Explore these tested methods to fix the issue
by Vladimir Popescu
Being an artist his entire life while also playing handball at a professional level, Vladimir has also developed a passion for all things computer-related. With an innate fascination… read more
Updated on
- This error could appear for several reasons, including corrupt temp files, outdated drivers, corrupt Windows updates, or missing system files.
- In this guide, we will discuss all the available fixes to resolve this Windows update error.
Many users have reported getting the error code 0x8024200b when upgrading to Windows 10/11 from their previous versions. Don’t worry; we can fix this error in no time.
This guide contains all the methods to fix this error and install the Windows updates successfully. Let’s begin!
How we test, review and rate?
We have worked for the past 6 months on building a new review system on how we produce content. Using it, we have subsequently redone most of our articles to provide actual hands-on expertise on the guides we made.
For more details you can read how we test, review, and rate at WindowsReport.
What causes Windows 10 Update download error 0x8024200b?
There could be several reasons for the error code to appear when trying to upgrade; some of the popular ones are:
- Corrupted Windows Update – If the downloaded update files got damaged, then while installing these updates, you might get this error. You need to reset Windows update components to fix the issue.
- Outdated printer driver – If your printer driver is obsolete, it might cause an issue. It is suggested to uninstall the driver to get rid of the problem.
- Damaged temp files – Your system stores temp files while updating your Windows. If these files get corrupted, then you might get this error code.
- Windows hotfix missing – Microsoft came up with a hotfix for users switching to Windows 10 from an older version of the OS to fix issues due to incompatible drivers. If the update with the hotfix is missing, then you might get this error.
- Missing system files – If your computer is missing important system files used for updating or upgrading Windows, then you can face the issue.
What can I do to fix Windows 10 Update download error 0x8024200b?
Before we go to the advanced fixes, here are a few preliminary checks you should do:
- Restart your computer.
- Use a Clean boot environment to update Windows.
- Run Disk Cleanup.
- Make sure your computer is not infected with viruses or malware.
1. Reset Windows Update components
- Go to the Search bar, type CMD and click Run as administrator.
- To stop BITS, Cryptographic, Windows Update and MSI Installer services, type all these commands one by one and press Enter after each command:
net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver
- Now to rename SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folder, copy and paste these commands and press Enter after each command:
ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 Catroot2.old
- To restart the BITS, Cryptographic, Windows Update, and MSI Installer services, type all these commands one by one and press Enter after each command:
net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver
2. Run the Windows Update troubleshooter
- Press Windows + I to get Settings.
- Go to Update & Security.
- Now, select Troubleshooting, and click Additional troubleshooters.
- Under Get up and running, click Windows Update and select Run the troubleshooter.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
- Protected: How to Download Video from Facebook on PC
- Microsoft Authenticator App: Download & Install
- How to Change the Icon Size on Windows 10
3. Use the SFC and DISM commands
- Open Command Prompt with admin rights using the steps mentioned in Method 1.
- Copy and paste the following commands and press Enter after every command:
sfc/scannow
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
- Once the process is complete, restart your computer.
4. Uninstall printer drivers
- Press Windows + R to open the Run window.
- Type devmgmt.msc and press Enter to open Device Manager.
- Go to the Print queues and expand it. Then, inspect all the listed drivers and locate the one with the yellow triangle beside it.
- Right-click on that driver, and select Uninstall device.
- Restart your computer to let the changes take effect.
5. Clear the BITS queue
- Launch Command Prompt with administrator privileges using the steps in Method 1.
- Copy and paste the following command to clear the BITS queue and press Enter:
bitsadmin.exe /reset /allusers
So, these are methods that you need to follow to get rid of the error code 0x8024200b. Try them and let us know which worked for you in the comments below.
Ошибка 0x8024200B является одной из многочисленных ошибок, которые возникают во время установки обновлений для операционной системы Windows. Данная проблема может возникнуть на всех(все еще поддерживаемых разработчиками) версиях Windows, начиная с Семерки.
Пользователи также могут столкнуться с ошибкой 0x8024200B во время того, как пытаются обновиться с предыдущей версии Windows до Windows 10. Итак, что же может являться причиной для этой проблемы? На самом деле она не одна — их может быть довольно много.
Например, проблемы при обновлении могли начаться из-за поврежденных/отсутствующих записей в Реестре Windows, повреждений некоторых файлов DLL, устаревших обновлений, драйверов, приложений или даже из-за вирусных атак.
