error persists or not.

Method 5: Manually Force Windows Update Restore

One way to solve the problem is to force the computer to perform the update. One can do this using the command prompt. Simply execute the following steps for the same.

Step 1 >> To begin with press the Windows logo key + R at the same time.

Step 2 >> A run dialog box will appear. Type ‘cmd’ in the address bar and to open the command prompt with administrator privileges press Control + Shift + Enter.

Step 3 >> Now you need to run the following command chronologically to resolve the problem. Run the following commands one by one; type one command and then press enter.

net stop wuauserv
net stop bits
net stop cryptsvc

ren %systemroot%\System32\Catroot2 Catroot2.old 
ren %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old

net start wuauserv 
net start bits
net start cryptsvc

After successfully running all the commands in a chronological manner check if the 0x80004005 error persists or not.

Method 6: Run the DISM Tool to Check for Corrupted Files

Another way to solve the error is, yet again, a command prompt utility function called Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool (DISM). A file named ‘opencl.dll’ might be faulty. It meddles with the update process and poses the error. The DISM command prompt function can check whether the file is faulty or not. Execute the following steps for the same.

Step 1 >> To begin with, press the Windows logo key + R at the same time.

Step 2 >> A Run dialog box will appear on the screen. Type ‘cmd’ in the address bar and to open the command prompt with administrator privileges press Control + Shift + Enter.

Step 3 >> Type the command ‘DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth’ and hit enter. The lines at the end of the folder will inform you whether the ‘opencl.dll’ file is corrupt or not.

Method 7: Repair the Opencl.dll File Manually

If the ‘opencl.dll’ file (checked in the above method) is the problem then we need to repair it and make sure it stops meddling with the update process. To do this, perform the following steps on your computer.

Step 1 >> In the first place, you need to download the ‘Media Creation Tool’. Use the following link for the same.

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=691209

Step 2 >> Download the file and extract the applications from it to ‘c: \ temp \ windows folder’ location on your device. We advise you to put the files into a new folder

Step 3 >> The next step is to convert the file with the extension .esd to .wim. Type

“Dism /Export-Image /SourceImageFile:c:\temp\windows\sources\install.esd /SourceIndex:1 /DestinationImageFile:c:\temp\windows\sources\install.wim /compress:max”

Step 4 >> Windows version of the WIM file is required to go forward with the process. For this run the following command and then press enter:

“Dism /Get-WimInfo /wimFile:c:\temp\Windows\sources\install.wim”

Step 5 >> Last step is to clean the corrupted files present in the WIM image which will eventually solve the error. Run the last command and press enter.

“Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:wim:c:\temp\Windows\sources\install.wim:1 /LimitAccess”

Once the above process is over restart your device so that the new settings can take effect and when the computer restarts run the SFC command once again (see method 1) to check for corrupted files on your device. This should rectify the problem.

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Conclusion

The Error Code 0x80004005 is a very common problem. It usually arises while updating the system files or updating the entire operating system. Hopefully, the above troubleshooting solutions have helped you to solve the 0x80004005 Error and restore the device functioning to normalcy.