You may experience ‘Windows Update Error 80072ee2’ when Windows updates itself. This is accompanied by a message indicating that ‘fault is unknown’ and ‘no additional information is available’. This is a common issue with Windows devices. Nevertheless, this problem won’t bother you for long. Through this detailed guide, we are going to help you fix the Windows update error 8072ee2.
How to Fix Windows Update Error Code 80072ee2 on Windows 10
This error means that the Windows Update servers are overburdened with requests for updates from users.
Why does Windows Update Error 80072ee2 Occur?
This issue occurs when:
- Operating system files are corrupt or
- Windows PC updates are stalled.
- Internet connectivity & storage space issues
This error causes your Windows device to freeze, crash, and might also infect your PC with a virus.
Preliminary Checks
1. Make sure that the computer is still hooked up to the internet and has enough battery life. Otherwise, it may lose connectivity or shut down before the program has finished downloading and installing. Such interruptions, too, can create update issues.
2. As malicious software can create problems, keep your system security software up to date and run a malware scan from time to time.
3. Check for available space on the hard drives.
4. Make sure that the correct time and date are set before allowing Windows Update to use it.
This article contains step-by-step methods for resolving the Code 0x80072ee2 problem in Windows Update.
Note: These solutions also work for error codes 8024400A and 8024400D.
Method 1: Run Windows Update Troubleshooter
The Windows update troubleshooter examines all of your computer settings and registries, compares these to Windows update requirements, and then suggests solutions to fix Windows update error 80072ee2.
Note: Before running the troubleshooter, make sure you are logged in as an administrator.
1. To open the Start menu search bar, press Windows + S keys together.
2. In the dialogue box, type troubleshoot and click on the first result that appears.
3. Select Windows Update from the troubleshooting menu.
4. Then, click on the Run the troubleshooter button.
5. Windows will now begin Detecting problems.
Note: You may be informed that the troubleshooter needs administrative privileges to check for system issues.
6. Select Try troubleshooting as an administrator.
7. Restart your PC after the patches have been applied and verify if Windows update error 80072ee2 is fixed.
Also Read: How to Fix Error 0x80070002 Windows 10
Method 2: Review Microsoft Official Documentation
For Windows operating system, you might need to examine Microsoft official documentation. Some updates appear to have been superseded by the latest operating system updates. Hence, you will first need to confirm if these new rules apply to you.
1. Windows has published official documentation that explains how to resolve this error. Read, verify and implement them thoroughly.
2. Finally, restart your Windows 10 PC. The error should have been resolved.
Method 3: Run SFC, DISM & CHKDSK Scans
If Windows Update error code 80072ee2 still persists, you’ll need to look for alternate options. Windows system utility tools include:
- DISM, which looks for missing and damaged Windows system files.
- SFC, on the other hand, looks for faults in Windows system files,
- whereas CHKDSK looks for errors throughout the whole disc.
Hence, we will run these tools to repair/rectify this issue as follows:
1. In the Start menu, type Command Prompt and click on Run as administrator.
2. Type the following commands and hit Enter key after each:
DISM /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth
DISM /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
Note: Allow for the completion of the command. Depending on your device health, the procedure might take up to 20 minutes. Wait for the process to finish even though it appears to be stalled at times.
3. Once completed, type sfc /scannow command and hit Enter, as depicted.
4. After that, type the command chkdsk /r and hit Enter.
The program will check your device for flaws and will correct problems it is able to detect.
Method 4: Modify Registry Keys
Corrupt files and registry keys can cause this issue. Changing the registry and removing several keys is the easiest way to remedy this update problem. You can remove the files and keys that are causing problems.
Note 1: Erroneously deleting registry keys might result in major issues. It is advised that you back up registry keys before proceeding. If necessary, you may then restore the removed registry keys.
Note 2: It should be noted that not all users will have the registry key installed on their machine because they are using Windows in a Home setting. This essentially means that home users will not have access to the key.
If you do, here’s how you can modify registry keys to rectify Windows update error 8072ee2:
Step I: Disable Windows Update service
1. Press the Window + R keys together to open Run dialogue box.
2. Type services.msc as shown and click OK to launch Services window.
3. Right-click on Windows Update service & select Stop from the context menu, as depicted below.
Step II: Delete SoftwareDistribution Folder
4. Hold the Windows + R keys once again to launch Run.
5. Type C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution & click OK.
6. Right-click > Delete the SoftwareDistribution folder here.
Step III: Delete Windows Update Entries
7. Hold the Windows and R keys to open Run dialogue box for the last time.
8. Here, type regedit and hit Enter to open Registry Editor.
9. Navigate to the following location:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate
10. Look for the keys WUServer and WUStatusServer in the right pane.
11. Right-click on each of them then select Delete as depicted.
12. Select Yes to confirm in the pop-up prompt.
Step IV: Restart Windows Update service
13. Return to the Services console.
14. Right-click Windows Update service and select Start as illustrated below.
Also Read: How to Fix StartupCheckLibrary.dll Missing Error
Method 5: Delete Software Distribution Folder
SoftwareDistribution is a subdirectory in the Windows directory that stores files that may be necessary to install the latest Windows updates on your machine. This is a need for the update module, and WUagent handles the read/write operations.