Как вы уже могли понять, причин довольно много, но мы все равно попробуем сейчас исправить ошибку 0x8024200B, чтобы вы спокойно смогли загрузить требуемое для вашего компьютера обновление.
Методы решения ошибки 0x8024200B в Windows 7/8.1/10
Метод №1 Запуск диагностики проблем Центра обновления Windows
Самым простым методом для борьбы с подобными проблемами является запуск Диагностики проблем Центра обновлений Windows. Данная утилита автоматически обнаружит проблему и попытается устранить ее.
- Нажмите на клавиатуре Win+S.
- Впишите в поисковой строке «Устранение неполадок» и выберите найденный результат.
- Под графой «Система и безопасность», нажмите на пункт «Устранение неполадок с помощью Центра обновления Windows».
- Запустите процесс диагностики, и дождитесь ее окончания.
Как только процесс будет завершен, снова попробуйте выполнить обновление своей Windows. Возможно, этой службе удалось исправить проблему с ошибкой 0x8024200B.
Метод №2 Запуск системной утилиты SFC
Данная ошибка может была вызвана поврежденной файловой системой. Чтобы выяснить это, вам потребуется запустить системную утилиту SFC, в функционал которой входит проверка файловой системы и устранение повреждений в ней.
- Нажмите Win+R.
- Введите в пустую строку cmd и нажмите Enter.
- Как только откроется Командная строка, введите в нее команду SFC/SCANNOW и нажмите Enter.
- После окончания процесса сканирования системы, вы увидите результаты проверки, в которой укажут на найденные поврежденные файлы и были ли они исправлены.
Если утилита SFC смогла найти что-то и, что более важно, исправить это, то попробуйте выполнить обновление своего компьютера еще раз, так как, возможно, проблема в виде ошибки 0x8024200B.
Метод №3 Установка отложенных обновлений
Порой, устаревшие драйвера, система или программное обеспечение может препятствовать установке самых новых обновлений. Итак, если дело заключается в этом, то вам всего лишь нужно установить все ранее отложенные вами обновления для операционной системы, а только затем уже попробовать провести установку нового обновления.
Метод №4 Проверка компьютера на наличие вирусов
Если ничего из вышеуказанного не помогло вам в решении ошибки 0x8024200B, то вполне вероятно, что установить обновление мешает какой-то вредоносный элемент в системе, т.е. вирус. Проверьте ваш компьютер на наличие вирусов. Если найдется хоть что-то, то удалите это, а затем снова попробуйте запустить установку обновления через Центр обновления Windows.
Contents
- What Causes Update Error 0x8024200b in Windows 10?
- How to Fix the Windows 10 Error 0x8024200b
- Fix 1: Run a System Clean-Up Tool to Remove Temporary Files
- Fix 2: Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter
- Fix 3: Clear the Software Distribution Folder
- Fix 4: Reset the Windows Update Components
- Fix 5: Clear the BITS Queue
- Fix 6: Download the Windows Update Directly from the Microsoft Website
- Fix 7: Uninstall Unknown Printer Drivers
- Fix 8: Scan for Malicious Files
- Fix 9: Run Sfc /Scannow
- Fix 10: Run System Restore
- Fix 11: Clean Boot Your OS
- Fix 12: Contact a Microsoft Virtual Agent
What is the Error 0x8024200b on Windows 10? You might encounter it when trying to upgrade to Windows 10 from a previous version of the operating system. It can also happen when downloading or installing one or several Windows 10 updates. If you are facing this issue, this post will be of use to you.
What Causes Update Error 0x8024200b in Windows 10?
The Error 0x8024200b could be due to:
- Poor network connectivity
- Corrupt or missing system files
- Problematic temporary files
- Windows Update corruption
- Outdated device drivers
- Corrupt Windows images
How to Fix the Windows 10 Error 0x8024200b
If you are currently dealing with the 0x8024200b error when downloading or installing Windows updates, you will find several troubleshooting procedures in this guide. These fixes have been proven effective by other users:
- Run a system clean-up tool to remove temporary files
- Run the Windows Update troubleshooter
- Clear the Software Distribution folder
- Reset the Windows update components
- Clear the BITS queue
- Download the Windows 10 Update directly from the Microsoft Website
- Uninstall unknown printer drivers
- Scan for malicious files
- Run Sfc /scannow
- Run a system restore
- Clean boot your OS
- Contact a Microsoft virtual agent
By the time you complete the following procedures, you will have been able to resolve the Windows Update error.
Fix 1: Run a System Clean-Up Tool to Remove Temporary Files
Try clearing the temporary files in your PC if you are finding it difficult to install Windows Updates. We suggest you use Auslogics BoostSpeed to carry out the system clean up. It is an industry-acclaimed tool that is backed by Microsoft.
Fix 2: Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter
Your OS might be able to resolve the update issue automatically. The Update troubleshooter analyzes the WU component to identify what has gone wrong. It then employs a viable repair strategy to fix the identified issue.
Here is how to run the utility:
- Open the Settings app by pressing the Windows key + I keyboard combination.
- Click on Update & Security.
- In the left pane of the new page, locate Troubleshoot and click on the tab.
Tip:
You can quickly get to the Troubleshoot tab by typing “Ms-settings:troubleshoot” (no quotes) in the Run dialog.
- Click on Windows Update in the right pane.
- Click on Run the troubleshooter and wait for the scan to complete.
- Click on Apply this Fix if the utility detects a problem that it can repair.
- Restart your computer when the process is complete. You can then test whether the WU error has been resolved.
Fix 3: Clear the Software Distribution Folder
In Windows 10, the Software Distribution folder is located in the Windows directory and is used to store temporary files required for the installation of Windows updates. Clearing the contents of this folder may be sufficient in resolving the WU Error 0x8024300B:
- Open the Run dialog and by pressing Win + R keys on your keyboard.
- Type “Services.msc” (no quotes) in the text box and click OK or press Enter.
- Scroll through the list of services in the Services window and locate Windows Update. Right-click on it and select Stop from the context menu to disable the service temporarily.
- Close the Services window. Then, open File Explorer (Press the Win + E keyboard combo) and navigate to: C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download.
- Clear all the contents in the folder.
- Invoke Services.msc again, as shown in Step 2.
- Locate Windows Update. Right-click on it and select on Start from the context menu to start the service.
- Restart your computer and try installing WU again.
Fix 4: Reset the Windows Update Components
Corrupt WU components are likely the cause of the error code you are facing. In a situation like this, you have to reset all associated Windows components and delete the folders where the temporary files are stored.
There are two methods you can use to carry out this fix:
- Reset Windows Update using a command line
- Reset Windows Update using an agent script
We’ll look at how to perform both methods.
Reset Windows Update Using a Command Line
- Open an elevated Command Prompt window. You can do this by pressing the Windows + X combination and clicking on Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu.
- Click Yes when the User Account Control (UAC) prompt is displayed. The prompt requests to give Windows Command Processor administrator privileges.
- Once you are in the Administrator: Command Prompt window, the first action to take is stopping all services that are related to Windows Update, including Windows Update Services, Cryptographic services, BITS services, and MSI Installer. Simply run each of the following lines one after the other:
- net stop wuauserv
- net stop cryptSvc
- net stop bits
- net stop msiserver
Note:
Press Enter when you type or copy and paste each line before moving on to the next one.
- Once you’ve completed Step 3, rename the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders, which are used by WU, by running the following commands:
- ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
- ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 Catroot2.old
Renaming the folders forces the system to create fresh folders.
- Now, you have to re-enable the Windows services we stopped in Step 3. Run the following commands:
- net start wuauserv
- net start cryptSvc
- net start bits
- net start msiserver
- Close the elevated Command Prompt window and restart your computer.
Reset Windows Update Using an Agent Script
- Visit the Microsoft Technet page at https://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/scriptcenter/Reset-Windows-Update-Agent-d824badc.
- Download the Reset Windows Update Agent script.
- Extract the contents of the downloaded zip file and double-click on the ResetWUENG executable. Follow the on-screen instructions to run the script that resets your Windows Update components.
- After the process completes successfully, restart your computer and check whether you can now download and install WU.
Fix 5: Clear the BITS Queue
Clearing the BITS queue of current jobs can help:
- Open an elevated command prompt. You can do this by typing “CMD” (no quotes) in the Start menu’s search bar. Then, right-click on Command Prompt and click on the Run as Administrator option.
- Click the Yes button when UAC (User Account Control) requests to grant Windows Command Processor admin privileges.
- Type or copy and paste “bitsadmin.exe /reset /allusers” (Do not include the quotes) and hit Enter to run it.
- Check whether the WU issue has been resolved.