1. In the Start menu, type Command Prompt and click on Run as administrator.
2. Type the following commands one by one and hit Enter in the command prompt:
- net stop cryptSvc
- net stop wuauserv
- net stop msiserver
- net stop bits
3. Press Windows + E keys to open File Explorer.
4. Go to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution as shown.
5. Select all files and folders, right-click and choose Delete from the context menu, as depicted below.
Note: Alternately, you can also Cut (Ctrl + X) and Paste (Ctrl + V) these to another location.
6. To re-initialize all of the services we halted earlier, open elevated Command Prompt again and execute the given commands:
- net start cryptSvc
- net start wuauserv
- net start msiserver
- net start bits
7. Restart your PC and attempt to update Windows once more.
Also Read: How to Fix Windows 10 Touchscreen Not Working
Method 6: Reset Windows Update Modules
SoftwareDistribution is a subdirectory in the Windows directory that stores files that may be necessary to install the latest Windows updates on your machine. This is a need for the update module, and WUagent handles the read/write operations. Hence, resetting it should help fix update error 80072ee2.
1. In the Start menu, type Command Prompt and click on Run as administrator.
2. Type the following commands one by one and hit Enter to execute:
- net stop cryptSvc
- net stop wuauserv
- net stop msiserver
- net stop bits
3. Delete the qmgr*.dat files, to do this again open cmd and type:
Del “%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Network\Downloader\qmgr*.dat”
4. Type the following into cmd and hit Enter:
cd /d %windir%\system32
5. Reregister the BITS files and the Windows Update files. Type each of the following commands individually in cmd and hit Enter after each one:
regsvr32.exe atl.dll regsvr32.exe urlmon.dll regsvr32.exe mshtml.dll regsvr32.exe shdocvw.dll regsvr32.exe browseui.dll regsvr32.exe jscript.dll regsvr32.exe vbscript.dll regsvr32.exe scrrun.dll regsvr32.exe msxml.dll regsvr32.exe msxml3.dll regsvr32.exe msxml6.dll regsvr32.exe actxprxy.dll regsvr32.exe softpub.dll regsvr32.exe wintrust.dll regsvr32.exe dssenh.dll regsvr32.exe rsaenh.dll regsvr32.exe gpkcsp.dll regsvr32.exe sccbase.dll regsvr32.exe slbcsp.dll regsvr32.exe cryptdlg.dll regsvr32.exe oleaut32.dll regsvr32.exe ole32.dll regsvr32.exe shell32.dll regsvr32.exe initpki.dll regsvr32.exe wuapi.dll regsvr32.exe wuaueng.dll regsvr32.exe wuaueng1.dll regsvr32.exe wucltui.dll regsvr32.exe wups.dll regsvr32.exe wups2.dll regsvr32.exe wuweb.dll regsvr32.exe qmgr.dll regsvr32.exe qmgrprxy.dll regsvr32.exe wucltux.dll regsvr32.exe muweb.dll regsvr32.exe wuwebv.dll
6. To reset Winsock:
netsh winsock reset
7. Reset the BITS service and the Windows Update service to the default security descriptor:
sc.exe sdset bits D:(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;SY)(A;;CCDCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRSDRCWDWO;;;BA)(A;;CCLCSWLOCRRC;;;AU)(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;PU) sc.exe sdset wuauserv D:(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;SY)(A;;CCDCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRSDRCWDWO;;;BA)(A;;CCLCSWLOCRRC;;;AU)(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;PU)
8. Again start the Windows update services by executing these commands:
- net start bits
- net start wuauserv
- net start appidsvc
- net start cryptsvc
9. Install the latest Windows Update Agent by following Update the Windows Update Agent to the latest version guide by Microsoft.
10. Reboot your PC to save these changes.
Also Read: How to Fix Access is Denied Windows 10
Method 7: Reset Windows 10 PC
You can use Windows Reset feature to reset your device if nothing else works. While keeping the bulk of your vital data intact, Windows 10 Reset replaces your device files with an entirely new set of files, theoretically clearing any residual difficulties related to error code 80072ee2.
1. Press Windows + I keys to open Settings.
2. Click on the Updates & Security tile
3. Go to the Recovery tab on the left pane.
4. Click on Get started button under Reset this PC.
Note: Because your PC will restart as soon as you press the button, create a backup of any vital files before pressing it.
5. After your PC has restarted, you can choose to:
- Keep my files
- Or, Remove everything.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What happens if I don’t update my Windows?
Ans: You might think that updating your Windows to the current version would affect the settings and configurations that you made on your PC, and thus, it would be tempting to turn off updates. But if you don’t update then your PC would face serious security issues and might not be able to access or enjoy the new features that are added with each update.
Q2. Why are Windows updates not installing no matter what I do?
Ans. Windows Update is a Microsoft application that automatically downloads and installs security updates and system improvements for Windows operating system. Although it is not without flaws of its own, most of these can be rectified easily. If you see a failed update in your Windows Update History, restart your PC and rerun Windows Update. Microsoft website provides a Windows Update Troubleshooter program for Windows that you may use to troubleshoot particular difficulties.
Note: Some updates might be incompatible and will not install regardless of your efforts.
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We hope this guide was helpful and you were able to easily fix Windows update error 80072ee2. Let us know which method worked for you best. If you have any queries regarding this article, then drop them in the comments section.