Fix 6: Download the Windows Update Directly from the Microsoft Website
You can download the cumulative update manually and apply it to your system. First, you will have to find the latest update number. You can then search for it in the Update Catalog.
Follow the easy steps below to get the KB number:
- Open the Settings app. You can do this by going to the Start menu (Press the Win key) and click on the gear icon that represents Settings. Alternatively, you can quickly open the Settings app using the keyboard combination (Win + I).
- Click on Update & Security. Then, click on View Update History.
Once you have obtained the KB number, the next step is to download and install the standalone package manually. Here’s how:
- Launch your browser and visit the Microsoft Update Catalog website at https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/
- Enter the KB number you got earlier in the search field.
- Identify the patch that matches your Windows build and architecture.
- Click the Download button once you have found the pending cumulative update for your OS.
- Click the top link.
- Go to the location in your computer where you saved the downloaded setup file.
- Run the setup file by double-clicking on it. Then, wait for the process to complete.
Fix 7: Uninstall Unknown Printer Drivers
Some users reported that the Event Viewer indicated that the 0x8024200B error code is related to multiple printer drivers. Some outdated printer drivers that are not fully compatible with Windows 10 migrate into the new OS after a system upgrade. The drivers cause frequent update failures.
You can fix the issue by installing other pending Windows updates other than the particular one that keeps failing. If that doesn’t work, go to the Device Manager and uninstall the incompatible drivers:
- Open the Run dialog and type “Devmgmt.msc” (no quotes) and click OK to open the Device Manager.
- Expand the Print Queues drop-down and right-click on any driver that has a yellow exclamation mark on it.
Note:
You might also find the incompatible driver under the Other Devices category.
- Click on Uninstall driver from the context menu.
- Afterward, restart your computer.
Fix 8: Scan for Malicious Files
According to some users, the Error 0x8024200B appeared on their PC due to Trojans and other malware. Run a full system scan with Windows Defender to arrest malicious items that are hidden in your computer and causing unexpected issues.
If you have a third-party antivirus program on your PC, disable it temporarily and try running WU again. If your antivirus program causes compatibility issues on your computer, we suggest you get Auslogics Anti-Malware instead. Microsoft backs the software application. A certified Microsoft Silver-Application developer developed it. Auslogics Anti-Malware is a strong and reliable tool that can detect and eliminate even the most stubborn viruses.
Fix 9: Run Sfc /Scannow
You might be dealing with some corrupt/missing system files. To see if that is the case, run the System File Checker:
- Turn on your Internet connection.
- Right-click on the Windows icon to open the Power-user menu. Alternatively, you can press the Windows Key + X.
- Click on Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu.
- When the UAC prompt comes up, click Yes to confirm that you want to grant Windows Command Processor administrator privileges to your computer.
- When the Administrator: Command Prompt window opens, enter (Type or copy and paste) “sfc /scannow” (Don’t type the quotes) and hit Enter on your keyboard.
Note: If you are to type the command, note that there is a space between ‘sfc’ and ‘/scannow.’
- The scan might take a while to complete. It could be up to 15 minutes. So, make sure that you have enough battery power or plug your computer to charge.
- You have to run a DISM scan if SFC finds problems that it cannot resolve. Simply type “Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth” (no quotes) and hit Enter to execute it.
- When the DISM scan is complete, run sfc /scannow again.
- Restart your computer and check whether you can now download and install your Windows updates.
Fix 10: Run System Restore
Performing a system restore makes your operating system regain its previous state when there were no issues. Here is how to get it done:
- Log into your PC with your administrator account.
- Go to the Start menu and type “System Restore” (no quotes) in the search field.
- Click the same option from the search results.
- Click the System Restore button when the System Protection window opens. Then click OK.
- Click Next and select a restore point.
Note:
When you initiate a restore point, it revokes the system settings, installed apps, and other changes that were made after the restore point was created.
You can click on ‘Scan for affected programs’ to see the apps that will be removed after you initiate the restore.
- Click Next and confirm your chosen restore point. Then, click Finish.
- Restart your computer after the process is complete. Then check if the WU issue has been resolved.
Fix 11: Clean Boot Your OS
Conflicting apps might cause the 0x8024200B error. Perform a clean boot to find out if that is the case and identify the culprits:
- Open the Run accessory (Press the Win key + R).
- Type “Msconfig” (no quotes) in the text field and press Enter to open the System Configuration window.
- Switch to the Startup tab and click on Open Task Manager.
- Disable each of the running applications one after the other.
- Afterward, close the Task Manager and restart your computer.
Fix 12: Contact a Microsoft Virtual Agent
You can always reach out to a Microsoft Virtual agent for support. They can determine the cause of the error you are dealing with and help you fix it. Visit https://support.microsoft.com/en-in/contact/virtual-agent/?partnerId=smc&flowId=twitter-va-deeplink&userInput=windows%20update%20error.
We hope that the solutions we presented in this guide have enabled you to get past the Windows 10 Update Download Error 0x8024200B. If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to share them with us in the comments section below.
The Error Code 0x8024200B is a new update-related issue that prevents users from installing the recent cumulative updates on their devices. In this post, we will cover all probable causes leading to this bug and the corresponding solutions to them.
What is Error 0x8024200B and when does it appear?
The error 0x8024200B is basically an installation error that appears when you try to install pending updates on your computer. This error might occur because of poor network connectivity, corrupt Windows images, missing/infected system files, or obsolete device drivers.
In order to address this issue, try upgrading all your device drivers via optional updates. Manually downloading and installing the available updates might also help to overcome this problem. However, if not, disable external antivirus, Run the Update Troubleshooter, clean SDF, or Reset update components. If none solves this bug, use previously created restore points or clean install Windows 11/10.
To solve the installation or update error 0x8024200B in Windows 10, try the following workarounds –
1] Manually Install Windows 11/10 Updates
While receiving any kind of update-related issues, users must try manually downloading the pending cumulative update and applying it to their system. At times, this alone solves several upgrade errors including 0x8024200B. However, you need to first know the “latest update number” so as to search over the Update Catalog. To do so, follow the below guideline –
Note: If you are on Windows 11, read this tutorial. Else, follow the steps illustrated below –
Part 1: Get the “KB” number
- Press the Windows key and click over the gear icon.
- Doing so will launch the Windows Settings UI.
- Click Update & Security thereafter “View Update history” on the next page.
Part 2: Manually download/Install the Standalone Package
Since now you know the CU number, go through the below steps –
- Launch the default browser and visit Update Catalog.
- Go to the search bar and type the “KB” number you copied earlier.
- Next, locate the patch fitting as per your system architecture and OS Build version.
- Once you find the pending cumulative update, hit the Download button next to it.
- On the succeeding window, hit the top link.
- Now, reach out to the Download folder and click twice on the setup file.
- Usually, this takes a few minutes to complete installing the set-up, so wait accordingly.
2] Run Windows Update Troubleshooter
In general, manually updating to the recent security patch solves any kind of update or installation errors. But, if the error persists even after, you should try running the Windows Update troubleshooter. Here’s how to proceed –
- Launch the Windows Settings UI (WinKey + I).
- Select Update & Security henceforth Troubleshoot.
- Jump to the right pane and expand “Windows Update“.
Note: Windows 10 20H1 users should rather hit “Additional troubleshooters” first followed by “Windows Update” on the next screen.
As we all know, Windows 11 has made several changes to the Settings app, you can’t access the troubleshooter this way. Instead, you need to browse this path –
Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters > Windows Update > Run
- Coming back to Windows 10, when the box expands, hit “Run the troubleshooter”.
- Now, follow the onscreen instruction to complete the remaining steps.
3] Scan for Malicious Files
At times, this error may occur due to some phishing files or trojans. Hence, we recommend performing a Full scan via Windows Defender.
Note: If you are using a third-party antivirus program, it’s better to disable or remove them and try updating your PC again.
4] Perform SFC/Scannow
If the troubleshooter doesn’t solve this issue, there may lie some corrupt/missing system files. To confirm whether this indeed is the case or not, we suggest running a code i.e. sfc/scannow on the Command Prompt. Here are the essential steps –
- Right-click on the Taskbar and click Task manager using the shortcut menu.
- Head over to the File Menu and choose Run new task.
- Type cmd (Admin) near the blinking cursor and press the Enter key.
- On the elevated console, type sfc/scannow and press Enter again.
- This takes approximately 10-15 minutes for completion, so wait accordingly.
- Once over, Restart your computer and check whether you can install new cumulative updates or not.
5] Clean Boot Windows 10
Many a time, the presence of corrupt apps or their leftover files may also cause the 0x8024200B error. To solve this, you should perform a clean boot using the below steps –
- Press Win+Q, type MSConfig, and press Enter.
- When the System Configuration window comes into view, go to the Startup tab and click “Open Task Manager“.
- Select each one of the running programs and click Disable.
- After disabling all of the running applications, close Task Manager, and Restart your PC.
6] Reset Windows Update Components
Cleaning Software Distribution folder
Sometimes, this is all about the cache stored inside the Software Distribution folder. To rule out this possibility, just clean this following the below guideline –
- Start the Run dialog (Win & R), type
services.msc
, and hit OK. - On the next screen, scroll down to Windows Update.
- Make a right-click on the same and click “Stop” to temporarily disable this service.
- Now, reach out to the below location and clear all the contents that lie inside the folder –
C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download
- Afterward, re-visit the Services window and start the “Windows Update” service.
- Once over, Reboot the device so as to save the recent changes.
If the error still occurs, follow the next part –
7] Reset Windows Update Components
The presence of corrupt update components may also erupt in error 0x8024200B. So, you better run a few codes on the Windows console to fix them. Here’s how to proceed –
- Press Win & S shortcut and type cmd in the text box.
- Make a right-click on the top result and choose Run as Administrator.
- When the UAC window comes into view, tap Yes to go ahead.
- On the elevated prompt area, enter the below codes one by one. These commands will stop some of the essential services like BITS, Windows Update, Cryptographic, etc.
net stop bits net stop wuauserv net stop appidsvc net stop cryptsvc
- Next, remove the qmgr*.dat files by running the below command –
Del “%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\\Application Data\\Microsoft\\Network\\Downloader\\qmgr*.dat”
- Subsequently, execute cd /d %windir%\\system32 on the elevated interface.
- You need to now re-register the .dll files using the below codes –
exe atl.dll exe urlmon.dll exe mshtml.dll exe shdocvw.dll exe browseui.dll exe jscript.dll exe vbscript.dll exe scrrun.dll exe msxml.dll exe msxml3.dll exe msxml6.dll exe actxprxy.dll exe softpub.dll exe wintrust.dll exe dssenh.dll exe rsaenh.dll exe gpkcsp.dll exe sccbase.dll exe slbcsp.dll exe cryptdlg.dll exe oleaut32.dll exe ole32.dll exe shell32.dll exe initpki.dll exe wuapi.dll exe wuaueng.dll exe wuaueng1.dll exe wucltui.dll exe wups.dll exe wups2.dll exe wuweb.dll exe qmgr.dll exe qmgrprxy.dll exe wucltux.dll exe muweb.dll exe wuwebv.dll
- Once over, Restart the Windows Services that you have stopped earlier. To do so, execute the following commands –
net start bits
net start wuauserv
net start appidsvc
net start cryptsvc
- At last, Reboot your system and see if the “Check for updates” starts working or is still causing you trouble.
8] Use System restore
The above solutions should resolve any update-related issues. However, if not, you are left with two choices i.e. use System Restore or Clean install Windows. If you haven’t created any restore points in the past, download the latest Media creation tool and make a bootable file.
The system restore points will take your PC back to the state where everything was working pretty normally. All you need is to follow the below steps –
- First of all, log into your device as an Administrator.
- Press Win & S hotkey and type System Restore in the search field.
- Click on the top result to launch the System Protection wizard.
- Tap the System Restore button then OK to proceed further.
- Click Next.
- Select the recent restore file and click “Scan for affected programs“.
- If none are found, hit Next again.
- Tap Finish and wait for this task to complete.
That’s it, I hope the above set of solutions indeed fixes the 0x8024200B error. In case, you have any queries or suggestions, let us know through the comments below.
How to stop Windows 10 Update in progress?
To stop an ongoing Windows update on your computer, do the following –
- Press Win + I to launch Settings.
- Select Update & Security and then Windows Update.
- Click “Pause updates for 7 days” and the system will stop downloading an ongoing cumulative update.
Restart your PC and check if this stops Windows 10 update in progress.
Several Windows users have been reaching us with questions after being unable to install one or several different Windows Updates. Upon investigating the error using the Event Viewer, affected users have discovered that the error code is related to multiple printer drivers. As it turns out, the issue is not restricted to a certain Windows version since it’s confirmed to occur on Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10.
What is causing the Error 0x8024200b on Windows?
We investigated this particular issue by looking at various user reports and the repair strategies that they commonly used to fix this particular error message. Based on our investigations, there are several different possible culprits that might be responsible for this problem. Here’s a short list of scenarios that might lead to the apparition of the 0x8024200b error:
- Outdated printer driver – In most cases, this particular issue occurs due to an outdated printer driver that was incorrectly migrated when the user upgraded from an older Windows version to Windows 10. If this scenario is applicable, the issue can be resolved by using Device Manager to get rid of the incompatible printer driver.
- Windows Update corruption – It’s also possible that the issue is occurring after WU downloaded an update but some files belonging to it got corrupted before the updating component had the chance to install it on the machine. In this case, the only way to install the update is to effectively reset all Windows Update components manually or by using a script.
- Windows hotfix not installed – As it turns out, Microsoft released a hotfix to specifically target situations where users are migrating to Windows 10 from an older version and bring over an incompatible printer driver. The update should be installed automatically via WU. If your computer is not up to date, you should be able to resolve the issue by installing all the other pending updates to ensure that the hotfix is installed.
If you’re currently struggling to resolve the same 0x8024200b error when installing a Windows update, this article will provide you with several different troubleshooting steps. Down below, you’ll find a collection of repair strategies that other users in a similar situation have successfully used to resolve the error. Each of the potential fixes below is confirmed to be effective by at least one affected user.
If you want to be as efficient as possible, we advise you to follow the methods below in the order that they are presented since we ordered them by efficiency and severity. Eventually, you should discover a fix that will fix the problem regardless of the culprit that’s causing it.
Let’s begin!
Method 1: Running the Windows Update troubleshooter
Your first stop in troubleshooting this issue would be to test out and see if your Windows version is not equipped to resolve the issue automatically. Several affected users have reported that the Windows Update error 0x8024200b was no longer occurring after they ran the Windows Update troubleshooter.
This utility is equipped with a series of automatic repair strategies covering the most common scenarios that might break the updating function of Windows. It’s available on all the recent Windows versions including Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10.
This troubleshooter utility will analyze the WU component as a whole to figure out if any functionality is affected. If it is, it will automatically recommend a viable repair strategy based on the type of issue that is identified.
Here’s a quick guide on running the Windows Update troubleshooter:
- Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Then, type “ms-settings:troubleshoot” and press Enter to open up the Troubleshooting tab of the Settings tab.
Opening the Troubleshooting tab of the Settings app via a Run box - When you’re inside the troubleshooting tab, move over to the right-hand pane and scroll down to the Get up and running category. Once you’re there, click on Windows Update and then click on Run the troubleshooter from the newly appeared context menu.
Running Windows Update Troubleshooter - Once you’re inside the Windows Update troubleshooter utility, wait until the initial scan is complete.
Detecting problem with Windows Update - If a problem that is already covered by a repair strategy is found by a utility, it will be automatically recommended to you. If this happens, all you have to do is click on Apply this fix, then follow the on-screen instructions to apply the recommended fix.
Apply this fix - When the repair strategy is enforced, close the troubleshooter and restart your computer.
- Once the next system startup is complete, repeat the action that was previously triggering the error code and see if the issue has been resolved.
If you still see the 0x8024200b error when you try to install the problematic update, move down to the next method below.
Method 2: Installing all Pending Windows Updates
As it turns out, in most cases this issue occurs due to some severely outdated printer drivers that made their way into a newer WIndows version. Most commonly, this occurs in situations where the user upgrades from an older Windows version to Windows 10 and the old drivers get migrated even though they are not fully compatible with the new operating system.
In some cases, this will end up causing frequent update failures until the issue is dealt with. Fortunately, since the issue is quite old, Microsoft has already released a hotfix for this issue. It’s included inside one of the critical updates delivered automatically through WU.
If you haven’t installed your pending updates, chances are you will be able to resolve the issue simply by ensuring that you install every pending update (except the one that is failing). Here’s a quick guide on how to do this:
- Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Next, type “‘ms-settings:windowsupdate” and press Enter to open up the Windows Update tab of the Settings app.
Opening the Windows Update screen Note: If you don’t have Windows 10, use the “wuapp” command instead.
- Once you manage to get inside the Windows Update screen, start by clicking on Check for update (from the right-hand pane).
Installing every pending Windows update - Follow the on-screen prompts to install every pending update (leave the update that is failing last)
- If you have multiple updates pending, you might be prompted to restart before every update is installed. If this happens do so, but make sure to return to this screen at the next startup sequence and install the remaining updates.
- Once every pending update is installed, restart your computer and see if the issue is resolved at the next startup by trying to install the update that was previously failing
If you’re still encountering the 0x8024200b error when you’re trying to install the problematic update or you’re machine was already up-to-date, move down to the next method below.
Method 3: Uninstall any Unknown Printer Driver
If installing every pending update along with the hotfix for the issue didn’t make the 0x8024200b error code to go away, you might be able to fix the issue indefinitely simply by removing the problematic printer driver using Device Manager.
A couple of users struggling to fix the same issue have reported that the 0x8024200b error code was no longer occurring and the update installed normally after they removed the ‘Unknown Printer’ device from the list of Printers inside Device Manager. This will end up uninstalling the incompatible driver that is triggering the issue, thus eliminating the software conflict.
Here’s a quick guide on uninstalling the printer driver responsible for the 0x8024200b error code:
- Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Then, type ‘devmgmt.msc” and hit Enter to open up the Device Manager utility.
Running Device Manager via Run box - Once you’re inside the Device Manager, scroll down through the list of installed devices and expand the drop-down menu associated with Printers (or Print queues).
- Inside the Printers (Print queues) category, see if you manage to spot an incompatible driver. In most cases, it will contain an exclamation sign near the icon and it’s named “Unkown Driver“.
Identifying the incompatible driver Note: You might also be able to find the incompatible device under Other devices.
- Once you manage to identify the culprit, right-click on it and choose Uninstall device to get rid of the conflict.
Uninstalling the incompatible driver - Once the incompatible driver is removed from your list of incompatible devices, restart your computer and see if the issue is resolved at the next system startup.
If the same 0x8024200b error code is still occurring, move down to the next method below.
Method 4: Resetting the Windows Update Components
Based on our investigations, the 0x8024200b error code is also encountered in situations where the Windows Update (WU) component has downloaded an update successfully but it has somehow become corrupted before the updating component had the chance to install it.
In situations like this, the only viable fix is to reset all Windows Update Components involved in the updating operation and delete (rename) the folders that store the temporary update files. Several affected users have reported that the issue was resolved completely after they followed a series of steps that allowed them to effectively reset all WU components.
You can achieve this in two different ways – you can either use a pre-created script that will perform all required operations automatically or you can do it yourself from the terminal. We featured both approaches, so feel free to follow whichever guide is more appealing to you:
Resetting WU from a Command Prompt window
- Open a Run dialog box by pressing Windows key + R. Inside the run window, type ‘cmd’ and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open up a Command Prompt with administrative privileges. Once the User Account Control (UAC) prompt appears, click on Yes to grant admin access.
Running Command Prompt - When you’re inside the elevated Command prompt, paste or type the following commands in whichever order, but make sure you press Enter after each row to stop all Windows Update-related services:
net stop wuauserv net stop cryptSvc net stop bits net stop msiserver
Note: At this step, we’ll stop all services involved in the Windows updating operations: Windows Update Services, MSI Installer, Cryptographic services, and BITS services
- Once all the relevant services have been prevented from running, type or paste the following commands and press Enter after each to rename the two folders (SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2) used by WU:
ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 Catroot2.old
Note: By renaming these folders, we’ll force the OS to create new folders that are not tainted by corruption.
- Once the two folders have been renamed, run the following commands in whichever order and press Enter after each one to re-enable the same services that we previously disabled at step 2:
net start wuauserv net start cryptSvc net start bits net start msiserver
- Once the services are re-enabled, restart your computer and see if the issue is resolved at the next system startup.
Resetting WU using a WU Agent script
- Access this Microsoft Technet page (here) to download the Reset Windows Update Agent script.
Download Windows Update Reset Agent - When the download is complete, use a utility like 7Zip or WinZip to extract the contents of the ResetWUEng.zip.
- Once the archive is extracted, double-click on the ResetWUENG executable and follow the on-screen instructions to run the script that will reset all your WU components.
- After the process is complete and you get the success message, restart your computer and check if the issue is resolved at the next system startup.
Kevin Arrows
Kevin Arrows is a highly experienced and knowledgeable technology specialist with over a decade of industry experience. He holds a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certification and has a deep passion for staying up-to-date on the latest tech developments. Kevin has written extensively on a wide range of tech-related topics, showcasing his expertise and knowledge in areas such as software development, cybersecurity, and cloud computing. His contributions to the tech field have been widely recognized and respected by his peers, and he is highly regarded for his ability to explain complex technical concepts in a clear and concise manner.